If only they had this in Ireland

craichoe

So been living in Holland for a while now, saw these signs on the motorway that said "Bob ij Bob ?"

Needless to say i thought it was just an anti-drink driving thing or something ? Saw the ads on TV with dutch crazy talk ..

Turns out its actually a bloody brilliant idea, basically you call bob, a guy comes out on a fold up scooter, puts the scooter in the boot and drives you home. Works out the same price as a taxi too. When you get to where you want to go, you pay, he takes his scooter out of the boot and drives off, if its in between cities he'll get the train home.

So you can go someplace, drink if you want and get a lift home in your own car

I heard rumours of something like this in Ireland but it was shot down due to insurance issues ?

Info on the service here (In Dutch)
http://www.rentabob.nl/

I think this would be great at tackling the drink driving problem in Ireland

Wishbone Ash

craichoe wrote: »

So been living in Holland for a while now, saw these signs on the motorway that said "Bob ij Bob ?"

Needless to say i thought it was just an anti-drink driving thing or something ? Saw the ads on TV with dutch crazy talk ..

Turns out its actually a bloody brilliant idea, basically you call bob, a guy comes out on a fold up scooter, puts the scooter in the boot and drives you home. Works out the same price as a taxi too. When you get to where you want to go, you pay, he takes his scooter out of the boot and drives off, if its in between cities he'll get the train home.

So you can go someplace, drink if you want and get a lift home in your own car

I heard rumours of something like this in Ireland but it was shot down due to insurance issues ?

Info on the service here (In Dutch)
http://www.rentabob.nl/

I think this would be great at tackling the drink driving problem in Ireland

http://www.carhome.ie/

Tabnabs

Hope your sitting down for this, but.....



We already have this!!

Although, do you want some random stranger driving your car with you as a drunk back seat driver?

craichoe

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

http://www.carhome.ie/

Damn .. thats cool
I could have used that a few times in Cork ! .. didnt even know it existed !

TestTransmission

They had it on topgear aswell didnt they

markdoy

Episode on Top Gear couple of years ago where Hammond and May spent a night as the drivers for one of these services in London........... they then proceeded to informally review each car while driving the owners home from a night on the town

unkel

We had that here at least a decade ago. Never took off as it was slower and more expensive than a taxi.

mikemac

jackncoke wrote: »

They had it on topgear aswell didnt they

Yep, saw that episode.
They reckoned it worked out twice as expensive as using a cab on average.

OP, it won't be the same price as using a cab, no way

unkel

craichoe wrote: »

Works out the same price as a taxi too

I just looked that up:

taxi: €5.12 plus €1.94/km (maximum legal rates)
bob: €5.75 plus €2.80/km

So it is significantly more expensive. Plus getting a taxi in a rank takes seconds. Getting a bob takes up to 30 minutes. Where I can see it work in Holland is for intercity trips. Holland has a population density 10 times higher than Ireland so I can't really see the same intercity service being offered here

Mind the price difference between a regular taxi and bob in Holland is a lot less than what I seem to remember was the premium they were charging in Dublin...

peasant

Well, if you take a taxi, realistically you need two ...because you need to go back to get your car or you go out by taxi in the first place.

So getting your car driven home might just work out price wise.

craichoe

unkel wrote: »

I just looked that up:

taxi: €5.12 plus €1.94/km (maximum legal rates)
bob: €5.75 plus €2.80/km

So it is significantly more expensive. Plus getting a taxi in a rank takes seconds. Getting a bob takes up to 30 minutes. Where I can see it work in Holland is for intercity trips. Holland has a population density 10 times higher than Ireland so I can't really see the same intercity service being offered here

Mind the price difference between a regular taxi and bob in Holland is a lot less than what I seem to remember was the premium they were charging in Dublin...

Price is different during unsociable hours though, 7.50 when you just get into the damn thing ! .. Taxi's here are more expensive than Ireland IMO, i guess they have to pay for their Mercs somehow.

unkel

craichoe wrote: »

7.50 when you just get into the damn thing !

That's the new rate. Is that in place yet? Anyway that includes 2km, so it is cheaper than the older rates

peasant wrote: »

Well, if you take a taxi, realistically you need two ...because you need to go back to get your car or you go out by taxi in the first place.

So getting your car driven home might just work out price wise.

You've got a point there! I was basing it on getting a lift / public transport for the other trip

craichoe

unkel wrote: »

That's the new rate. Is that in place yet? Anyway that includes 2km, so it is cheaper than the older rates

Yeh, got a cab last night actually, the guy was really friendly, gave us a leaflet on the new rates and showed us on the meter where it said what tariff you were on etc.

unkel

Ah cool. And you're right. Taxis in Holland are more expensive than in Ireland. But then again, you get a new E-class and not a 15 year old clapped out Corolla

MercMad

A guy I knew started this type of business here about 1996, I dunno if its is still going.

I thinks its a terrific idea, though I have never used it, but if you have it all orgainsed in advance it would beat standing in line at a taxi rank in the cold city centre. Have the luxury of your own car there and back !

Cool !