The plan to ban privately bookings will be discussed at the Taxi Cabs Bathurst Co-op Society’s annual general meeting on Tuesday.

Customers can currently book taxis through booking services and privately but the co-op is seeking to direct all customers to the booking services.

Co-op director Dean Shadbolt said the proposed changes would help improve safety protocols. 

“Safety is of paramount importance for us,” Mr Shadbolt said.

“It will help us track jobs. If someone (driver or passenger) makes a complaint we’ll have the records to follow it up. If a driver does a private job, there’s no proof to back up complaints as to where the driver was.”

“We will be discussing possible changes with members at our AGM next Tuesday. It might be put to a vote.”

Bathurst Taxis is the only authorised booking service in the city and currently private jobs do not have to be recorded and reported to Bathurst Taxis. 

And while Mr Shadbolt said the changes were about safety, one driver has voiced his concerns to the Western Advocate.

“No taxi driver will be able to do what we call a ‘personal’ [private job],” the driver said.

“They won’t get any jobs through the system. They won’t be able to work. It’s restricting trade. It affects everybody. It affects drivers, owners, members of the public and businesses.

“You have customers ringing specific cabs for certain reasons. It’s going to destroy 40 per cent of my business.”

Have your say

There are currently 22 cabs in Bathurst and about 50 drivers and all will be affected by changes, according to the driver.

“It’s just not fair what they’re doing to the public. The public has the right to choose what vehicle they travel in,” he said.

“It’s all about taking the choice away from the public. That’s why Uber came here: to give people a choice. This co-op is trying to take away the choice.”

Bathurst taxi customer Dan Mackie said not being able to choose their taxi driver was “confronting and uncomfortable for some passangers” and “anti-competitive for those willing to go the extra mile”. 

Lisa Willard, who has been a using taxis in Bathurst for over two decades, said customers should have the right to choose their driver.

“Yes they'll all get us from point A to point B but I still want my choice,” she said.

“We will have to ring the taxi number and get whoever they send. What has happened to freedom of choice?

“Freedom to pick your own taxi is a right for all.”