London Taxi Driver Tales #1
A new feature of our Taxi Advertising blog will be delving into the lives of London taxi drivers, finding out a bit more about the life of a London cabbie, what makes them tick, stories & experiences, their favourite places to see in London and a lot lot more. We are starting the series off with Daniel Sunley-Smith, who is embarking on becoming a licensed cab driver and is currently “doing the knowledge”. The knowledge normally takes between 3-5 years to complete!
Daniel, why become a taxi driver?
Well, I was working in the financial services industry and when the recession hit I saw lots of work vanish, I personally lost cases that were worth over £60,000.00 to myself in commissions. I just felt that I needed to do something for myself, where I was my own boss, in control of my own situation. I know that sounds a bit wooly but once I have passed the knowledge, then I will be in control of when I work, how long I work & if i need to work. So, I guess it boils down to me wanting to be in control of my life and my future.
The knowledge sounds daunting, 3-5 years of studying, how it is going?
Daunting!? That is a massive understatement! I have just finished the first book (80 runs) and that was hard work but even more scary is the fact that there are still three more books to go and there is so much I still do not know. When I think I might know a little bit of an area i take a wrong turn and get completely lost. I am getting better though so I am getting lost a lot less. I think it helps that I have a very curious personality so I like to explore and sometimes when doing runs I will make detours to have a look around.
Do you use a scooter to travel around London while studying?
Yes, I have a honda PS125 to do the runs on. I know some people do it in their cars but I think that is madness, with the scooter I can pull over and stop to look around without too many problems and also nip in and out of the traffic rather than being stuck in the jams.
I decided to buy a new one as they were doing interest free credit and I got the warrenty and free breakdown cover with it. My advice to anyone thinking of doing the knowledge is to make sure you get a good bike there is nothing worse than breaking down and having to wait around for a breakdown service to come rescue you! That is soul destroying. Also make sure you have the right clothing, keeping dry and warm are hugely important. If you are cold and wet you feel miserable and can’t concentrate on what you’re suppossed to be doing. A little tip for when it is very cold if you but a pair of proper motorcycle boots that are 2 sizes to big then you can wear two pairs of socks and still have room for air to circulate to help keep your feet warm.I learnt that one this year myself!
What is a typical day for you while studying for the knowledge?
My typical day is a bit of a strange one because it starts at about 6 in the evening. I work in the dispatch office for Get Taxi, starting at 11pm and finishing at 7am. I get up about 6 in the eveing have a small breakfast bath etc, then have something to eat and leave for work about 10pm. I live in Dagenham and Get Taxi’s offices are on Borough High Street in SE1, so I always leave myself an hour to get there but in truth it only takes 30/40 mins max but means I’m not rushing. During my shifty obviously I am there to solve any problems that occur however because the system is all app based it is only occasionally that I have to phone a customer or a driver to cover the work.
When the system works as it should someone books a taxi on their phone, the computer locates the nearest taxi sends the information to the driver and also sends the customer an estimated eta and the drivers details, 9 times out of 10 I don’t have to get involved. That means I can spend my time calling over, writing up runs and doing map work. Plus, with the job I do when a job comes in I can see on the computer screen where streeets/hotels etc are so that helps as well. So my shift finishes at 7am. I then try to go out and do runs I only ever do a max of four a day because I’ve found any more than that and I struggle to remember them. I get home about 10/11am then have something to eat before off to bed. My typical day is very different to other peoples but I have to say it is all centred around the knowledge.
What do you think is going to be the hardest part of the test?
I think the hardest part of it all is keeping going, no one ever fails the knowledge they only ever give up. There is a huge amount of knowledge to learn. When I talk to friends about what I am doing they can’t comprehend just how difficult it all is. If no one had ever done it you would actually think it’s impossible, so any and all green badge holders have my utmost respect. You have to do the knowledge full time and approach it as a full time thing even if you have a job or family committemnts, and trying to have some sort of a life while doing it is hard, the saying goes “you either do the knowledge full time all the time or you don’t do it at all” is so true. It overtakes your thinking all the time when the traffic reports come on the news or they show a street on the news you tend to try and think if you know it and the area.
The second hardest thing for me is remembering everything, as silly as that sounds. so while many people can do a run and sit and call it a few times and remember it I like to write the run out, generally about 12-15 times that way I find it sticks in my memory better, it does take a bit longer and is very tedious but I have the time to do that and if it means I’m learning properly then the time is well spent.
What area of London are you most confident with & where are you finding the hardest to learn?
To be honest I am not hugely confident with any area yet, I can now navigate using the main roads around most of London but there isn’t one area that I know really well, however I am only 80 runs in so I think I can get away with that!!! As for an area I am not confident in it would be Dulwich way which makes your next question very interesting!!!!
A quick test, what is the quickest route from Selfridges on Oxford Street to Lordship Lane in East Dulwich?
Oxford Street to Lordship Lane, well thanks for that!!!! I know that there is a more direct route with cut throughs but being only 80 runs in I think I should have some leeway here!!!
Comply Marble Arch, left Park Lane, right Duke of Wellington Place, left Grosvenor place, forward Lower Grosvenor Place, forward Bressenden Place, right Victoria Street, lefty Vauxhall Bridge Road, forward Vauxhall Bridge, forward Vauxhall Cross, left Kennignton Lane, right Durham Street, left Harleyford Road, forward Kennington Oval, forward Harleyford Street, forward Camberwell New Road, right Denmark Hill, left Champion Park, forward Grove Hill, forward Dog Kennel Hill, forward Grove Vale, comply Goose Green roundabout, leave by Lordship Lane.
In case anyone was wondering that was done without looking at a map, so feel free to correct it because I haven’t checked it!
Once you have passed do you intend to work days or nights?
When I finally pass I intend to mainly work nights, probably starting about 3/4 in the afternoon and doing a 10/12 hour shift, obviously depending on how busy it is.
We wish Daniel all the best and wish him luck with the knowledge!
You can follow Daniel’s excellent blog here: http://londontaxiknowledge.blogspot.co.uk/ & you can follow @knowledgeboy10 on twitter here
