Sydney Taxis & Innovation, Melbourne Food Laws & Innovation - the Network Good Problem

Had a bad taxi, BO, fumes and a wreck on wheels…

See more and meals… in the latest from My Sydney Innovation Blog here

I used to report them to the Co-op, but what happens is generally they note the complaint, and then send you a nice ‘fob-off’ letter. And nothing comes of it. With big companies, don’t complain (and rectify) just switch. They won’t compensate.

Complain and rectify is where big companies put quality control onto you, and provide no compensation when faults are found. So you’re the FREE quality agent. Say N O…!
I will not catch taxis in Melbourne generally; as a few of the drivers are violent and abusive. I had one driver threaten me with violence in the city at 8pm (for politely asking the radio be turned down), … as well as more than a few psychotic drivers.

All the taxi drivers stand around and complain there’s no passengers, but fail to make the connection with dirty taxis, rude drivers and threats of violence.

Of course taxis are a network good, so that means as you don’t choose drivers, then it’s inevitable all the problems (Despite all the spin) mean that people will tend to shy away from taxis. There are excellent individual drivers, but as you can’t choose them, and the network is poor - those with a choice, creatives, executives may choose others.

Many taxi drivers in the premium cabs have a side network of private bookings, as well as limousines operating at near-taxi prices. The frequent catchers of taxis (those who work late or stay late after work), and the ones most likely to tip or at least pay are the ones most alienated. I do not catch a taxi by choice.

Many of my friends are amazed I have DO NOT now own a car. True. I am considering a Prius, as on occasion it is inconvenience. But I believe in Public transport, especially for work week. I live and have always lived near a major city. If I really need  a car, I will hire one or better yet get a car and driver. It actually saves me $5000 / year or more after costs. Admittedly if I lived in suburbs or country I wouldn’t do this.

I have ALWAYS felt that people on their way to work should use public transport, and taxis when absolutely necessary. But this depends on a government providing public transport, something the current VIC & NSW governments seek to downplay.

And before global warming I did not see two cars or some great car creation myth (Man, Woman, Car) - something Aussies buy into, along with Americans. Europeans are more balanced. Aussies & Americans consume a L O T!!!!!

In Australia, people with a CBD apartment may have TWO cars. Really. In NYC I’d be normal not the exception. In most of the USA though families are two cars or more, and Australia, if anything is car-obsessed. People want to stop global warming without giving up a car. I say reduce your usage to absolute necessity. Of course, the government has to provide public transport, something they try to dodge responsibility for.

It has to be said however that by Australian standards the Victorian government, despite all this, is streaks ahead of NSW or Queensland or even London, in services to citizens.

Food Safety Innovation

One area, historically has been food safety with rigorous rules. Some people are proposing to change this. But let’s do a little math. I have only had food poisoning (mild) 3 times in 5 years in Melbourne. Compared with almost monthly in Sydney. I have had 3 cases of SEVERE food poisoning in Sydney, and NEVER in Melbourne. One case of food poisoning from a Coogee Chicken restaurant was so SEVERE that I could NOT walk. Seriously. I had to drink 3 bottles of water to rehydrate. O U C H.

It is important that Victoria does NOT copy NSW lack of standards. NO!!! I don’t care about the burden on small business, Victoria (and Melbourne) has a better qualituy food supply than almost anywhere in the Western English-speaking world. Note I exclude France and Austria, which have an extremely high quality food supply.

I have seen the constant laissez faire  march of stupidity ( a cover so bureaucrats can reduce their workload) as standards are eroded everywhere in public services. Come on. No more. Let’s have French and Austrian standards.

Vive La Paris! Well except taxis!

Christopher-who-refuses-to-let-a-term-define-his-thought 

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Speaker. Author. Editor-In-Chief. Executive Director of Innovation, 2thinknow.

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