Taxi driver union says bus strike means drop in business

Many taxi drivers are struggling due to the Dublin Bus strike and want to see an end to the dispute, the head of one of the largest taxi unions has said.

The common perception may be that less competition from public transport should lead to a surge in activity for taxi drivers, but this has not proven to be the case according to Christopher Humphries of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association.

"We're actually busier when the buses are on because there's usually more people around. There doesn't seem to be any people about," he told The Irish Times.

The lack of traffic throughout the city on Friday due to the absence of buses means the streets are more easily navigable for members of the public who are driving, and Mr Humphries suspects that others are simply staying away from town altogether rather than organising alternative transport.

“I was out and about myself this morning and traffic is very light in different parts. Town itself seems to be moving freely,” he said.

Dublin Bus workers are currently engaged in a fifth day of strike action over three weeks in relation to a pay dispute with the company, and further stoppages are scheduled for Saturday as well as 13 more next week and in October.

One driver works for a radio call-out company said Thursday and Friday of last week were “like Christmas” with a glut of extra customers, but others are finding fares difficult to come by.

"It hasn't been too busy this morning. The traffic is moving fine, if there's extra traffic it adds to the business," said Jim Waldron.

“Last week there was lots of work on the street. This morning wouldn’t have been as busy, people have made other arrangements or maybe they’re meeting up with somebody and getting a taxi together,” he added.

Mr Waldron sought to discourage people from using apps like Uber and Hailo as drivers prefer to rely on street pickups on days of the strike to avoid taking a hit on missed callout charges and levies from such companies, and he encouraged people to use radio operators instead.

"You have every taxi driver thinking he's going to make a fortune so you have double the amount of taxis that come in. On a normal Friday I'd have a better day than this," said another driver at the Gresham Hotel rank on O'Connell Street, who expressed sympathy for the strikers.

“It’s eight years since they last got a pay increase, fair is fair. I don’t want to see it going on.”