On 2014\09\24 18:08, Robin9 wrote:
'Basil Jet[_4_ Wrote:
;144764']On 2014\09\24 11:46, Roland Perry wrote:-

Given the number of taxi and bus drivers it'll put out of a job, I'm
not
sure where the increase in jobs outside TfL will come from.-

Proper taxi drivers will probably do well out of it, since it will keep

suburban ranks busy all night, and reduce long loss-making jobs for
central area drivers to the suburbs... but thousands of minicab drivers

might be out of a "job".

There are not suburban taxi ranks throughout the outer suburbs.

As for minicab drivers, those working for firms near suburban stations
will do
quite well because undoubtedly people will travel in the early hours to
the
station nearest their home and get a minicab for the last leg of the
journey.

The drivers who will suffer are those - mostly unlicensed - minicab
drivers
who tout for work in Central London and then charge rip-off prices to
the
suburbs.

.... who will give up working Central London and work the suburbs
instead, taking work off the drivers who you say will do well?

Wrong. The basis of touting for work in Central London is that
there is a shortage of proper taxis or minicabs. The touts hang
around the areas where there are many late night travellers,
e.g. Piccadilly Circus or outside known night spots and accost
people who look as if they are trying to find a way of getting home.
As there is no ready alternative available, the hapless travellers
accept the proposition.

When people arrive at their local Tube station, they have an
alternative: the cab firm by the station. Apart from a few
hopelessly drunk idiots, none will use a tout.

As for well-known night spots in the suburbs, there is already
considerable touting and there has been for decades. Again,
the underlying condition is that there is no alternative available
to people coming out of clubs, other than 'phoning a cab firm
or - now - contacting Uber.

I suspect that Uber will gradually kill off touting in the suburbs.