Bar boss slams cab plan
A NIGHTLIFE industry body boss fears under-pressure taxi ranks will worsen if Gold Coast Cabs starts surge pricing separate pre-booked jobs.
The taxi firm is considering surge pricing out of concern it will lose drivers to rideshare competitors such as Uber, which will be legal in Queensland from September 5.
Uber charges higher fares when demand peaks and Gold Coast Cabs CEO Gordana Blazevic has said her company could be forced to do the same to keep its drivers.
The company – which will retain exclusive access to taxi rank walk-ups – can only fluctuate fares for booked jobs. Taxi rank jobs must have set fares.
Surfers Paradise Licensed Venues Association president Tim Martin said it was hard enough getting a taxi from ranks now at peak times without Gold Coast Cabs luring drivers away from the ranks with surge pricing.
“There will be fewer taxis at the ranks because they will be chasing those surging fares.”
Mr Martin also warned any surging of Gold Coast Cabs fares would hurt the company.
“They will drop off the face of the planet.”
Ms Blazevic responded: “At peak times in our entertainment precincts it is our cabbies who are there to get patrons home safely — even the ones who often don’t quite have enough to pay the fare. After fighting for the establishment of every single rank and paying through our security levy for the provision of taxi rank supervisors, we are committed to ensuring ranks are well serviced.”