Sydney taxis voted the nation’s worst
A Report in the Daily Telegraph says that Sydney’s taxi service has been labelled a “joke” and the worst in Australia by the nation’s top tourism and transport operators.
In another setback to the “Emerald City’s” reputation, 49 per cent of tourism operators say Sydney has the rudest and dirtiest taxi services.
Conducted by the Tourism and Transport Forum, the survey of 220 chief executives lambasted the quality of taxi services across Australia.
They cited the lack of driver training and unreliable booking services as particular concerns.
Concerned poor taxis will drive tourists away, the industry is calling for a shake-up “from top to bottom” in a bid to break the taxi cartel.
Rodger Powell, executive chairman of the AIH Group which owns restaurants across Australia, said Sydney was easily the “most inconsistent” for taxis.
“The quality of cars range from well-maintained, clean and comfortable to very badly maintained, shabby, dirty and smelly,” he said.
“The quality of the drivers is the same.”
Recruitment consultant Jenna Swan reckons she gets three or four bad taxis every week.
“They either don’t know their way around or you can’t find (a taxi),” she said.
“It can be pretty shocking.”
Ms Swan’s woes are typical of most regular cab users in Sydney, where finding a driver who speaks English and can find key landmarks has become a lottery.
Law firm employee George Stasinopoulos said Sydney cabbies had a long way to go to match their London counterparts.
“They are the best in the world over there,” he said.
“It takes seven years to get your licence for a black cab over there.” “Here, you can get one in five minutes.”
Melbourne had the second-worst taxis, followed by Canberra.
A Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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