Melbourne taxi drivers refusing to take fares under $15

[simongr]

Try Shanghai, my colleague got out of the cab handed over RMB200 for a RMB20 cab fare and the driver sped off. It was only afterwards that my staff realised their mistake...

Sorry - fat finger syndrome - 200 paid should have been a 20 fare - overpaid by 180...

 

[dajop]

Well, I got into a taxi in Singapore the other day at the airport (and I can't complain about waits - it was 5 mins from seatbelt sign off to sitting in taxi), and I had a whingeing cab driver. Nothing special about that you say? Well this driver was complaining that taxi fares were too high! First time that's happened. Particularly with a 35% peak hour surcharge, coupled with the economic situation, he was saying demand has dropped and he was better off with lower fares.

 

[McTavish]

Melbourne is the worst city for taxis in the world. Last week I had to explain how to get from Tullamarine to the MCG!

Fortunately there are some good options, try Melb Hire Cars. They are about 10 - 20% dearer than a cab but completely reliable, they have always picked my family and I up on time and helped at the airport to gather mountains of baggage that accompany holidays with young children. They even have a small mini-bus with DVD entertainment for kids and room for the extra dozen bags the wife just couldn't do without.

my 2 c worth

 

[Evan]

Yes, i also use a great guy who has a silver service cab and for a few extra $$ i think its well worth it because i know when i am being picked up it will happen ! Even just an SMS before i leave my destination telling him what time i arrive and what flight and i know he will be there.
I dont much like Melbourne taxi's but they are much better than other countries.

 

[dot]

Melbourne is the worst city for taxis in the world. Last week I had to explain how to get from Tullamarine to the MCG!

Fortunately there are some good options, try Melb Hire Cars. They are about 10 - 20% dearer than a cab but completely reliable, they have always picked my family and I up on time and helped at the airport to gather mountains of baggage that accompany holidays with young children. They even have a small mini-bus with DVD entertainment for kids and room for the extra dozen bags the wife just couldn't do without.

my 2 c worth

I think worst in the world is a bit of a stretch! Certainly, they are not all good - there are some good ones and there are some very bad ones. You should report the bad ones to the Victorian Taxi Directorate (I have done once for a driver that didn't know the Langham Hotel or Southgate - and this is from the NAB Building at docklands - in that short ride, he made two illegal turns and ran two red lights!)

The worst in the world - I am thinking Beijing, China where road rules and line markings are a vague guide at best. They will tell the hotel concierge that they know the destination, then pull up 400m around the corner asking in Mandarin where the destination is! - or then there are the cabbies in Bangkok who will try to fleece some extra cash off you if you are coming or going to the airport and you didn't think to ask the driver to turn on the meter... then there is the suicidal driving in Hanoi - wrong way down one way streets, or the abductions of westerners by taxi drivers in the Philippines. Worst in the world, I don't think so. On reflection, I still think the Chinese taxis are the worst as that actually have all the worst features that the Thai, Filipino and Vietnamese cabbies have combined.

I do agree on the Vic Hire Cars (VHA/VHB) though - much more consistent and reliable solution to airport transfers.

 

[medhead]

There's also apparently a shortage of taxis in Melbourne. Call 131008 at "peak hours" (ie between 3.30-5pm) and you'd be lucky if they even pick up. Also during weekends it's neigh impossible to get a taxi at 3-4 am when lots of places close in the CBD - you either queue up for ages with fellow drunks at the taxi rank at Flinders St station, or walk up to Carlton and catch a cab returning to the city from the suburbs.

The perrienal problem with taxis - if there were enough taxis for 2- 4 am, then the driviers could never make a decent living, because at the other extreme there is 8 to 10 am sunday or 2 to 4 pm on weekends - picture tumbleweeds rolling past the cab rank.

 

[Cynicor]

I think there's a few like that in SIN, dajop, as I've had the same experience. It's pretty surreal, especially compared to the Perth International taxi experience arriving on a Friday night. You'll be queuing up for at least a couple of hours.

 

[MrHyde]

As a Melbourne resident, I do use taxis a lot (almost always for work paid trips) and I do find them pretty bad. The fares are expensive and most don't know the way. These days I don't even tell them the address and just tell them the suburb and guide them to the end point.

I am surprised by the reports of Shanghai and Beijing. My experience has been different. I've been there twice (2005 and 2006) and travelled every where by taxi... had no problems anywhere.... all the meters worked and I got a receipt for all travel. It didn't seem like we were taken the long way round at any point, although in Beijing the accepted way is to get on to one of the ring roads and then go round to the other side. Communication is a problem in China so I had to always have the concierge specify the destination or have it written down for me to give to a taxi.

 

[Tortuga]

If anyone is having troubles getting a cab in Melbourne during peak hour try this number (03) 9277 3743. Usually always get through, had it for a while, supposedly a private number for cabs. Worth a shot if you can't get one using the standard numbers.

 

[Keith009]

I have been lucky so far in Shanghai, but have heard some horror stories from unlucky friends.

As for taxis in Thailand and Malaysia, they make Melbourne taxis seem godsent!

 

[McTavish]

Dot, you are probably correct and I have over called it. One looks at the home ground with different eyes.

I think worst in the world is a bit of a stretch! Certainly, they are not all good - there are some good ones and there are some very bad ones.

Having said that, for all round performance they certainly rate: poor airport service, problems with small fares, NFI with respect to major MEL landmarks, driving ability, cheating tourists, language skills, taxi cleanliness, reliability when booked, serious problems with disabled services, and possibly passenger safety.

I guess that the acid test is whether you would allow your 13 year-old daughter to come home from a party at midnight on a Saturday alone in a cab.....

Sorry if I have gone a bit off thread here

Cheers

 

[opusman]

I wish more of them have GPS.

That doesn't always help either... "Collins Street. Collins. Two L's."

 

[Evan]

<..>
I guess that the acid test is whether you would allow your 13 year-old daughter to come home from a party at midnight on a Saturday alone in a cab.....

Sorry if I have gone a bit off thread here

Cheers

Not a chance unless it was one of the regular drivers i knew !
Singapore on the other hand i would. (And i live there so i know there is some small issues at time but generally its much much safer place to be)
E

 

[bambbbam2]

I guess that the acid test is whether you would allow your 13 year-old daughter to come home from a party at midnight on a Saturday alone in a cab.....

Makes me wonder why someone would even let their 13 year old to go alone to a party until midnight on Saturday..

 

[Flashback]

Makes me wonder why someone would even let their 13 year old to go alone to a party until midnight on Saturday..

'twas a very hypothetical question :shock:

 

[McTavish]

'twas a very hypothetical question :shock:

Of course.

 

[htchapman]

Having spent most my time in Sydney over the past few years and started to think cabbies up there were actually pretty decent.... Well... the majority.

Since I've being in Melbourne - I can't believe how cough they are. Even going $10 city fares to MCG or Lygon St!!

I've recently picked up a decent group of cabbies here who I can SMS to arrange pick ups to and from airport (pick ups at MEL from HC area). Price is as per meter.

If anyone has a decent HC driver here though please let me know. I try negotiate decent rate since I do inner-East to Airport (and back) maybe 2-3 times per week.

I've got a perfect set up in Sydney with a HC driver up there - paid monthly so even better - and will come pick me up after a few beers in the early hours or from the races. Easy, simple, and loves talking rugby and cricket (and English).