It ain't easy being Green (Cabs)
Our favourite cab company has expanded to Auckland and Christchurch and are doing pretty well in both. But it's not all expansion and increasing profits. Recently the eco-friendly cab company has had to defend itself against statements from the head of the Taxi Federation. Then they had to fend off spurious claims from other taxi companies (Combined in this case) that they were also "green".
The Commerce Commission began investigating Wellington Combined Taxis in March after receiving complaints about claims on its website. The website suggests the company's LPG taxis reduce carbon dioxide pollution by up to 25 per cent, and its Nissan Maxima engines are 20 per cent more fuel efficient than traditional automatic transmissions.
And then today I heard another mean story. Green Cabs received a call for a big job: 9pm, 40 people, 10 cars. They naturally accepted. But 10 cabs is a lot out Green Cabs' fleet so it was also a gamble. You know what's coming don't you? That's right, nobody showed. The cars didn't wait around for long but it was long enough at that time to miss out on a large number of jobs. Green Cabs have an idea who was behind the prank but we'll let our readers make up their own mind. Something else that is interesting to note: the average cab driver spends approximately $80 a day on petrol, the average Green Cabbie spends approximately $20 a day on petrol.
Whilst I agree the Green Cabs is a great thing they have another side. A friend of mine caught a green the other day and the driver asked if he didn't mind paying using his visa via his paper machine. The reason being when he processes the payment via the electronic machine it take upwards of two months for Green Cabs to pay his account. The driver wasn't happy and was looking for a way out of his contract.
Is that right Anonymous? So while we have made sure that we only report fact and have kept speculation to a minimum (after lengthy behind the scenes discussion about libel) you just go right out and post this up.
So not to say you're wrong but I heard that nearly all the drivers are happy and are investing back into the company.
You are perfectly right about Green Cabs being a great thing though
it dont surprise me about fake jobs.its very sorry really.i leased a contract for maybe..say 2 years in a old company ..i come from an i.t background and the goings on are very shocking to a new comer..i got a lot of job satisfaction meeting great people other drivers and public but unless you have spent time in v hard ...the mentality of it all...i may have to go back and drive for a friend soon say better not go on..this whole thing re gree is bloody typical and not necessary...i heard some strange tales..i wish green well hope they rise above it..
Talked to a Combined driver the other month who said that the company had just announced that they would not accept any petrol cars into their fleet after 1 June -- or maybe July, I forget. Regardless, the list of acceptable models was apparently 1 LPG model, 3 diesel vehicles, and the Toyota Prius.
She also said that a bunch of diehard Combined drivers were proceeding to refresh their cabs early with petrol models before the cutoff.
Needless to say, this sensible driver was looking at a Prius, because instead of $600 per week on petrol, some of the Prius taxi drivers were spending $80 or so.
Do Green cabs cost any more or less than Wellington Combined? I guess in the long run they should cost less as their running costs are lower, but obviously while the company is getting established they have much bigger overheads.
All Wellingtonista discussion has concluded that our trips in them have been cheaper than the equivalent in Combined.
re full page ad in todays newspaper; white is the new green. Questions: green with envy? another question: why r there no African people in this new white?
Gazza = are you saying there should be african people in every taxi company????
what sort of a f..... question is that anonymous? what sort of small minded individual would write such a thing? ANSWER: another driver from combined!!!!!!!!!!! to scared to reveal themselves for fear of being fined!!!!!!!!!!get a life looser.
Dunno about that, but word on the street is that a certain company has a policy of not hiring African drivers at all. I don't really like giving that company my business.
Yellow Cab accused of discrimination over turbans
Last Updated: Wednesday, June 28, 2000 | 2:15 PM ET
CBC News
The Sikh Federation of Edmonton is backing up a man who says an Edmonton cab company won't hire him because he wears a turban.
Karpal Singh Handa has just filed a complaint with the human rights commission alleging that Yellow Cab has an unwritten policy barring Sikhs with turbans from employment.
Handa says he's been trying to get on with the company for more than six months and they won't hire him.
Jaspeer Singh of the Sikh Federation of Edmonton agrees with the allegation made by Handa.
"There has not been and there is not one individual of Sikh faith who has been permitted to drive a Yellow Cab wearing a turban," says Singh.
Singh says a good portion of Yellow Cab's 600 drivers are Sikh.
Yellow Cab manager Sid Slack says there is no policy barring Sikhs from wearing turbans.
Ahhh yes, Edmonton, that popular Wellington suburb...
LOL @ Sid Slack.
Yep, he's the guy wears the pants around here, etc.
...but aren't they really only as 'green' as the power supply that recharges their electric cells, and with dirty old Huntly plant coming on line to circumvent winter power shortages...
I admire the gesture to greeness, but it really is little more than that - let's face it, if the national taxi fleet went hybrid, it would create a huge surge in power demand that would result in burning much more coal (in the current resource management climate). At least the fuel would be locally sourced though...
And, I have seen at least one hybrid in the Combined fleet as well too...
M-D: hybrids get their juice from regeneration when the vehicle decelerates/brakes. Ultimately their energy source is petrol - they just use a lot less of it.
Even if they did get their power from the mains, you can treat the exhaust from a single large power plant more efficiently to remove particulates etc, maybe even sequester the CO2, so it would still be a win.
Right - I take that back then - but I did think that was the point of an electric vehicle... it would be kinda cool if we really did have abundant renewable electricity being utilised...
After some quick research, the Prius Plug-in is due in 2010. However, I also read old reports that it was due this year. It seems to be the way that the companies are heading, with Toyota racing GM to have the first Plug-in on the market...
Damn you Stephen for getting to the mythbusting before me!
Follow up: see here.
The Prius doesn't ship with the capability to plug into the mains - that's an aftermarket mod, and there seem to be sound reasons not to do it.
Somehow the picture of people running extension cords from their house to their cardeck never really stacked up for me.
That'd be dodgy in Wellington, for sure.
I've heard of parts of Canada where people have some sort of device in their cars, powered from the mains in the garage, that just keeps the engine block warm overnight when it's really cold.
It's called a blockheater, and in most parts of Canada your car would not start without one. You only need it if you park outside and it's going to be between -20C to -40C overnight. But it often gets that cold during the day, so plugging in becomes a pretty daily process. You know it's cold when people have extension cords wrapped around their side view mirrors.
My god - that's nearly colder than Dunedin!
that's Fahrenheit, right? Otherwise might I respectfully suggest "that's crazy!"
I bleeve is is Celsius. Y'know, sometimes you gotta take a step back and ask.. "is someone trying to tell me something". For example, it's -40C overnight: is someone trying to tell me that it's TOO FUCKEN COLD FOR HUMAN HABITATION?
A fascinating fact I learned when I first flew on a 747 is that -40 is the same in celcius & fahrenheit.
OMG! You're right!
But I'm still thinking I don't want to live in Canada (at least not in winter)
Science eh?
My Canadian friends claim that -40 and winter in general isn't so bad because it's still 23 degrees inside. The reason? They fuckin' build houses properly, with furnaces in basements fueling central heating that keeps you nice & toasty.
See to me, I think that's fucking bullshit. Hoodies are nice and cosy and awesome. Put one on if you're inside, and it's winter, buddy!
That said, woo insulation and stuff, but please don't make me pay $2.12 a litre for petrol for my seldom-used car because you are using oil to heat your homes to singlet-weather.
A hoodie would do you no good in -40 without central heating...
Plus, our petrol is near your price, and in Alberta we pull it out of the ground beneath our feet. Seems a tab unfair to me no?
FYI, i've never been as cold in my life as winter in a shitty student flat in Wellington. It's robbery to even charge for rent for those.
Shitty Wellington flats: we totally hear you on that.
Lived in Calgary, Alberta for seven years and regularly plugged my car in. If you didn't, it would not start the next morning. One strange side effect was seeing cars dragging extension cords down the highway, after forgetting to unplug before driving off. And what's worse than plugging your car in, however, is spending 15 minutes scraping snow and ice off your car in minus 40 Celsius. It's possible to get a dose of frostbite in that time...not fun. Crisp though.
I grew up in Wyoming and we had to have engine block heaters for our cars that were parked outside as well.
I remember when I went off to university I looked at several campuses all over the US. the residence halls at Montana State boasted of the outdoor electrical outlets in the parking lot and the ski wax room.
Hmm, my car doesn't like starting when it's been raining, maybe I should get a block heater.
Or a) park it in the garage and b) get the battery/alternator checked. But I like the idea of cords more!
Back to the Green Cab story - they should have known the 10 car order was a hoax because what sort of idiot would order 10 cars when 4 vans are much cheaper? And the CO2 emissions from 4 vans are about the same as 10 Prius, or maybe slightly less depending on what kind of vans you use. If the taxis had to travel on the hills then 4 vans would definitely emit a lot less CO2 because Prius have to burn much more petrol on hills and there is little benefit from the battery (especially if they are loaded up with people). Wellington, with all its hills, is actually not the greatest city for driving hybrids. I'm sorry this all can't easily be written on a fridge magnet (unlike "Green Cabs: better for you, better for the environment"), so just forget I mentioned it.
Oh my goodness! An anonymous comment that's bagging Green Cabs! What a rare event.
How's this for fridge magnet size: "Petrol up-hill and battery down".
We've discussed this a lot before, in fact I think you'll even see something similar in the comments above.
So while those Prius and vans burn extra fuel on the way the hills, on the way back down the vans will still burn fuel while the Prius will store energy in it's battery to use in normal driving.
And as for Green Cabs taking the job in the first place, maybe they didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth? Maybe when the person rang they said "ok" rather than "we'd prefer you spend that large amount of money with our competitors"
and guess what? who owns a van/shuttle company? combined own co-op shuttles.Havnt you heard the ad on the radio???? thats when they get real eco- they roll out there shuttle fleet! rolling out shuttles makes you green??? green with envy!!!!!!!!!!! greenspeak at its best.
Fridge magnets indeed!
talk about paranoid....
All this green hype is BS. Go greenwash! let this bunch sit around waiting for a cab in a cold southerley, and yep who they going to call when the greens dont arrive...yep ...Green-busters!
who ya going call ...greenbusters...when you all alone ..pick up the phone...and call ...greenbusters!! ...thats not bad..just made that up...
greenbusters inc...great name for a cab company.
If "green hype" (woteva that is) means nice, quiet comfortable cabs with cheaper than average prices, then I'll have more of it, thanks.
But you can keep the theme tune, buster.
anyway i think everyone should just take the bus
I take taxis late at night when there are no buses. Other than that, I do bus. Everyone should be just like me!
I remember you from previous vista blogs - you are so perfect, aren't you
Well, one of my breasts is about a half a cup bigger than the other, but apart from that, yes, I am actually perfect, thanks for noticing!
But what's this about a vista blog? I'm running Linux, why would I blog about vista?
i've always liked a woman with one breast bigger than the other.
Hi it's Mr Anonymous here again. I wasn't trying to bag Green Cabs because I think hybrids are cool. I was having a go at some of the contributors to this blog for some rather simplistic attitudes to something that isn't so simple.
Hadyn - have you done any measurements to gauge the performance of Prius on hills? I suggest you do. While you are at it measure fuel consumption when they carry a lot of weight up hills.
Bobby - your comment about shuttles is just silly. They have a similiar role to buses and most reasonable people would realise they can be used to reduce trips in private cars.
I agree with Sue and Joanna. Catch the bus whenever you can. I don't think it's easy for a lot of people most of the time but you can try.
Why would anybody in business give their name on this blog and risk their business being damaged by comments from some of the contributors? It's not worth it. Love and kisses, Mr Anonymous xxxxx
Hadyn - have you done any measurements to gauge the performance of Prius on hills? I suggest you do. While you are at it measure fuel consumption when they carry a lot of weight up hills.
Nope, have you done any? Tell you what we'll split it. You look at uphill, I'll look at downhill and then we can also look at fuel consumption while stopped in traffic.
I would just like everyone to know that I have no connection whatsoever with the Anonymous contributor who is having a go at Joanna for being so perfect. His/her comments in no way reflect my own. Mr Anonymous.
So you don't think I'm perfect then? *sob*
I was just trying to let people know that I am a different Anonymous (it's not easy having the same name as all these other people). I am willing to accept that you are perfect. Don't worry about the breast thing.
this ten car order could of been real. i suppose if they didnt wait the manatory 5 mins who did they call - good old reliable combined
remember most of these green cabbies are ex dodgies are not use to waiting for pre booked jobs. its a new concept for most of their fleet
I originally wrote "oh get fucked" after reading this, but i changed my mind. Instead...
Green Cabs waited 15 mins and re-called the contact number given them.
Nice one Wellingtonista for bringing this to the blogsphere. I note with some amusement that Combined are now 'trialling' the Prius! Amid all their Greenwash on the website (such as 'working towards' carbon neutrality) I wonder if they'll have the guts to admit that saving on petrol costs is a driver for change. Environmental efficiency is good for the balance sheet, there's no need to shy away from admitting that.
saving on petrol costs is a driver for change
Heh, I see what you did there...
Well spotted. ;) I should try for a job at 'The sun' . .
when will (CT) be trialling African drivers? Theres a lot more to (CT) than meets the eye!
Combined Cabs are consistently negative in their approach.
First they grizzled about other cab companies using the colours gold and black same day were copying when those are merely the traditional Wellington colours.
Secondly they tried to stop Capital Cabs from using a blue sign. They attempted to influence the Land Transport Safety Authority which must approve taxi signs which caused the question of confusion (normally for a Court) to be considered by the Crown Law Office who decided there was no substance to the complaint.
Then they opposed an application by Dial-A-Cab to register their trademark but, when Dial-a-Cab refused to give in, Combined withdrew their complaint, simply causing unnecessary expense.
Subsequently they sued Dial-A-Cab for changing their distinctively shaped sign by introducing a light blue in place of the previous yellow. The allegations were completely without foundation and bordering on the nonsensical but again they simply involved Dial-A-Cab in significant unnecessary expense before once again withdrawing the lawsuit.
Their continuing complaint that other cab companies are copying them has gained some publicity through print, radio and television notwithstanding their complaints have no reasonable foundation and simply irritate a number of people for no purpose. They appear to be unable to do anything positive and have yet to understand the notion of competition.
Before Easter a year or two ago they complained that the organisers of the Combined Courtenay Place DJs dance party had copied their logo. Their complaint was unsuccessful but they failed to recognize and missed an opportunity of becoming the official cab company for the event and garnering not only some business but some favourable publicity as well.
They are Wellington's largest cab company, their fares are competitive and the cabs are generally well presented. There is no need for and no sense in their persistently negative approach to competitors and the public. The phrase "get a life" comes to mind.
Te Roia wrote: "negative approach to competitors and the public. The phrase "get a life" comes to mind."
Theres a book about to be published on what they do to their shareholders, on reading it you may be able to ammend the above to "competitors, public and shareholders."
The book (I am told) will astound readers.It is alleged they employed a private investiagtor in the hunt for a "poet". Reddish commissioned the investigation late last century.
Cant wait to read it. Sounds very very busy dosent it!
Richard
OK, I have totally no idea what is going on in this comment.
hey if u want to abbreviate wgton combined its not CT, its WCT.
Dear Ista,
Well, well well, all the dark stuff is being discussed in a public forum, and its about time too. Where does one buy this "alleged book". I wasnt interviewed & I got a story to tell,a sad story, just about broke me.
Waiting in anticipation for the book signing.Hope the BH gnome will be at the function.
Sincerely,
Casper. No longer your friendly ghost.
PS - if the poets reading this - I always looked forward to my copy.
ARE YOU THE EX MANAGER WHO GOT OVER THROWN??
QUITE A LONG TIME AGO???
How green really is green??????
I ask that because they have bought regency cabs which of course use huge petrol guzzling fairlanes, to wait for it.....drumroll......to transport their customers in big cars who dont want to be squeezed into their dinky toys,,,, opps sorry prios..... but they wouldnt admit that fact on this forum and probually havent announced it on their website either(but i havent checked_)
I heard that too. Could it really be so???? Maybe its time for someone to check it out - perhaps a real journalist and not some wannabe who writes a blog. If it is true are they offsetting the CO2 of the big cars? How many more cents of cheap third world labour will it cost them to plant the extra trees?
You know what I heard? I heard they eat babies in Satanic rituals in the dead of night around a bubbling cauldron, all the while laughing maniacally laughing at the fools who believe their claims.
Or maybe Anonymous commenters can make up whatever they want?
I haven't made anything up. Its a story thats going round. I dont believe just anything I hear so dont try to patronise me. Flash in a Dash is saying its true. Maybe someone can confirm or deny it. You obviously cant.
I dont believe just anything I hear so dont try to patronise me.
Awww poor diddums! Were the big old meanies on the Wellingtonista patronising you? How pretentious of them, how you must suffer to come here and push your anti-hybrid barrow.
I have no problem with hybrids. Like the slogan says they are safer for the environment. I have been in one and it was a nice ride (and I am quite a large person). There's no anti hybrid barrow and despite the odds I hope there is no anti hubris barrow. If you bothered to research the news you comment on you might know the statement made by Flash in a Dash yesterday about Green Cabs taking over Regency Cabs Wellington is all around the taxi industry. Im not saying its true. Im only saying its there. If Green Cabs was my business I would have been following this blog very closely and by now I would have posted a comment denying Flash in a Dash's statement if it was not true. Perhaps you better call Mr GC asap and get him to comment. You seem to have a big problem with anonymous comments and I wonder why you are in the blog business if you cant handle it. The 'probably a spineless coward' thing is pathetic and childish. Chill out...people reading this are smart enough to form their own opinions. If they think something stinks nothing will change their mind and they have the forum to challenge it. Nobody in business will leave their name here and risk their business and their employees' livlihoods being damaged by someone who doesn't like what they are saying. I will remain anonymous so get over it and get on the phone to Mr GC right away. I for one would like to know the truth.
I honestly don't know if it is true or not. If you look a few posts up you will see someone else started it not me. I'm not spreading anything - it's already been spread. I'm just commenting on it. Why don't you get Mr GC to comment and if the rumour is bullshit he gets another plug on your site so everyone's a winner.
Robyn wrote: "Whenever I see someone commenting anonymously on a blog, it makes me wonder what it is they're afraid of."
it would be very rare for anyone from some larger and not so larger firms to put their names to anyting for worry of being fined bullied,and generally treated like shit.its nothint to do with being a spineless coward, but having work so the kids can be feed mortagage paid etc.you at wellingtonista should read the rule bbooks of taxi companys.
enjoying debate all the same.
another annoymous, but not the same one as before.
I see we are talking about the big old meanies again. I presume you are referring to WCT (wgtn combined taxis ltd)
As from 01 June nobody is allowed to introduce a petrol powered car, they must be on hybib/lpg/diesel.
The co is taking a bold move, because if it wasnt for greens presence this new police would of never came around. a lot of petrol shareholders are unhappy with the new policy and as a small shareholder at WCT I own and operate a petrol car.
But the green public have to realise it will take time to implement as the newest petrol cars will take time to leave the fleet and you cant just change because $35000 investment with a 2 year old car will prob only return you $15000.
But every week I see more Prios in the WCT fleet than the previous week. And good news is that Toyota Australia will be producing hybrid Camrys by year 2010.
This is the best pro-WCT comment I have seen in all 50+ comments so far. Well done. And thank you for telling us what your bias is clearly.
Nobody in business will leave their name here and risk their business and their employees' livlihoods being damaged by someone who doesn't like what they are saying.
I'd like to relay something interesting that a couple of people expressed to me when we were talking about this earlier today.
Their take: every time someone drops by and leaves a virtually-illiterate, almost-unreadable anonymous comment, full of barely-coherent libelous rubbish about Green Cabs, a number of things will happen --
1. most people reading it will think that it's someone associated with a competitor of Green Cabs (most likely Combined) spreading lies about them,
2. they'll be much more likely to choose Green Cabs next time they take a taxi, and
3. they'll encourage their friends and colleagues to boycott the competitors (most likely Combined).
The upshot is that your silly comments are having the effect of harming everyone EXCEPT Green Cabs. Which is pretty funny.
Before you start your boycott campaign consider this: Did anybody ever bother checking the facts at the beginning of this blog, ie the alleged 10 car job that Green Cabs turned up to? When everybody either implied or stated it was Wellington Combined behind it did anybody say "Hang on a minute, it might not be them, it might be bored kids, it may never have happened, it may even have been a rumour another taxi company with something to gain started." No, you didn't. So don't act all righteous about this. You are hypocrits.
Sorry Bevan, but which "boycott campaign"? There'll be no such thing coming out of the Wellingtonista in any kind of official fashion.
And who exactly are the hypocrites? I find no evidence of any implication -- and certainly nothing stated -- that Combined was behind it. In fact, without knowing any facts, it would be stupid of us to write such a thing.. not to mention libellous.
So.. once again.. your words, not ours. If you inferred something about Combined from something you read here, good on ya. Please stop throwing silly words like "hypocrite" around, though.
And with that I think we'll end comments on this thread.
It's been fun though hasn't it?
The Wellingtonista will check with Green Cabs about whether or not they are purchasing any other cab company and report back.
Thanks for the laughs