The Taxi Rank Ramp
Page 33
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It is Suggested That Many Drivers Form Their Own "Private" Ranks or Parks and Accept Fares From Only Particular Clubs, Restaurants, Etc.
By " Tantalus "
THERE was a time when the cries of the street vendors provided a marked feature of London life. Books have been written, songs sungeand plays acted all of which have had themes centred around the cries of London. Who can forget the romantic story of "Sweet Nell of Old Drury," tlee orange girl who made history?
Time and war, unfortunately, have taken a heavy toll of this cross-section of life in the metropolis. Even up to the advent of war the tinkling bell of the muffinman was still heard regularly on Sunday afternoons in many of the residential squares throughout the winter months. .To-day that bell is silent—a symbol of necessary war-time sacrifices and deprivations. Lovers of the old customs will rejoice when the war becomes a matter of past history and the streets once again ring with London's cries.
The prevailing cry of the present day is not, " Who'll buy my sweet lavender? " but, " Taxi, taxi," shouted in raucous tones. It is no longer a question as to where • the flies go in winter time, but, rather, where do the taxicabs go at night? One of the most exasperating experiences, as also one of the most difficult tasks, is that of finding a disengaged taxi in the evening. • . In these active and arduous days—when there is little opportunity of relaxation or leisure-.--occasional theatregoing or dining out does provide a welcome break and some relief from the daily round and common task. Too frequently, however, any such enjoyment is marred by the knowledge that the proceedings must end with frantic attempts to obtain a taxi for the homeward journey.
Recently, in an effort to discover what really does happen to the cabs, investigations were set on foot which resulted in the disclosure of an absolute" racket "—and this expression is used advisedly. The shortage first becomes particularly noticeable after the theatre rush at about 6.30 p.m. From then onwards the ranks, as well as the main cruising thoroughfares, invariably are empty. Taxis completely disappear in the mogt extra, ordinary manner. The main object of the investigations was to discover where they actually go when they so disappear.
Parking in Quiet Spots It was revealed that, after " doing " the theatres, drivers park near particular cafes or restaurants (complete with telephone), which are situated in small streets hidden away from the main thoroughfares. Here they wait orders from the particular restaurant, club or whathave-you with which they are associated, the orders, of course, having been received over the telephone. The following is quite authentic:—A dinner guest when preparing to take his departure was heard to remark to his wife, " What about a taxi? We shall never get one." A member of the party immediately replied, "Don't worry. I'll soon arrange that; leave it to me." He disappeared .to the telephone, and upon returning said, " That's all right, but do you mind just walking over to So-on-So's (mentioning a well-known West End restaurant) where the taxi will come to collect us? It's only just over the way." " But why can't we be picked up here? " came the rejoinder. " Oh this place is not on the drivers' list; you see these fellows accept orders only from certain specified places," was the reply.
Sure enough in less " than five minutes the taxi . appeared, and the journey along Piccadilly and Knightsbridge proceeded to the cries of " Taxi " from those unfortunates who did not know the ropes. It transpired that in this particular instance an arrangement existed between the hall-porter and the taxi-driver parked at the given location. So clients could be assured of a cab whenever a telephone message was received from the hall-porter in question. Obviously such arrangements are advantageous to business for, when taxis are out on a job and there is some little delay,, more drinks are indicated, thus benefiting the " hoese."
General Public Penalized It was not possible to obtain information as to whether there exists any financial arrangement between the drivers and the managements concerned; but what is certain is that a system as described quite definitely is in operation in particular instances. In the meantime, people forced by circumstances to be away from home until late in the evening and those scurrying to catch a train are penalized and put to considerable inconvenience.
Then there is the class of driver who—although his cab is empty—allows the hire-indicator to remain down and will not stop when called upon to do so. In all probability the drivers are proceeding in answer to a telephone call of the nature already described.
Yet another annoyance is that occasioned by the driver who refuses, on the grounds of insufficient petrol, a journey which—for some personal reason—he does not like, but who usually agrees to accept the fare if pressure be brought to bear by the promise of a greatly enhanced sum inthe waY of remuneration.
Still another type of driver who should be mentioned is the one who covers up the hire-indicator purporting to indicate that is is going off duty and, therefore, is not available for hire. There are reasons to believe that in some instances this is merely a form of camouflage to suit some purpose of the driver. Whether this be so or not, the fact remains that in such circumstances the taxi is not serving the public need.
It should be noted that this difficulty in the matter of taxis is not confined to any particular district. That is to say it exists not only in Mayfair and the West End, but is equally acute in more distant areas. Whether it be in St. John's Wood, Bayswater, Kensington or Chelsea where the difficulty obtains, matters not. What does matter is that the difficulty exists with complete disregard of persons and circumstances. Even after the fullest allowance has been made for the compulsorily-reduced numbers of taxis which are permitted to ply for hire, there is evidence that those cabs in operation are not giving the fullest service to the public generally. Surely some action should be taken by the responsible authorities to remedy this state of affair e and put an end to the racket.