Time to make GPS work

Several stories in the weekend papers illustrated the different attitudes in the taxi industry to the requirement that all taxis be fitted with a GPS system by 6 February.

In the Royal Gazette, it was “Cabbies want more time” and “Pro-GPS cabbie predicts disaster”. In contrast, the headline in the Bermuda Sun read, “New firm promises the best-ever taxi service”.

The inevitability of mandatory GPS has been obvious for at least 18 months. There should be no need to extend the deadline. It’s time for all the dispatch companies and taxi drivers to focus on making GPS work and using it to improve the service they provide. BTA (Dispatching) Ltd's proactive approach should be the model for all.

Comments

[Martin on 09.01.06 at 10:13]

I think I have lost the plot, so to speak, in so far as GPS is concerned.

Why will GPS improve the service? Surely, if the driver does not want to respond to a call, he won't.

If the taxi has to be "available" 16 hours a day (is that still the case?), then either there is more than 1 driver - or the only driver "clocks off" for lunch - tea - toilet breaks, breaks in general etc, as now.

I realise that GPS will locate taxis closer to a particular job which will reduce fuel costs and provide a quicker response, but only if the driver wishes to respond.

Seems like paper tiger to me.

[observor on 09.01.06 at 10:21]

I suspect that if the driver doesn't respond (and probably also shows a continual disregard for available jobs) he or she may very well lose their licence for failure to comply with the terms of same.

[Combat Banker on 09.01.06 at 10:43]

Thought the real reason for the objection was that some cabbies did't want their girl to know that the cab was park outside the mistress' house all night? ;)

[SmokingGun on 09.01.06 at 11:18]

Combat Banker - you so bad, so right, but oh so bad. Very funny. Maybe there's more to it than people think.

[tilti on 09.01.06 at 11:50]

Martin, the gist of the bill and what it is meant to solve is the problem that taxi service is dismal, but it is also a protected market. The drivers have paid a lot of money for their licenses, in return competition is limited. The second part of the deal is that they must drive 16 hours a day.
Presently taxi drivers are not driving this much (why you can never get a taxi) but are saying that they are. With no present way to say otherwise their license remains even though they are not maintaining their part of the deal. Prove that they are at their mistresses all night and they potentially lose their license which opens the market to other more efficient drivers.

[Lost in Flatts on 09.01.06 at 13:32]

A GPS system is pretty much the standard for major dispatching companies every where else in the developped world. As Tilti mentioned, Bermudian taxi drivers have liscenses awarded based on them working 16 hours a day, with mind to multiple drivers sharing the vehicle. It is pretty obvious this isn't happening (note that you can spot taxi's parked at Bull's Head for large portions of the day, for example). With the GPS system, it is easy to print out an exact report of all of the days activities, down to almost the minute, so a cab's route can be plotted out and the dispatcher can see where they've been (and if thats in one single location for 6 consecutive hours at lunch time...well then)

Further, the system makes the dispatchers life infinitely easier, say you call from St. George's, the dispatcher can immediately see all free vehicles within a certain radius of the site, and call them. Now if they choose not to answer, or claim they can't do it as they're not nearby, the dispatcher has proof that they are in fact making it up.

From the drivers perspective it means more fares and more efficient allocation of fares, both of which one would assume would be a good thing. But it also means accountability, and a change to the norm, not something the taxi drivers appear to be ready to accept.

[Yet Another Limey on 09.01.06 at 13:47]

I wonder if the government or police have thought about being able to catch cabbies for speeding.

I think I’m going into business chipping the GPS systems and selling taxi owners randomized routes that will show their taxi wandering randomly around the island obeying the speed limit, stop signs etc…

[Fourth Estate on 09.01.06 at 13:48]

Why not allow the public to see where the taxis are online? Some taxi companies are doing it with Google!

http://labs.google.com/ridefinder

[Uncle Elvis on 09.01.06 at 14:01]

I agree with everything that you guys are saying, but I still have to side with the drivers on the GPS issue.
It was wrong, the way it was done.
It could have been handled SO much better.

[Martin on 09.01.06 at 14:19]

Lost in Flatts....

I may be an old cynic...but somehow I cannot imagine what dispatchers are going to do with information that shows a taxi driver is not where he says he is.

[SmokingGun on 09.01.06 at 14:27]

The only issue I have with the GPS system is why hasn't the Minister of Tourism/Transportation worked out a financing deal for the taxi drivers. It can be done through government or he could set it up with his bro at HSBC. They could lease the systems until they are paid off.

In addition since we are only talking about 21 sq. miles why bother having so many systems? I would set up a central dispatch system that was run out of government's bus and ferry program so everything is co-ordinated.

I cannot believe I just used government and co-ordinated in the same sentence.....

[SmokingGun on 09.01.06 at 14:33]

Actually having just read Martin's post I take that all back.
Maybe there is some real evil behind all of this......
No GPS monitors in taxi's at all!!
I don't want anyone knowing where I spend my six hour lunch breaks either!

[Martin on 09.01.06 at 14:40]

Smoking.............

Your secret is safe with us - at least until the next time I can't get a taxi that is.

[Martin on 09.01.06 at 16:45]

Does anyone know the title of the relevant Act of Parliament that covers this GPS arrangement?

[Tiger Bay on 09.01.06 at 17:00]

MOTOR CAR AMENDMENT ACT 2005.

[Martin on 09.01.06 at 21:26]

Thanks Tiger....much appreciated.

[Git on 10.01.06 at 12:45]

I'm all for improved taxi service at whatever the cost. There are a lot of (particularly younger) drivers who hustle hard. Many of them will tell you they have no major problem with GPS. For the most part it is the older, semi-retired, this-is-my-pocket-money types who are letting the system down and then griping about the intended improvements. These are the cabs you'll find parked o/s of private clubs and bars around the island during the day, driver inside having a toddy. The way GPS was implemented wasn't quite right, but perhaps the ends justify the means?

IMO along with this upcoming change should be legislation allowing for licenced limousines to cater to the IB bigwigs who tie up normal cabbies 24/7. These drivers, many of whom are the aforementioned barflies, are so well taken care of they don't need to go out and take regular fares. Some of them now sport business cards touting their "executive services" and work in groups. There's nothing wrong with drivers providing this service, but it should be under a specific licence and not at the expense of Joe Six-Pack who needs to get home at 1:00am or a ride from the airport.

[SmokingGun on 10.01.06 at 13:03]

Git - I think that might be an issue they want to fix. Good point.

[SmokingGun on 10.01.06 at 21:44]

After reading the letters to the editor today I thought of one other benefit for having GPS. Is someone decides to try to rob a cabbie they can send out an immediate alarm.

[Linda on 11.01.06 at 10:16]

The success of the taxi industry and service it provides will not lie with GPS alone. BTA is set up and ready to go on deadline date of Feb. 6th. To extend it is ludicrous. This company has gone to great expense and research to provide the best service possible. Staff, Management, drivers, etc., are in place and ready to start operating under the new system as of Feb. 1. However, getting back to my first sentence, the Transport Control Dept. needs to play a part in this too. Driver dress code needs to be upheld, drivers bad attitudes need to be sorted out, and better screening of potential new drivers is needed. If you give a license to any Tom, Dick or Harry, you are bound to end up with some bad drivers. The whole attitude and operating system of drivers must change. With enforced regulations this can be done.

[ObservaMan on 15.08.06 at 02:17]

This is quite relevant:

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/TECH/08/14/satnav.london.taxis.reut/

[JJ on 15.08.06 at 09:38]

ObservaMan
not sure why you think that. The need for GPS in Bermuda cabs is not to help cab drivers find their way around the island!

[ObservaMan on 15.08.06 at 10:24]

The point being that in a much larger place its not needed for providing directions or otherwise. Cabbies must take an exam that makes them prove they are capable of providing top notch service. I don't believe that there is any kind of formal training/exam in BDA for cabbies to take that ensures that they understand how to maximize their quality service, especially in the tourism sector. If you think GPS alone will improve the taxi service you are mistaken.

[inBda on 15.08.06 at 11:30]

GPS is never going to work here when drivers still have the choice whether to pick up fares. On Friday evening I was waiting for my cab at 7.30pm that I had booked at 2pm that afternoon and after a number of calls to the dispatcher I was told "there are non in your area". I walk 200 yards up the road to the entrance of one of our larger hotels and find no less than 14 taxis waiting to take fares from hotel guests - which there were the grand total of 3 people in the line....it's a joke

In other countries I have visited drivers are given their next jobs by the dispatcher and they follow the instruction and pick up the next fare...that's what we need here to make it somewhere close to an efficient service...

[SmokingGun on 15.08.06 at 11:52]

inBda - nice to be treated like a second class citizen eh? I've had the same happen to me and I make sure the cabbie hears about. Usually they blame the dispatcher. So just to juice them I drop a name to cause a fuss.

Here's a little tip I sometimes use when travelling. When I go to a major city and use cabs I call the companies and get the names of the GM. Then when I'm in the cab I drop their name as if I might be a friend ie: "So how's so and so doing?" The driver's usually figure out the short cuts pretty quickly.

[inBda on 15.08.06 at 13:17]

Well I did aks the driver of my car why no-one came to get me and he said he would have but he was talking to so and so and assumed someone else would have picked me up.....

What we need is someone to actually say T1000 next pick up no. 5 XX Road yellow house - green shutters - ETA 2 mins from your current position - they are looking out for you...

Dream on I guess.....

[Marttin on 15.08.06 at 16:54]

inBda...

Given that approx 20% of the drivers are aged 70 or over + given that Ewart stuffed GPS down their throats as only Ewart can do...it is perhaps not surprsing that it will not work.

Many do not want change. Many work the hours they want to do - always have done and always will do.

Now...that ain't right...but it is as it is.

I shudder to think how they would react if "instructed" which fares to pick up...can you imagine:

1) "I'm having a bathroom break..."
2) "I'm not feeling too well...can't take the call you just gave me, but will hang in there until I feel better".
3) "Not sure what's wrong with the car today...am getting a tow towards Rayclan to see if they can help".
4) "Sorry - got a flat tyre".
5) Just stopping off at the doctors...will catch the next one".

Et al.

[ian on 15.08.06 at 17:08]

Never in my entire life have I seen (in a "developed" nation) taxi drivers with such a self-inflated sense of importance. For chr***s sakes - they're driving a bloody car taking people from point A to point B! To use an overworked cliche, it's not brain surgery. Any jacka** can drive a car and chat about the weather, places to see, etc. When I lived there almost 10 years ago I was shocked at how inept the taxi system was. Obviously it hasn't changed a heck of a lot judging by the GPS issue. Come on, if you can't get this worked out - good luck on reviving tourism, having accountability in government, handling race issues, addressing crime, etc.!

[Martin on 15.08.06 at 17:46]

Ian...

Developed? Steady on...

[SmokingGun on 15.08.06 at 18:46]

Actually I don't have a problem if a cabbie doesn't want to be forced to have a GPS sytem in their vehicle. If they are comfortable with the way they run their business then so be it. What the government might want to consider is offering more licenses based on having to have the system and participating. Not too many more just enough to upgrade the total product and allow the oldies piece of mind. After a while they'll swing around to it when they see the missed opportunities and it starts costing them good fees by not iworking within the system.