How Many Cabs...?

How many Cabs are really out there?

The Department of Transport refuses to tell exactly how many Taxi Plates are currently operating.

Occasional news reports mention the number to be about 1850 – 1900.

Of these Swan has about 1700 and Black and White just under 200.

If you watch the plate numbers though the number is significantly higher.

I would assume that the plates have been released sequentially so no blocks of numbers have been held back for any reason.

The highest plate numbers I have observed are –

Full Time Ownership plates -       1034                                       1034       licenses

Full Time Lease Plates -                 6540                                       540         licenses

PPRT Ownership Plates -              3088                                       88           licenses 

PPRT Lease Plates -                         8400                                       400         licenses

MRT Ownership -                             2100*                                    100         licenses

MRT Lease Plates -                          7149                                      149         licenses

Restricted Area Plates -                 9009                                       9              licences

Total                                                                                                 2320       licenses

* I believe there are more than 100 but haven’t seen the plates to ascertain this number.

In the past five years the population of Perth has increased by about 15% (3% per year) but the government has released over 1080 lease plates or an increase of about 80%.   While there may be other pressures to use more cabs an 80% increase is incredulous.  

These were supposed to handle the demand created by the many functions to held at the PCEC, Tourism and the mining boom.   The Taxi industry was supposed to be forward planning and the drivers sacrificing for fortunes that never came.

They are still forward planning at our expense.

The Department of Transport’s justification was that back in the bad old days of 2005 at peak period ‘jobs not covered’ in a reasonable time came to 10% and in non-peak periods there were 4% ‘jobs not covered’.     Now any normal business that had an excessive demand of 10% might make some sacrifice and increase their employed staff by 10-15% to cover such demand.   No other industry would remain profitable if they increased their staff numbers by 80% to cover a 10% problem.    Our industry profits the government by increased licenses and Swan by increased training.

Could you imagine large retailers increasing their staff and facilities by 80% because it was busy for an hour on Saturday afternoons?    The shareholders would be sacking the board really quickly.

 The Ratio Of Cabs per Capita

If the government’s figure of 1900 licenses is correct the ratio of Cabs per capita is about 1 cab for every 840 people.   My figure has a ratio of 1 taxi to every 700 people.

The Melbourne ratio is about 1 cab for every 930 people.

The Sydney ratio is about 1 cab for every 880 people.

I believe Melbourne is increasing cab numbers (They saw that Perth could get away with it so they are trying too).

As the lowest density city in Australia we have fewer Cabs per square kilometre which is why people rely more on the phone booking system than hailing.

Now, one of the biggest differences between Perth and the two major cities is that they have very high inner city living densities.    Parking is therefore at a premium for both residential and businesses.   They also have longer operational working environments in the city and entertainment precincts.    It is cheaper to give shift workers cab charges than provide parking.    Many apartment residents  don’t have a provided parking space and so don’t have cars and use public transport more (including cabs).    Not only do these 2 higher population density  cities have less cabs per capita they have a population which uses more cabs per capita particularly near the inner areas.

The other difference is that they don’t have the liquor licensing restrictions Perth has.   Therefore there is no 2.00am rush on Sunday mornings which is Perth’s most difficult period when it comes to providing enough cabs.   Melbourne and Brisbane tried lockout periods only to experience similar problems Perth has at closing time.

These cities not only have fewer cabs per capita they have higher usage rates and a higher fee structure (see other blog).

Now, perhaps local cabbies may realise why they feel so hard done by.