Plans in the works for women-only taxi network

MarcoVincenzo · 2013-11-14T10:09:13+00:00

Cab driver falsely accused of rape saved by his phone app.

Cabbies have more to fear from their passengers than the other way around.

womblefish · 2013-11-14T13:51:01+00:00

There was a 'Pink' taxi company in my city a few years ago. It ran for a year or so before shutting. It was based on similar ideas the one mentioned in the article.

Although at first glance it might seem like a workable business plan, but taxi regulations, local bylaws and staffing problems made the business unprofitable and damn near impossible to operate.

e.g. 1) Taxi companies with more than X number of cabs (e.g. 10) are legally required to offer 24 hour service. Since taxi drivers effectively get paid on commission, staffing on quiet nights is always a bit of a problem. I'm sure it won't surprise anyone here, that finding women to work a 10pm-6am shift was particularly difficult.

e.g. 2) Taxi drivers queued at ranks are legally obliged to tell prospective passengers that they should take the taxi at the front of the queue. i.e If a woman walks up to 'Pink' taxi at the back of the rank, the driver is legally obliged to tell them to go to the taxi at the front of the rank. Failure to do so is a breach of the Transport Act, and can result in a fine.

e.g. 3) Since the 'Pink' taxi company was limiting their pool of potential taxi drivers to just women, and women make up a very small percentage of taxi drivers, they couldn't really be too 'picky' about who they hired. So they ended up with quite a few lousy drivers / bad apples. This damaged the reputation of the company.

e.g 4) Limiting their staff options, meant they had long wait times and poor service, especially late at night (when women are most likely to call them).

e.g. 5) Marketing themselves as a 'premium' service, meant that their prices were higher. But the reality is that most women don't give a damn who's driving the taxi, they care more about price and wait time than any 'loyalty to the sisterhood' or paranoia about men.

TL/DR It's a dumb idea and the company will fail.

nihilist_nancy · 2013-11-14T08:06:47+00:00

It's ok to seek an exemption from fairness in hiring laws when it's for hiring women. Some lovely stereotyping and women are wonderful-isms in there too.

ScottFree37 · 2013-11-14T11:59:30+00:00

Here's a experiment, replace men with black people and women with white people. If you do that it sounds like a business the KKK thought up.

twentyforchange · 2013-11-14T08:28:05+00:00

Wow not because something actually happened in taxis, but because they felt "uncomfortable". Anyway it is the private businesses choice, as long as the government doesn't subsidize it in any way I have no problem with it.

StoicThePariah · 2013-11-14T15:23:57+00:00

As long as the male fares don't go to subsidize this, it won't go far. How many women are willing to work long hours driving a taxi? Not nearly as many as men, and this service will of course cost more due to a smaller demand.

Now, the big question: How does this affect Trans* drivers and passengers? Time to watch the feminists expose their transwomen hatred.

2013-11-14T12:25:24+00:00

I just used MS word find and replace tool (and some slight grammer fixes to make it flow) and here we are.

* WHITE taxi passengers would be driven by white cabbies under plans for a white people people-only taxi network.

Network Taxi Link said there was a need for a premium service because some white people people felt uncomfortable in taxis.

Director Harry Katsiabanis said he had three white drivers working for him and wanted to increase that number to 50.

He said he would then seek exemption from equal opportunity laws.

"We have identified a need in the market. We will apply to VCAT to get the exemption for equal opportunity from a race issue, like KKK clanhouse,'' Mr Katsiabanis said.

"From a safety point of view, I think white people people feel more at ease with white people people. We are trying to create a more comfortable environment, an environment that will be more readily used than the current one.''

Under the plan, cabs in the network, dubbed Taxi Link White, would be painted White, subject to the industry regulator's approval. White passengers could then request a white driver when they booked a cab. Mr Katsiabanis said he thought white and black drivers had different demeanours.

"I think white people people are more caring and I think that they've got a more gentle demeanour than mostblack people, so I think they'll cope well (with) the stress and pressures of traffic in Melbourne,'' he said. Cabbie Hanna Heincke, 60, said she enjoyed meeting people from all over the world.

"It's just interesting and when you do a lot of little old white people it is very rewarding to give them a hand. They are very thankful,'' Ms Heincke, who started driving when she and her then husband bought a licence more than 30 years ago, said.

She said many passengers were surprised to jump into the cab and see a white behind the wheel, but backed the idea of a white people people-only network.

"I have had that every day since I've driven. They're just surprised to see a caucasian and then they think it's very good. If it's a young white or an older white, they're very happy and they feel safer,'' she said. Ms Heincke, who doesn't drive past 9pm, said she hadn't had many challenging passengers.

"I've never been attacked, thank heavens, I've had runners, where they've just gotten out and bolted,'' she said.

"I've never driven at night. You get the feeling. You know straight away when something is wrong.

"When you do have a problem situation, it might sound silly. but sometimes being a caucasian helps. Being a white, I don't think they can do it; they look twice and think, 'I can't hit a caucasian'. It's been an advantage I think.''

Taxi Services Commission chair Graeme Samuel said from what he heard the idea fitted in with his vision for the industry, where networks set themselves apart with better service, new fare offerings and distinct branding.

"My strong view is that competition is going to be the best way in which this industry will improve and respond to the requirements of consumers, of customers,'' he said.

"If Harry Katsiabanis can offer the competition that we are seeking, then all strength to his arm.'' *

JayBopara · 2013-11-14T17:46:07+00:00

"When you do have a problem situation, it might sound silly. but sometimes being a lady helps. Being a woman, I don't think they can do it; they look twice and think, 'I can't hit a lady'. It's been an advantage I think.''

Comment says it all. Also, men are also from a safety point of view, more comfortable with women. So why don't we make all cab drivers female-only? That's what happens when you follow this logic to its logical conclusion.

Kahing · 2013-11-15T00:15:32+00:00

Just imagine the outcry if there was a male-only anything.

assemblethenation · 2013-11-14T07:52:39+00:00

Being a USian, I have the attitude that a private business can align their services to be more competitive without too much interference from government. Don't ask for a bailout if the plan fails and don't force male clientele to subsidize the segregation because some women feel unreasonably unsafe in a cab. If women are truly not safe riding in cabs in AU, that should be addressed outside of a premium service that offers the perception of increased security.

The TSA has taught us about how increased security perception can lead to a dangerous illusion of safety.

nihilist_nancy · 2013-11-14T11:32:06+00:00

I don't mind things like this if they are privately funded, it's their business, they can decide.

Title	Plans in the works for women-only taxi network
Author	ScottFree37
Upvotes	58
Comments	43
Date	November 14, 2013 6:07 AM UTC (12 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/1qljkf/plans_in_the_works_for_womenonly_taxi_network/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/plans-in-the-works-for-women-only-taxi-network.1158879 https://theredarchive.com/post/1158879

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