Why don't rural pubs provide a night bus service?

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121186829#Comment_121186829

I think the pace of change and march forward is getting so fast that I think they'll be on Irish roads within the next 5 years. They are operating and taking fares in San Francisco at the moment - they exist and are not science fiction. The only thing preventing them will be resistance as they'll displace driving jobs.

I therefore see them being initially licensed for use in areas that do not have a human taxi service. In fact, you could conceivably see the likes of local link being replaced by robotaxis.

As for the complexities of rural roads - they are significantly simpler than urban environments. 4g connectivity is near saturation with generally only isolated valleys lacking coverage.

Robotaxis will be a game changer for rural living.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121189785#Comment_121189785

I agree, it's sort of a death by 1000 cuts situation. Costs going up and business going down, a lot of pub owners are getting on in years and probably decide to shut down instead of keeping the place going

A pub might be making just enough to keep the lights on, but if it isn't a profitable enterprise then it's days are numbered

Dubwat

The NTA came up with the idea of the Local Area Hackney licence for exactly this situation (IMHO). It's very cheap to get the licence. The publican could use their own (decent) car and would be covered insurance-wise to charge a few quid to drop people home or into town for a disco? Could also be a money-earner during the week when the pub is quiet (e.g. hospital runs).

The Local Hackney Pilot is a grant aided pilot programme that aims to assist in the provision of part-time local hackney services in designated rural areas which cannot support a full time taxi or hackney operation. One critical feature of this special limited licence is that no Local Hackney service may replace or displace any standard taxi or hackney service already operating and providing services in any area.

The key element of this service is that it will benefit the community by providing licenced, insured, economic transport by Garda vetted drivers in local areas. A Local Hackney may only pick up passengers within a designated area of about 7 – 10km from a chosen point, normally the residence of the licenced driver. The drop off point has no restrictions, with trips to healthcare facilities and transport hubs further afield anticipated. However, the Local Hackney may not pick up a new fare at the drop off point or any other point outside its designated area shown on the vehicle licence and area map, which must always be carried in the vehicle.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121190048#Comment_121190048

Yeah I wouldn't bet too heavily on the robotaxi idea. Remember a lot of the good press comes from the development companies themselves, mostly to try and make it look like they're a worthwhile business

There's been robotaxis on the roads for probably over a decade now, doing various levels of testing, still no sign of them as a viable replacement for driven cars

Internet connectivity actually isn't much of a factor, the cars have to be capable of driving completely offline

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121190064#Comment_121190064

There has been a very poor uptake of this scheme. If i lived in such a rural place id go for a proper taxi licence, not the local area hackney licence.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121190064#Comment_121190064

Very interesting, looks like a number of villages have already applied

I wonder how they define if a taxi service is operating in the area. For example if you lived in Loughshinny, there's probably no taxi service based there but you could call one of Skerries or Lusk. So does that mean you're excluded 🤔

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121190104#Comment_121190104

https://www.nationaltransport.ie/taxi/localhackney/#:~:text=The%20Local%20Hackney%20Pilot&text=A%20Local%20Hackney%20may%20only,transport%20hubs%20further%20afield%20anticipated.

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121189615#Comment_121189615

I wouldn't call them alcos. Just men going for a few after work or whatever. As a publican said some time ago if her relied on most of the village he'd have to close down. He maintained that less than 20 men were keeping the 4 pubs going.

Dubwat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121190102#Comment_121190102

It's been slow to get going alright but that's because few people know about it.

Cost would be a major factor. If you had a semi-decent car already, a LAH only costs a few hundred euro plus insurance. Apart from the fact you can't get a new saloon taxi vehicle licence at the moment, a 'proper' taxi would cost thousands to get up and running. The LAH model suits areas where you might only do a few jobs a week. It's a part-time/pocket-money job.

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121190399#Comment_121190399

You might have a point, I have never heard adverts for LAH on radio or tv, badly advertised. I suppose it might suit someone to earn small money.

Id say you would have greedy LAH operating outside their remit though, I know a LAH was in court for this in mayo, operating in areas with taxis and hackneys.

Dubwat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121190104#Comment_121190104

I'm open to correction but I believe the applicant does a paper/desk exercise prior to applying and authorities with local knowledge like the council and Gardai are involved. Then it's advertised publicly before the licence is awarded. At that stage, interested parties can comment or object.

Headline applications can be seen here, for example - https://www.nationaltransport.ie/taxi/latest-news-for-spsv-operators/

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121190416#Comment_121190416

The scheme is pretty clear, you can drop off anywhere but only pick up within 10km of a designated point. If the guy was within that limit then not sure what the case against him could be (I'm guessing he wasn't sticking to the limit)

I guess you could make some money if someone wanted to be dropped several hundred kilometres away, but that's still within the rules of the scheme and how often will that happen?

By it's very nature the scheme is somewhat self limiting, you can only set it up in an area with a population too small to support a taxi business

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121190526#Comment_121190526

the guy was operating outside his area.

you could drop someone to the airport 2 or 3 hours away but you cant collect them from there when they land back in say Dublin airport, but that rule would be broken no doubt.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121190628#Comment_121190628

Easy, charge double on the way out but drive them home for free 😏

Although you'd be wanting some packet of money for it. Doing that for Galway to Dublin airport would be 4 journeys, 880km total

The amount of money you'd want for that is probably similar to the cost of parking and a hotel near the airport

Anyway, I'll admit I was being somewhat obtuse with my example, just wanted to give an idea of what could be allowed under the scheme even if it isn't exactly in the spirit of it

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121191145#Comment_121191145

You wouldn't get away with that if reported. better to do things right.

maccored

theres a business opportunity for either taxi services or someone to buy a heap of buses and hire drivers. something specialised. Pubs are closing because they arent making the money - they cant afford or just arent set up to run a bus service.

BlueSkyDreams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121195884#Comment_121195884

we cant get bus drivers at Dublin Bus or Go Ahead as it is!

No chance of hiring rural bus drivers.

Plus, the pubs need to have the interest from locals. A lot of rural places just have too many pubs for their population.

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121195884#Comment_121195884

A family member of mine has a 9 seater mini bus in a rural area with three pubs about 2 miles apart from each other.

He started out with the idea of being a local taxi service.

But soon he realized that to and fro from the pubs and sitting up waiting for the phone to ring was not worth it.

The money was in pre booked runs bringing people in groups to the nearest big town and home again

the_amazing_raisin

Yeah I don't see any rural bus service being viable without some level of support

I suppose the ideal scenario is the government or council helps out, but good luck with that