ABSTRACT
Of all of the transport modes available to us today, it is the taxi, inclusive of all of its sub-divisions and sister modes, that remains the most consistent, persistent, of any. While it remains obvious, even self-evident, that today’s taxi uses a different vehicle compared to its earliest predecessor, its use remains the same. Booking technologies are new, as are many of the aspects of its control, but their action of use, their purpose, and role remain the same. Today’s markets rely on the same, intuitive, patterns of use, while even the vehicles seen in some cities could have appeared without much shock maybe 50 years ago. This said, and despite the outwardly visible maintenance of form and function, the workings ‘under the hood’ continue to change. It is argued that the only constant here is change. Approaches to avoid monopolistic abuse remain, though their regulation may differ. The need to ensure minimum standards of safety remain, though their regulation may differ. The desire to meet future demand for transport too will remain a consistent theme. We can’t rely on an adage that ‘if it aint broke don’t fix it’. By this account, nothing changes, nothing improves. The recurring survival of the mode has always followed from the recurring desire for its survival. If regulation is required, regulation must follow, but constrained to the benefit of the public, not the industry. Surprisingly, the interest of the public and the industry may yet prove to be one and the same – the survival of the mode.
