Does Cab Rank Rule Apply to Customers?

dimes on 01/09/2022 - 23:45
Last edited 02/09/2022 - 10:04 by 1 other user

Cab rank rule is basically where a taxi has to accept your fare no matter how short your ride is, but I'm wondering if this also applies to the customer?

Where there's a line of taxis waiting, at for example an airport, can I choose a taxi that is not the first in line? Reason is I have been ripped off in the past by drivers of a specific nationality and I would like to avoid them from now on. Please don't accuse me of racism, I have tried again and again to be open minded, but I find that every time I am ripped off in a taxi it is always by drivers of a specific nationality.

For those who would suggest I download Uber or similar - I feel like I don't catch taxis enough to warrant taking up extra space on my phone.

Automotive Taxi

Comments

  • original15 on 02/09/2022 - 00:01
    +91

    Phone storage at a premium

    • pegaxs on 02/09/2022 - 09:42
      +33

      Gotta make space for 750+ hours of TV rips, 8.6years of songs and 85,000 selfies. Can't have a 200mb app eating into that 512gb of storage space…

      • AdosHouse on 04/09/2022 - 17:46

        Mate you're living in the past. There are 1TB phones now.

    • unco on 02/09/2022 - 10:42
      +7

      A couple of megabytes of storage would pull a premium one week before race wars.

    • goraygo on 03/09/2022 - 17:17
      +2

      Uber app is only 348.5Mb. I wonder what phone the ops use. 😂

    • bdl on 04/09/2022 - 14:23
      +1

      Can't have any apps with black and white logos taking up valuable space

    • Kangal on 04/09/2022 - 15:06
      +2

      It must be all those Linux ISO he's hoarding…

      • serpserpserp on 05/09/2022 - 09:44

        If you can't bootloader between 50 Linux variants on your phone are you really using it to its full capability?

  • El cheepo on 02/09/2022 - 00:09
    +22

    No you can’t in a line of taxis. Unless its a wide open taxi rank with multiple lines, but even then its one of the front cabs.

    Doesn’t matter anyway.
    Chuck your stuff in the car, jump in and tell em where your going after getting in.
    If they tell you to get out because its too short a fare, refuse.
    If they push it, take a photo of their ID and threaten to call the cab company.

    If they take you and proceed to take you a longer way on purpose, same advice as above but don’t make it a threat, make it a real call with his rego and id and the cab company will potentially refund your trip.

    Never pay if the meters not on.

    • ChickenTalon on 03/09/2022 - 22:16
      +1

      No you can’t in a line of taxis.

      Why not? What rule is there?? There is no law against it. I’ve done it a few times in the past (pre Uber days) when the cab at the front of the line has looked overly crappy or had a strong smell of BO and/or cigarette smoke. Caused a fuss with the drivers once, not my problem.

      More people should do it, but never based on race as the OP is suggesting. Only way to improve things, find an alternative if what you’re offered isn’t good enough.

      • El cheepo on 03/09/2022 - 22:58

        There is no official rule for all taxi ranks, Some don’t allow it and some it physically can’t be done as the queue is inside a single lane thats curbed off. But even if there’s not a rule for it, do you think old mate at the front of the queue is going to sit back happily?

        Do you think the op can deal with this?

        Caused a fuss with the drivers once, not my problem.

        Because that’s what will happen.

        More people should do it, but never based on race as the OP is suggesting.

        Wishful thinking.

        • Buyme on 04/09/2022 - 21:12
          +2

          Correct. No offical rule, anymore. Previously there was, but it was removed a couple of years ago.

          Source: my regular cab driver of 12 years.

          Now whilst it’s all fair game… although the you’d probably want a pretty good reason for not taking the first cab, who’s most likely been waiting the longest

          • serpserpserp on 05/09/2022 - 09:46

            @Buyme: People seem to think racism is a pretty good reason not to take a cab.

      • cunningdrew on 05/09/2022 - 11:26

        It's a fair point. If I go to a food court, I don't have to eat from the nearest restaurant. I can take a look around and choose not only based on taste at the time but also quality, cleanliness and friendliness of the crew. That is called competition and it creates a better marketplace.

    • cunningdrew on 05/09/2022 - 11:24

      Sure, all good advice… but I have enough stresses in my life. I really don't need an awkward taxi ride as well.

    • El cheepo on 02/09/2022 - 00:21
      +11

      Thats the name of the game in taxis.

      Its not a profitable or good business to be in like it use to be years ago and its always been the risk they take joining an airport taxi rank queue.

      https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/On-demandTransport/travellin…

      They can’t refuse a short trip just because they waited for hours. While it’s upsetting for them, it is what it is.

      Most airports etc don’t allow taxis dropping people off to pick up passengers in the same area as it creates the temptation for the taxis to just park outside or patrol outside the taxi rank and cause disorder to other general traffic.

      • jjjaar on 02/09/2022 - 08:14
        +11

        I feel like a few years ago Melbourne Airport implemented a bypass queue for any taxi drivers who had waited in the queue and had a fare that was a specific distance or less. That way when they returned to the airport, they didn’t have to wait the full duration.

        It meant they wouldn’t shaft customers, but they would also not be waiting for ages for one short fare.

    • pjetson on 02/09/2022 - 10:03
      +5

      If you have a shorter trip, what is often useful is if you go to the departures area and flag down a taxi that has just dropped someone off.

      That's against the rules, and the taxi driver can be fined if they accept the fare.

      • AlexF on 04/09/2022 - 08:58
        +1

        I got great driver attitude when I did that - much referred over a guilt trip about short fares. Recommended.

      • spaceflight on 04/09/2022 - 12:39
        -1

        They can't be fined because it's not against the law.

        It might be against the airport rules, but that's not law.

        • tonsta on 05/09/2022 - 16:26

          It could be against driving/parking rules and fines can apply.

          They normally have signs like ‘no passenger pickup’ at major airport departures.

          Happy to be corrected if I’m wrong.

        • pjetson on 15/09/2022 - 20:45

          They can't be fined because it's not against the law.

          The Airports Act 1996 and related regulations are the laws under which the fines are issued.

  • cookie2 on 02/09/2022 - 07:44

    I've done it before, years ago, not realising thee was an etiquette/rule with going to the first taxi. Caused a blue between 2 drivers when the other got out and said they shouldn't accept me.long story short, i stayed with the driver that I first went with and didn't get in the cab with the angry dude! There is the etiquette but you can always ask whoever you want to take the fare…if they say yes when they're not 1st, that's up to them. Otherwise go to the front and speak to the driver BEFORE you get in. Maybe you need to show you're not someone to stuff around and it might make them just say no and not take you, in the beginning.

    • [Deactivated] on 04/09/2022 - 20:10

      While getting out I would have quietly told the driver I'll get back in after the first guy drives off on another job - so he gets no fallout. But hindsight is a wonderful thing and your way sounds like fun too if you bring popcorn. ;-)

  • mskeggs on 02/09/2022 - 07:49
    +66

    Easy fix, just announce very loudly you won't get in a taxi with {insert appropriate racial slurs} and make a big scene. You won't have to get a a taxi at all.

    • smurftastic on 02/09/2022 - 09:52
      +46

      Why bring race into it when the OP said they are not racist?!
      Their actions and words may, in other circumstances, be the definition of it, but they did say they weren't so its OK

      • Drakesy on 02/09/2022 - 11:24
        +3

        bahaha

      • cookie2 on 02/09/2022 - 17:02
        -2

        We all love each other exactly the same and have had no difference experienced throughout our lives that we use to help us make informed decisions and guidance through future life. /s

      • DoctorCalculon on 02/09/2022 - 19:44

        Trump vehemently denied being a racist, but also claimed "there were very fine people on both sides".

      • chriise on 04/09/2022 - 11:30
        +8

        There are only two things I can’t stand in this world: People who are intolerant of other peoples cultures. And the Dutch.

        • serpserpserp on 05/09/2022 - 09:48

          Haven't met a lot of dutch taxi drivers so I guess taking a cab is no problems for you

  • GG57 on 02/09/2022 - 08:55
    +8

    Let me guess, the drivers are Australian?

    • donga100 on 02/09/2022 - 12:57
      +10

      Homo sapien.

      • smartazz104 on 03/09/2022 - 17:10
        +11

        That goddamn human race.

        • druex on 04/09/2022 - 10:03
          +7

          Damn humans, they ruined the human race!

    • [Deactivated] on 04/09/2022 - 20:06
      -1

      Yes. They're always Australian when they want to deflect by calling someone a racist… and they're always the nationality of their country of origin when it's time to promote that instead. Funny how that works.

  • Cheaplikethebird on 02/09/2022 - 08:59
    +5

    Have to deal with taxi drivers all the time for work. The (profanity) come in all shades.

    Could it be that there are a disproportionate amount of (profanity) among taxi drivers while also a disproportionate amount of insert race among taxi drivers?

  • freefall101 on 02/09/2022 - 09:30
    +8

    How do you get ripped off by a taxi driver? Get in, drive place, pay money.

    If they try to charge you more laugh and tell them to piss off. Or get a photo of them (if you have phone space) and file a complaint.

    • pndl on 02/09/2022 - 16:22
      +3

      It's a recent Sydney phenomenon i think, but pretty much every taxi driver will try and rip you off.

      Step 1 - the driver will try and negotiate a fixed rate with you, i.e. by the meter is $25, the driver will tell you the price is $60.
      Step 2 - you haven't accepted the fixed rate and insisted on the meter and yet still think this dodgy driver taking you is a good idea. the driver will take the longest possible route and literally drive around the block a few times
      Step 3 - you tell the driver off and driving around the block a few times added $5-10 dollars, you write it off as its too hard to argue how much extra it added, and just tell them the route and they follow your directions. you reach the destination and the driver pushes a few buttons and add some 'extras' to the meter

      Alternative 1: you try and find a different driver - the other driver will try and rip you off anyways
      Alternative 2: you accept the fixed rate - the fixed rate isn't fixed and some extras will be added anyways

      As to why not file a complaint, the complaint will go nowhere (who are you going to complain to? the taxi company? the transport authority), the driver knows where to live, and its pretty much accepted that you'll get ripped off now.

      • freefall101 on 02/09/2022 - 18:20
        +5

        Lol, that's pretty gutsy of them to stick the knife into their own industry a little deeper. To be honest I haven't taken a taxi in years because of a few "sorry, too short a trip", I just stick with uber.

        I was always pretty gruff with them though, ask for a receipt to review what I'm paying for, tell them to turn the meter off if they take a wrong turn that goes out of the way, probably helps I'm a 6'3" guy though.

        • goraygo on 03/09/2022 - 17:21
          +1

          Yeah. Been doing Uber or drive myself. Haven’t been in a taxi for many years now.

      • Jolakot on 05/09/2022 - 17:52
        +1

        Don't think it's a recent phenomenon, just that the 'legit' drivers have moved out of cabs and onto Uber/Didi, so the ratio of good to scummy drivers has gotten worse, but the overall number of dodgy cabs is the same

      • donga100 on 14/09/2022 - 20:44

        It's a recent Sydney phenomenon

        Lol, not just Sydney and definitely not recent.

    • serpserpserp on 05/09/2022 - 09:50

      The camera on a Nokia 5110 is terrible though

  • dust on 02/09/2022 - 09:33
    +2

    This is a base rate issue. I'm guessing that there isn't an even spread of nationalities in taxi drivers leading to OP thinking that one particular nationality is ripping them off but I believe the fact is that there are a lot of taxi drivers from a few nationalities.

    • smurftastic on 02/09/2022 - 10:09
      +10

      OP doesn't catch enough taxis to warrant using up precious phone space for the Uber app, so guessing their sample size to base their assumptions off isn't large.

      Could also be they only perceive that they are getting ripped off when they are in taxis of people of a certain nationality, but then again they said they are not racist so this can't be the case.

  • pjetson on 02/09/2022 - 09:45
    +4

    can I choose a taxi that is not the first in line?

    I used to drive taxis (in Victoria) many years ago, and the rule then was that you did not have to take the first taxi in a rank. I doubt the rule has changed.

    You're going to make the drivers in front of the taxi that you choose angry, but that's their problem, not yours. Many taxi drivers nowdays don't seem to have much anger control.

    • Presence on 02/09/2022 - 11:21
      +7

      The Taxi Services Commission reminds all drivers that a passenger may choose any taxi that is available for hire regardless of its position in the taxi rank.

      It is an offence for a taxi driver to refuse a passengers fare and compliance action may be taken against offending drivers.

      Yep, heres the truth. And it makes perfect sense too. Customers shouldnt be forced to take dirty cabs, or drivers that give bad vibes.

      Source: https://enews.cpv.vic.gov.au/link/id/zzzz574545ec817c4202/pa…

    • [Deactivated] on 04/09/2022 - 20:03

      Different with the NSW cabs I've seen. If someone goes to a taxi further back that driver sends them back to the cab at the front. If the cab further back does take them I've seen the front driver report the one further back over the radio and they get a "please explain".

      • serpserpserp on 05/09/2022 - 09:51
        +2

        Wow you must spend a lot of time sitting around at the head of cab ranks in Sydney.

  • pegaxs on 02/09/2022 - 09:47
    +36

    I'm not a racist, but…

    • freefall101 on 02/09/2022 - 18:22
      +4

      I also like that it's drivers of certain nationalities.

      I'm sure OP is asking what country they're from rather than making a generalised assumption based on what they look like.

      • Wiede on 04/09/2022 - 23:28
        +2

        Or maybe OP have one of these handy

      • pegaxs on 05/09/2022 - 12:32

        "Where you from??"

        "Bankstown"

        "No, no… I mean, where are you really from??"

    • AlexF on 04/09/2022 - 09:08
      -6

      Nice try. Everyone has prerogative to choose what they deem best for themselves. Choosing a driver is no different to choosing a toaster.

    • Yorkshire-Man on 06/09/2022 - 11:04

      I agree. There are arseholes in every race and there are great humans as well. Judging people by their race or the colour of their skin is racism, judge them by who they are and how they behave, once you start with stereotyping its a slippery slope.

  • Baysew on 02/09/2022 - 10:10
    +9

    You don't want to be ripped off at airports, so always choose the plane you will fly in based on the specific nationality of the pilot.

    • nuttapillar on 05/09/2022 - 07:20

      But it's not the same. The pilot doesn't charge you. But the taxi driver does.

      • Baysew on 05/09/2022 - 11:21
        +1

        Under the SlavOz scale of analogies to prove any sort of moot point, this is the same.

    • serpserpserp on 05/09/2022 - 09:53
      +1

      If I get on a flight and I don't like the look of the pilot I promptly get off and walk over to the nearest plane on the tarmac and tell them to fly me home, no stopovers please.

  • tsunamisurfer on 02/09/2022 - 10:12

    That Nationality constitutes 50% of cabs and 90% of Uber.

    How are you going to avoid or ask for Non-that Nationality in the App?

    • salmon123 on 02/09/2022 - 10:55
      +1

      That Nationality constitutes 50% of cabs and 90% of Uber.

      On uber you can screen them by name and cancel once a driver is assigned.

      • GG57 on 02/09/2022 - 11:06

        Linking a name to a nationality is not a very accurate way to do it.

        • salmon123 on 02/09/2022 - 11:13

          You're right - name plus the drivers photo is better.

          • GG57 on 02/09/2022 - 11:53
            +4

            @salmon123: Sure, name and appearance isn't racial discrimination at all.

      • salmon123 on 02/09/2022 - 14:15

        Funny thing is, Travis Kalanick probably tried this already … Along with rating female passengers appearance.

        • Crow K on 02/09/2022 - 14:30

          I always saw him as someone wringing their hands and lamenting "Oh, but The Algorithm hath decreed it, there's nothing we mortals can do" with each successive scandal.

          Perhaps in the same way the religious can dismissively say "The Lord works in mysterious ways" whenever something incongruous/terrible happens.

          • CommuterPolluter on 05/09/2022 - 21:17

            @Crow K: Oh wow, the problem of evil. You really dug deep for that.

            • Crow K on 06/09/2022 - 18:47

              @CommuterPolluter: This is the first time I've heard someone describe "handwaving anything God does as unknowable and unquestionable" as "the problem of evil". I mean, god's on the other team than evil, right?

              • CommuterPolluter on 07/09/2022 - 00:44

                @Crow K: If God is all-good and all-powerful and why would He permit evil to exist? That’s why it’s referred to the ‘problem’ of evil. Ultimately why God would allow a hurricane to strike a city is unknowable. Can you say that it was possible for God to create the laws of physics in such a way that bad weather is not possible? Such things are beyond our understanding.

                • Crow K on 07/09/2022 - 08:55

                  @CommuterPolluter: Yeah, but this seems to be casting things like "hurricanes" as evil, as though Satan had cooked then up.

                  it sounds like there are two problems, the problem of actual evil and the problem of God otherwise being capricious. Either way, as in my former example, it's using convenient phrases to avoid holding a higher power to accountability.

    • [Deactivated] on 04/09/2022 - 19:59

      Wouldn't it be irrelevant with Uber anyway? Because doesn't Uber show you what the price will be in the app itself, and don't you pay through the app and Uber pays the driver? (That's how a travel vlogger I was watching the other day seemed to describe it. He said his overseas driver asked for a couple of dollars more than the app showed, saying it wasn't enough to cover his cost.) So he could have stood his ground, said that's what the app showed, even reported him I assume - which would make it hard to tack extras onto the price.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 02/09/2022 - 10:18

    Please don't accuse me of racism, I have tried again and again to be open minded, but I find that every time I am ripped off

    Going to need clear examples of the multiple times you have been "ripped off" or you're just auto outing yourself as racist.

    • Euphemistic on 02/09/2022 - 12:08
      +9

      OP gets racist passenger surcharge.

  • salmon123 on 02/09/2022 - 10:54
    +1

    OP didn't mention which airport/terminal. There's a few ways to control which taxi you get:

    1. Let the person behind you go ahead
    2. There's typically a numbered bays and a marshal assigning you a bay to allow concurrent loading. Just ignore the marshal and walk to whichever taxi you like. If the marshal or another passenger calls you out, just ask politely if you can use the taxi you like.
    3. When the taxi pulls up, take a look in the back seat and say you don't like the smell or something and wait for another one

    As for the nationality of the driver, you might be waiting a long time for the right driver to come along.

    • morse on 04/09/2022 - 10:56
      +2

      I’m just wondering how this would work on a practical level. As you usher people ahead of you. The marshal asks, “is there something in particular you need from your taxi?” “Oh yes, I’m waiting for one with the right colour driver”.

  • apple2016 on 02/09/2022 - 11:05
    +2

    can I choose a taxi that is not the first in line?

    Yes you can.

  • hasselbladsnapper on 02/09/2022 - 11:37

    I just jump in as a driver unloads his latest ride, have in the past said its a short trip … never had any problems with that!.

    • GG57 on 02/09/2022 - 12:00

      You can probably get away with that in Adelaide, but larger airports have different areas for taxi drop-off and taxi pick-up. It is frowned upon if you get in a taxi at the taxi drop-off location.

      • hasselbladsnapper on 03/09/2022 - 13:56
        +1

        I was referring to when I lived in Melbourne some years ago!

        • serpserpserp on 05/09/2022 - 09:56

          Not a lot of short trips from Melbourne airport. Even getting a taxi to Tullamarine homes is probably $20

  • Euphemistic on 02/09/2022 - 12:08
    +2

    If you don’t want the first driver, wait for someone else to take it.

  • p1 ama on 02/09/2022 - 12:09
    +7

    Reason is I have been ripped off in the past by drivers of a specific nationality and I would like to avoid them from now on. Please don't accuse me of racism, I have tried again and again to be open minded, but I find that every time I am ripped off in a taxi it is always by drivers of a specific nationality.

    Don't beat around the bush, you are choosing taxi drivers based on their ethnicity, not their nationality, unless you are checking their passport / citizenship before you ride with them. Judging someone by their ethnicity is the definition of racism.

    To be honest, I would actually respect you more if you just came out and said it openly, rather than trying to say "please don't accuse me of racism", at least have the balls to own your beliefs buddy.

    For those who would suggest I download Uber or similar - I feel like I don't catch taxis enough to warrant taking up extra space on my phone.

    "There is a solution for my problem which I won't take up, because I just love whining"

    • Willy Beamish on 03/09/2022 - 19:50
      -6

      Maybe you should check the definition of ethnicity before you call everything racist.

      • ceroau on 04/09/2022 - 07:54

        I think I know where you’re trying to go with this and I think it you who should look into the what ethnicity means. it doesn’t just strictly mean a social group belonging to a nation it could be many things a language, a religion, culture etc.

    • AlexF on 04/09/2022 - 09:18
      -1

      I doubt OP seeks your respect.

    • [Deactivated] on 04/09/2022 - 19:51
      -2

      Judging someone by their ethnicity is the definition of racism.

      Wanting to avoid someone after recognising multiple recurring patterns is… recognising recurring patterns. (And commonsense.)

      • p1 ama on 05/09/2022 - 13:43
        +1

        Wanting to avoid someone after recognising multiple recurring patterns is… recognising recurring patterns.

        Obviously, if someone has scammed you, you should avoid them. What responsibility do other people who happen to be of the same ethnicity bear for that individual scamming you?

    • CommuterPolluter on 05/09/2022 - 21:19
      +1

      I’m sure he asks the taxi driver “hey mate are you Punjabi or Tamil? I really won’t get in the cap if you’re Tamil but Punjabi is fine”

  • Daabido on 02/09/2022 - 12:46

    https://youtu.be/LWkSB-D-hYo

  • happydude on 02/09/2022 - 12:58
    +2

    I thought this was going to be a question about barristers.

    Turned out to be run of the mill racism. A persons that thinks they can pick a nationality based on appearance is inherently racist.

    • Jolakot on 05/09/2022 - 17:56

      You can't tell nationality based on appearance, but surely you can work out ethnicity from appearance most of the time?

  • cookie2 on 02/09/2022 - 17:05
    -5

    All you people that can't have a conversation about race etc. You're the closet shamed racists.

    • [Deactivated] on 04/09/2022 - 19:48
      -3

      Upvote for not being a SCAREDY SHEEP, not being too afraid to admit there are definite patterns proving some cultures are better than others.

  • Peter Enis on 02/09/2022 - 19:40
    +1

    I've always wondered this but actually about the type of car. For example I don't want to get in a maxi van with stiff crashing suspension when there is a comfy boaty Camry in the queue behind it.

    • morse on 03/09/2022 - 23:22

      Yep, have thought the same and thought this is what the post was going to be about.

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