cabbies

So the argument is that cabbies weren't making enough money and thus had to supplement their income with petty crime?

About 30-40% of cabbies will take you on the scenic route if you don't give them specific directions.

But now, lot of the airport cabbies have decided to join 'the enemy' rather than try and beat it.

Amazon between manufacturers and consumers, Apple/Google between app creators and users, Google between websites and readers, Uber between cabbies and travelers.

France banning of UberPop today after severe protests from licensed cabbies, is also rather timely.

It'd be like cabbies complaining that new subways were opening, or the busses got better, and their business was going down.

Talked to anyone who traveled extensively before uber, and they'll have plenty of stories about cabbies who tried to rip them off.

Uber has been really clever to frame the controversy as a debate about whether the cabbies should have to take an exam.

So along those axes, I think Uber is actually worse, and I think that mainly because cabbies say so.

I thought cabbies made more than that when you count in tips, but you might be right.

That's what airport cabbies near where i live in India now do.

And even then, The overwhelming majority of cabbies who killed and maimed passengers and pedestrians in the past five years are back behind the wheel.

But then go to London, where cabbies are polite (to be point of being too chatty) and know exactly where they're going because of studying for "the knowledge".

> "I don't know that location, can you give me directions" On the other hand, sometimes I've been pleasantly surprised at how knowledgeable some cabbies are.

The competition “was merciless,” according to Hodges, and “Many cabbies turned to petty crime to help make ends meet.” There were strikes, and there were fare wars." The solution isn't to wipe out the medallions.

"Automatic deduction for cabbies who often tip themselves and hand you less change without asking - give me my change in full and I'll tip you, thanks." Couldn't that be entirely (and easily) avoided by simply handing them cash and asking for a specific amount back?

Cabbies themselves have been the biggest reason for all the regulation from the city.

Cabbies seem like they're in the heart of every controversy these days - from medallions losing huge amounts of value to wage/tip adjustments.