Why are there so few taxi drivers?

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I keep reading/hearing about this problem.

I’m one of the few taxi drivers that didn’t take up the offer of free HGV Class I training offered a couple of years ago (had to have appendix out, long story).

So I stayed.

But it’s true, the calibre of work has gone right down the pan these last few years. I’m lucky enough not to get abusive passengers (touch wood) but runners and pukers and generally not feeling safe with who I pick up is definitely making me reconsider working nights these days.

In my opinion, people these days are just angry and entitled. Lockdown has been years of being told what we can’t do, and where we can’t go, and we’ve had enough.

So I get it. I get why.

But it’s a vicious circle. If people are assholes, then taxi drivers don’t want to work at night. And if there aren’t enough taxis, people get angry and competitive.

Things won’t be like this forever, I’m sure.

2020 Cannot End Soon Enough.

Well, hello folks. I expect you all thought you’d heard the last of me! Sordid details following:

I’ve been keeping to myself since the first lockdown.

Being isolated for 6 weeks in the first lockdown made me really miss human contact (my job is the only way I get any, and the brief company of strangers is better than nothing, but still infinitely better.)

I deleted every dating app, and managed to last for a few months.

Eventually Facebook Dating appeared and I joined that, with little success.

I joined TikTok in November and I’ve been trying to use that to connect with people though its completely pointless, but a lot of fun.

I managed to go viral with one video, but, embarrassingly, its me pretending to knock one out to the tune Everyday by Buddy Holly. Nothing inspirational or cute.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZS7URW4Q/

I rejoined Tinder recently, and a chat I had this evening has reminded me why I gave up, and why I’m here now.

I unmatched her before I screenshotted the chat, so I’ll have to give you the gist here.

She asked me how I was coping with the COVID pandemic, and I answered honestly (its all terrible) and after a few messages I happened to say “Waking each day is a bonus, lucky I’m a glass half full kind of guy” which I must admit was me being a bit ironic/sarcastic (always a mistake in written form) but she chose to reply, “Well you don’t sound very optimistic” which I saw as “Red Flag #1 🚩”

Then, before things turned horrible she noted that my “Job” was Music Producer and Author, not Taxi Driver, as our earlier conversation had revealed.

I replied that whom we identify as is more relevant than how we make a living. She said she wouldn’t have swiped right had she known I was a taxi driver, as she was sick of being the breadwinner in past relationships “Red Flag #2 🚩”

So yeah, that was fun. Have you missed me? 🤣🤣🤣