Customers In the interests of passenger safety it is vital that government undertakes an education campaign to explain the new arrangements. People who have only ever used a taxi service will suddenly be allowed to access ridesharing platforms and other booked service providers that rely on the transparency of booking and tracking technologies to ensure safety and security. Many of these vehicles will resemble a private passenger vehicle. If passengers fail to understand the rules of ridesharing or other regulated booked service providers, they may be induced to get into a car with a complete stranger. The personal risks involved in such circumstances are apparent. It will be necessary to inform the travelling public how the new arrangements for taxi fares will work, and they will need to be educated about the benefits of choosing a taxi based on brand rather than taking the first cab at the rank, as the social norm of come, first appears to dictate. “first served” Operators We have commented on the significant opportunities for taxi operators in the new regulatory environment, and the challenges they will likely face in the process of transition. Taxi operators are small businesses, and there is a strong case for government assistance to help them understand the new regime and to manage the adjustment from the old system to the new. There would seem to be a major role for the Small Business Commissioner to assist taxi operators in making this transition. Appendix 1 The Terms of Reference – taskforce’s Context The way that customers access the point to point transport market, and the competitive forces within it, have changed over the past decade and a half. The taxi industry in NSW is under increasing pressure from these changes, including the deregulation of hire cars over a number of years, the increasing prevalence of courtesy buses and the funding of community transport, particularly in regional areas. The high regulatory costs the taxi industry face compared to its competitors, combined with new business models in the market mean that the current taxi industry model will struggle in the long run, if changes are not made to create a level playing field and ensure a viable and sustainable future.
Customers In the interests of passenger safety it is vital that government undertakes an education campaign to explain the new arrangements. People who have only ever used a taxi service will suddenly be allowed to access ridesharing platforms and other booked service providers that rely on the transparency of booking and tracking technologies to ensure safety and security. Many of these vehicles will resemble a private passenger vehicle. If passengers fail to understand the rules of ridesharing or other regulated booked service providers, they may be induced to get into a car with a complete stranger. The personal risks involved in such circumstances are apparent. It will be necessary to inform the travelling public how the new arrangements for taxi fares will work, and they will need to be educated about the benefits of choosing a taxi based on brand rather than taking the first cab at the rank, as the social norm of “first come, first served” appears to dictate. Operators We have commented on the significant opportunities for taxi operators in the new regulatory environment, and the challenges they will likely face in the process of transition. Taxi operators are small businesses, and there is a strong case for government assistance to help them understand the new regime and to manage the adjustment from the old system to the new. There would seem to be a major role for the Small Business Commissioner to assist taxi operators in making this transition. Appendix 1 – The taskforce’s Terms of Reference Context The way that customers access the point to point transport market, and the competitive forces within it, have changed over the past decade and a half. The taxi industry in NSW is under increasing pressure from these changes, including the deregulation of hire cars over a number of years, the increasing prevalence of courtesy buses and the funding of community transport, particularly in regional areas. The high regulatory costs the taxi industry face compared to its competitors, combined with new business models in the market mean that the current taxi industry model will struggle in the long run, if changes are not made to create a level playing field and ensure a viable and sustainable future.
point-to-point-taskforce-report-wcag.docx