Don't get suckered into these arguments. Make sure your well prepared.
If you are confronted with this argument...
"So, you don't want competition?"
Answer something like:
We are not afraid of competition, as long as it is fair competition. But perhaps you could help us with this dilema:-
We do not control our costs
We cannot choose our own vehicle
We have no control over our largest single cost, I.E. fuel or any other cost associated with running a taxi.
We do not control our prices, they are set for us by TfL once a year.
Could you suggest what competitive strategies we could adopt?
This is why we are pleading with TfL to protect us from unfair competition.
"So, you are afraid of Technological change?"
Answer something like:
The taxi trade, far from being afraid of change are in fact early adopters of technology.
In 1952? the first in vehicle taxi booking radio circuit was installed in a licensed London Taxi (Pye radio?).
Minicabs as they were known back then, did not get them before 1961.
In 1986 ComCab fitted the first in cab data booking terminals. These were installed in Licensed London Taxis.
PH did not adopt in car data terminals until smart phones became popular and cheap.
Our Vehicles have more technology fitted to them today than NASA went to the moon with.
Our vehicles are less up to date than they might be, not because the Taxi driver chooses these vehicles, it's because our licensing authority imposed strict conditions of fitness that handed LTI/LTC, a virtual monopoly and this has led to stagnation in vehicle design.
Taxi Drivers are NOT afraid of technological Change.
We welcome technology. But you must not forget that the real principle of a Taxi or Car service is customer service, NOT technology. It is Hailing, Arrival, passenger safety, efficient transportation, ease of payment. (Most Taxis have some form of accepting credit cards )
I recently gave an interview to a reporter for the Financial Times and the Economist. These arguments interested them.
Len Martin
Chairman UCG
(acknowledgements to White Knight for his historic knowledge input that enabled me to make these statements to The reporters)
ANY trade org wishing to plagiarise or reproduce this in full or in part, knock yourselves out guys.... Lets stop these people killing our 350 year noble decent trade. Work together, share ideas, survive......