I'd like to begin my new blog by going on the defensive. Well, actually, I'd just like to set the record straight with regard to the reputation that Licensed Glasgow Taxi drivers have. We are commonly known as Black Hacks. Even the ones among us who have different coloured cabs, and my three best friends in the game have silver cabs, and another one has a red cab, are known as hacks, black or otherwise.
The nomenclature in our profession out of the way for now, let's look at the typical Glasgow cabbie. What is the public perception of us? I think in general that most people appreciate the service we provide. Especially when it is raining, cold, early/late hours, and they are running late. Every driver is different. I'm a chatty, happy person most of the time. However, when people do not wish to chat, which I am able to discern pretty early on in the journey, then I will respect that, remain quiet and civil, and take them to their destination.
I have many customers who I have to correct with regard to common misconceptions about our long standing trade. “Are you charging double at Christmas and the New year, driver?”, being one of the more common myths. In fact, over the festive period, we are cheaper than private hire. Most people do not realise this. We charge an extra £1 on Boxing Day and January 2nd, and on Christmas Day and New Years Day, it's only an extra £1.80, which applies to any length of journey.
A bone of contention between the public and the cabby is the famous 'Boundary Charge'. This is a charge which applies for journeys outside the city of Glasgow. The reasons for the charge is the fact that we are not allowed to pick up outside Glasgow, and have to return with an empty taxi, incurring many more dead miles. The boundary charge is at the driver's discretion. It's usually meter price plus 1/3, or a fixed price. Both to be negotiated before the fare begins. The driver can charge a boundary as soon as the boundary line is crossed. However, most guys I know will give a little leeway. Perhaps 1/2mile or a mile by the boundary before charging. That's what I usually do. By the terms of our licence, we are entitled to refuse a hire outside the city boundary.
Like any profession, there are a small number of rogues. Guys who do not communicate with others, do not adhere to the taxi drivers (unwritten) code of conduct, with regard to other drivers, and treat the paying public with contempt. These chaps, and the odd female, are few in number, thankfully, and are pretty well known to the rest of the drivers. Almost nightly, I have to apologise to my customers for the behaviour of the odd driver. Of course, the public usually know that these guys are not typical of the usual Glasgow cabbie. I always say to people if they think they have been ripped off or treated badly, or didn't like the driver's attitude, then by all means report the matter to the GCC licensing department.
I've been a driver for fifteen years, and I do my very best to treat everyone with equal respect, whether they work in a fast food outlet or the High Court of Glasgow. I expect the same from the general public, and in the vast majority of fares, that's exactly what people do. Glasgow folk are friendly and the salt of the earth, in most cases. I pick up all social classes, races, creeds, sexuality and nationalities. There are none 'better' than any other. Like my life outside of the taxi, if they treat me well, I will treat them well. Be nice to me, and I'll be nice to you. Every night, I learn something new from the people I pick up. Or I make a new friend. Life is all about learning, and my trade gives me the opportunity, on a nightly basis, to do just that.
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