Taxi drivers. Best and worst. ?

[juddles]

Kuala Lumpur. The cabbie, amongst many many other things, hit a pedestrian. She was knocked flying, the cabbie didn´t even look back in the rear visión mirror.

Best are in Medellín, Colombia - cheap, polite, friendly, all in all excellent service.

My least favorite habit of cabbies is those that fall asleep at each red light.

 

[PineappleSkip]

What is it with (SYD in this instance) taxi drivers who think by pumping the accelerator pedal constantly makes for a comfortable ride! 

Drove SYD taxis for three years, thirty years ago. What is it with SLF that they imagine taxis are there to provide a comfortable ride? It was pure economics. The name of the game was load and unload as fast as possible, so you could load again. So the tendency was two speed driving, full tilt and stop (GPH you left off the bit about pumping the brake pedal!). Not so much in other cities maybe, I think it was something about SYD traffic, manic or jammed. If hamsters on a wheel spent half their time at red lights they would behave thus also.

Cowboys there were a few, remember hearing from a transport inspector about the tourist who went from the airport to the city via Gladesville Bridge AND Harbour Bridge. Realised they were being dudded when they saw the city buildings from 3 different angles in an hour. :shock:.

Wouldn't want to be back in that industry. The returns for bailee drivers still much the same as then, despite inflation. I remember there were mostly nice SLF, but unfortunately the ones that stick in your mind were the a**eholes, fare evaders and spewers.

Cheers skip

 

[tuapekastar]

Taxis are my least favourite form of transport in a city. In order:

Private car (i.e. my own or a friends)
Train
Bus
Tram
My feet
Taxi (includes Uber)

Where an airport is involved a shuttle bus may cut it. Have only had 2 x Uber rides and both were fine but they still do not rate highly for me (above Taxi, below rest). UberX AFAIK (correct me if wrong, it has been known to happen before) is uninsured and illegal, why you would let these people ferry you around town with the attendant risks is beyond me.

Oddest taxi ride I recall was as a teenager in Singapore. Four of us going home after a function at school. The driver would not accept directions. "Turn left here" "No, straight ahead much better", repeat two more times in increasing volume, slam on brakes and reverse to intended turn. Last two dropoffs were me and a guy who lived ~200 metres other side of a main arterial road to me (I lived 200 metres the other side). Driver decided enough was enough and wanted me to alight at friend's. I insisted in no uncertain terms ("Schoolboy swear, very bad") and got there. A bizarre ride.

Plenty of good drivers around but one or two too many nutjobs have put me off them. Obviously will (and do) use them when no alternative.

 

[anat0l]

In the major Australian centres (talking taxis here):

• Brisbane is OK. Surprisingly have been able to get a decent driver at most times, within a reasonable amount of time after placing the job.
• The main failing in Sydney are those nut heads who try to up the fare from the airport by taking the Eastern Distributor without asking or recommending (e.g. due to crazy traffic, which is rare).
• Melbourne drivers are useless. Often drive off or kick you out if the fare is too short. Many of them don't know Melbourne (major) roads (without the aid of an electronic map) to save their life or that of a member of their family for that matter. I know taxis don't usually rate up there for cleanliness and what not, but of the three major eastern seaboard centres, Melbourne's are the worst (on average).
• Perth would be alright except it takes between 20-30 minutes for the taxi to arrive. And that is if it arrives. If you are going to the airport, prebook it, use another fixed service or consider public transportation - it is not worth your blood pressure to rely on a taxi merely on call.

I'm not sure what it would take to shake and straighten up the taxi industry in this country (or at least in one major Australian city as noted), but given it's a firmly entrenched sector - politically and economically - which brings in plenty of tax dollars, I guess nothing will really happen.

 

[RailFlyer]

I don't understand why Uber don't send some undercover employees to take some rides in licensed Melbourne/Sydney cabs and secretly video some of the terrifying and illegal driving that I seem to witness on > 50% of trips in these "safe" licensed taxis. Then edit this together and screen on TV as a satirical add saying that "Uber wishes to apologise. We realise that we were wrong and that licensed taxi's are much safer."

Note: I haven't used Uber, so can't comment on how bad their drivers are, but I certainly agree with the comments on this thread about Australian taxi drivers having a unique binary approach to operation of the accelerator and brake pedals.

 

[drron]

Taxis are my least favourite form of transport in a city. In order:

Private car (i.e. my own or a friends)
Train
Bus
Tram
My feet
Taxi (includes Uber)

.

Don't fly into Yangon then.Taxi it is unless you want to pay a hotel for the transfer.

 

[anat0l]

I don't understand why Uber don't send some undercover employees to take some rides in licensed Melbourne/Sydney cabs and secretly video some of the terrifying and illegal driving that I seem to witness on > 50% of trips in these "safe" licensed taxis. Then edit this together and screen on TV as a satirical add saying that "Uber wishes to apologise. We realise that we were wrong and that licensed taxi's are much safer."

Note: I haven't used Uber, so can't comment on how bad their drivers are, but I certainly agree with the comments on this thread about Australian taxi drivers having a unique binary approach to operation of the accelerator and brake pedals.

First, can I beseech that this thread does not fundamentally turn into another "Uber(X) vs taxis" thread, or "Uber is illegal/not illegal" thread.

I think Uber might be in a sticky situation if it does covert filming in a taxi. Plus, it might not be difficult to entrap a taxi driver and edit the resulting video to make it look really, really bad. A live feed might be a better idea, but again there might be serious privacy, libel/defamatory or whatnot legal implications, and I won't entertain the hornet's nest known as the taxi industry/lobby (and whatever cronies in government).

 

[JohnK]

Don't fly into Yangon then.Taxi it is unless you want to pay a hotel for the transfer.

Great recommendation.

Manila out. Yangon out.

 

[burmans]

First, can I beseech that this thread does not fundamentally turn into another "Uber(X) vs taxis" thread, or "Uber is illegal/not illegal" thread.

I think Uber might be in a sticky situation if it does covert filming in a taxi. Plus, it might not be difficult to entrap a taxi driver and edit the resulting video to make it look really, really bad. A live feed might be a better idea, but again there might be serious privacy, libel/defamatory or whatnot legal implications, and I won't entertain the hornet's nest known as the taxi industry/lobby (and whatever cronies in government).

Not a privacy issue if you don't post personal info (ie blur the face of the driver and the number plates). TV investigative shows have been doing this stuff for years.

 

[tuapekastar]

Don't fly into Yangon then.Taxi it is unless you want to pay a hotel for the transfer.

Don't doubt you, and I believe I covered that situation in the last line of my post.

 

[Deleted member]

We decided on a private car back to the airport. It was $45.00. Drove in a Holden statesman, the drive took no longer than the usual taxi ride ( plus or minus 5 minutes) , yes we paid extra, the bags were loaded and unloaded for us, the ride was comfortable, and for the first time this weekend, Mrs GPH felt safe. No texting while driving, no break neck speed between light changes, no swerving and swaying...... I love SYD. It would have to be one of my favourite cities in the world.
I don't know the answer, but I believe a better ( not necessarily "more" ) regulated taxi industry is vital. Better driver training would be a good start.
But the ( apparently) excessive licensing charges need to be looked at. The cab drivers need to be allowed to earn a living wage.
I've not done a lot of cab rides in London, but I have a greater sense that there is more pride taken in what they do. I'm sure others will have better knowledge than me.

 

[jsoprano]

I still use taxis in Melbourne because my employer simply won't reimburse hire cars or Uber, but normal taxis they will. So for work trips (which is 99% of my taxi use in Melbourne) I don't have a choice. Okay, I use PT within the city as well.

On the other hand, my last 2 taxi rides in Melbourne were actually very pleasant experiences for the first time in years: used the 13CABS app to book and both times they showed up quickly, cars were in good condition and really clean, drivers spoke perfect English and were courteous (one even introduced himself with his name), they were not on the phone or texting, they know how to drive a car, they knew directions (even the 'shortcut' rather than the direct and usually congested route), and they didn't complain about the short $10-15 trip.

Maybe competition is beginning to make a change? Or I was just lucky...

 

[Warks]

It would 10 years since I took a taxi to the airport. The price went up so much in a short space of time and then all the "plus plus" meant that "Park and Fly" was a much cheaper option. With all the new road tolls (which are forever increasing) I gave up on driving and started catching the train to SYD. Never looked back. Always get a seat, only got to change at Central and it's a nice comfortable ride.

When interstate I always rent a car so never use taxis at all. As a result I'm feeling much better about the world.

 

[rlarosa]

I'm a big fan of Singapore taxis. Clean, cheap and efficient. And they don't hassle you if you are only going a short distance. Every time I get in a cab here teh drivers complain about how quiet it is. I often think of the cheap taxis in Singapore and how often they are used and wonder if more people would use taxis here if they were cheaper (and cleaner, and with brakes that work, and with the aircon on on a hot day .....)

 

[Mr_Orange]

• The main failing in Sydney are those nut heads who try to up the fare from the airport by taking the Eastern Distributor without asking or recommending (e.g. due to crazy traffic, which is rare).

Is that the M1?

If so, I agree. Taxis always seem to go that way when heading directly north through the suburbs is often quicker and cheaper. Last weekend we got taken up the M1 and then the cheeky cough added $10 to the meter fare when punching it into the Eftpos machine. I didn't notice at the time so now my card company are effecting a charge back. Last time I use a Sydney taxi!

 

[JohnK]

I'm a big fan of Singapore taxis. Clean, cheap and efficient. And they don't hassle you if you are only going a short distance.

I used the MRT on this last trip to SIN except for going from Holiday Inn Atrium to Paragon on Orchard Road for lunch. Only a 5-10 minute trip and I got the taxi driver from hell.

Car in front didn't take off. Beep, beep, beep. Car still hadn't taken off. Beep, beep, beep. Swearing in English. Swearing in Mandarin I guess. Tailgaiting. The driver of the other car a lady with another passenger giving back as much as she copped. Swerving. Changing lanes. Cutting in front of each other at every opportunity. Amazing there wasn't a crash.

I was actually scared. I didn't want to be there. I wanted out of there. Trip cost SGD5.50 or something. I could have walked it in 25-30 minutes as both MRT stations are a little out of the way. Next time I am walking.

 

[Skyring]

I spent five years as a night cabbie in Canberra. Loved the job, to tell the truth. My aim was to have the passenger smiling at the end of the trip.

But the economics wore me down. The money got worse and worse as the government put more and more licences on. Sure, it solved the problem of long queues at the airport, but that just meant that for the rest of the time all these new cabbies were hunting for work and they didn't mind ignoring the rules to get it.

So I got out. Along with a lot of long-time cabbies who knew the town, looked after the passengers, did a good job. I think it's the same everywhere now. Cabdriving is something that can be done without a lot of skill or experience, the one taxi licence can be shared around several people, you learn on the job, you have passengers pretty much at your mercy, especially if their luggage is in the boot, the good old GPS will always do the work for you if you haven't a clue.

The money needs to be made to pay the insanely high costs of keeping a cab on the road. Government fees, network fees, Cabcharge fees, insurance and all the rest of it. The cars and drivers work long shifts because if the car is idle it's not making money. It's government skimping on good public transport, that's the problem. Tie the airport into the regular public transport system, charge the regular public transport fares, the problem sorts itself out.

Hmmm. Best cabs. London black cabs, I think. I've used them a few times, they navigated the complex streets with aplomb, the vehicles are well-designed. Expensive, but worth it.

Worst. Cabbies in Charleston. Stoned, driving dirty jalopies full of litter.

 

[dajop]

I'm a big fan of Singapore taxis. Clean, cheap and efficient. And they don't hassle you if you are only going a short distance.

Ah, short ride better la. Get $3 each time someone gets in la.

Had a few discussions with drivers about that, when it's busy short rides can be more lucrative for them than long rides. But the population density supports it, I live in a large condo complex with probably 3000+ people living in the complex, it is extremely common that I don't even close the doors when I reach home, as someone gets right in to take the taxis somewhere else. Also incentives them to take the quickest route (even if slightly shorter distance).

Much better than taking taxi's in Melbourne or Sydney, or Bangkok.

 

[Skyring]

Had a few discussions with drivers about that, when it's busy short rides can be more lucrative for them than long rides.

If you can string 'em together, lots of short fares are much better for the cabbie than a long one. That flagfall bumps up the rate enormously. I used to love the nights when the service academies had their graduation balls in Canberra. There'd be a heap of people - parents and sibs - leaving just after midnight, usually just heading to a nearby hotel. They had a few wines aboard, they were in a great mood, a nice clean cab with soft music playing was exactly what they needed. I'd race back to the ballroom again and again, and often get a hefty tip. Magic.

But even if business was slow and some old biddy just wanted to get her shopping back home a few blocks away, that was fine. I took the position that if somebody got into a cab, they needed a ride, and everybody had exactly the same need. It was the luck of the draw. Some fares were long, some were short, but at the end of the day, it averaged out.

 

[lang_13]

Getting a cab from Sydney airport is the worst. I live quite close to the airport so always cop attitude when I get in an tell them my destination. Nothing like arriving back after a 15 hour flight to be greeted by a driver muttering obscenities under his breath. Something is amiss with planning when there is a snaking queue of passengers waiting to be picked up and a long line of taxis waiting to pick people up. Where possible I opt for the train these days (if there's no track work that is)