Taxi Tips

Here's some tips to make taking taxis smoother.

1. Give the cab room to pull over. We can see you. We are looking for you, so you don't have to stand in the middle of the road jumping up and down flailing your arms in the air. Legally we are required to pull out of the traffic lane to the curb or some other safe area, so once you see us pulling over, move back so we can pull to the curb.

2. Sit in the back seat. That's where you are supposed to sit in a taxi. Of course unless there are too many people, fill up the back first.

3. Tipping. It's a common practice to tip a cab driver. Tip more if they provide exceptional service. Tipping well motivates a driver to better service.

4. Be polite. You may need special services from a driver so if you are rude, do think we will go out of our way for you? Instances include, leaving things behind in the cab, needing the cab to wait, needing the cab to return at a certain time, scheduling, getting the driver's personal number for quick service, favors, etc.

5. Be ready to go. When you call or hail a cab, be ready to get in the cab and leave. The dispatcher may say 15-20 minutes, but a cab could be coming available right around the corner. Making us wait loses us money and I have pulled away from customers who were not ready to go in a reasonable amount of time.

6. Don't call multiple cab services for one pickup. If you call several and take the first one who gets there, problems arise. If it happens repeatedly, the dispatcher will "black list" your number and calls from you won't be dispatched, and you'll have a harder and harder time getting cabs. It's also just rude to the other drivers who waste their time and gas to drive to get you.

7. Don't argue with us to turn off the meter. If a driver is o.k. to do that he will agree to do it, but it's illegal and can bring a fine.

8. Don't argue to overfill the car. There is a big fine for that.

9. Don't puke inside the car. Tell us to pull over. At least get it out the window!

10. You are paying for a service so you are the boss. Don't let the driver take you a way you don't want to go. Remember the number of the cab you were in in case you leave something behind.

I don't play that

One night I picked up two guys from one of the bars in town. They were a local run so it wasn't going to be that great of a fare. They were really drunk. One started asking me questions and then said, "when was the last time you were cold cocked?", which means "sucker punched"
"never"
"why not?"
"because I have this." I pulled out a long metal flash light from under my seat.
Then he said, "What if I blast you right now?"

At this point I just pulled over about fifty yards from a police van.
"Get the hell out", I said as I stepped out of the cab holding the flashlight in my hand. I opened the back door and instructed the guys to get out immediately. They didn't move.
"Aw we were just kidding", one said.
"I'm not kidding; get the fuck out of my cab right now"

Then I yelled over to the police van saying, "hey these guys won't get out of my cab!" I don't mess around. I'm not going to joke about attacking cab drivers. They can walk.

Finally they said "ok, ok, we're leaving!", but still were just lingering looking at me. I kicked the back door shut and yelled,
"Then what are you still doing here?", I snapped, "get to stepping!", and they walked off into the shadows....