Traffic & Highways defends ‘clunky and limited’ Taxi App

The app, launched just over a year ago, rated two stars from 21 reviews on the Google Playstore and 1.6 stars from 23 reviews on the Apple app store.

Complaints included not being able to book taxis in advance, even though the function appeared to be supported, and that quoted costs were only estimated.

A one-star review from this July described the interface as ‘clunky’ and complained the address search was very limited, while others bemoaned the lack of taxis generally.

A review entitled ‘zero stars’ read: ‘I’ve travelled all over the world and nowhere have I had such difficulty booking a cab. Not a good welcome to Guernsey.’

Traffic & Highways manager Colin Le Page said it would continue to work alongside the Guernsey Taxi Drivers Association to pursue improvements in the app wherever possible.

‘Seeing as the Guernsey Taxi App is not a bespoke product, there are limitations on the changes we are able to make,’ he said.

‘However, the comments should be taken in the wider context of the app’s overall usage.

‘Since launching, around 50,000 taxi bookings have been made through the app, with an average of 140 taxi bookings per day.

‘These figures clearly show what a welcome introduction the taxi app this has been.’

He said the service had also received positive feedback that the app was helping to reduce the number of ‘dead miles’ for taxi drivers and was generating more business.

‘There are currently 104 taxis signed up to the app, with between 85 and 90 regularly signing in each month to use it,’ he said.

Taxi Drivers’ Association president Peter Blondel said the app had been, and still was, very successful.

‘Both the taxi operators and the general public have nothing but praise for the facility,’ he said.

THE taxi phone at the airport has been broken for some time. But no States department has admitted being responsible for it.The Guernsey Press submitted questions regarding the phone 10 days ago, but has yet to receive a response. The GDTA has said it was not responsible for the phone, but would welcome it being repaired. There is a large poster for the taxi app next to the phone, encouraging travellers to download it and use it for their journey. However, some travellers spoken to by the Press said they were concerned about downloading a poorly-rated app.

GUERNSEY’S taxi app was given a boost by Environment & Infrastructure member Andy Cameron this week.

The media query about the poor rating of the app had been with the States for a week when Deputy Cameron – who was on the committee signing off the media response – decided to submit his own five star review.

It boosted the app’s review score on the Google Playstore from 1.9 stars to 2 stars.

In his review he said the app was an ‘absolute game changer’.

‘No need to dial 10 numbers after a night out,’ he wrote. ‘Since using the app I’ve rarely waited for longer than five mins for a taxi.’

Deputy Cameron confirmed the review was his.

‘I use the app regularly,’ he said.

‘And have only ever had positive experiences while using it.’