Have you ever taken a Taxi? How was the experience?

hollydolly said:
that's really weird, because if I wanted a cab to come 30 miles here from say the airport which is 30 miles away.. .. it would come.. in fact if I wanted one to come 200 miles it would come.. they don't mind as long as thhey're getting paid....
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They might come. I don't know. The cost would be horrendous, so it's nothing I would consider.

Current rates, Dallas, TX
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I haven’t needed a cab since I retired twenty years ago.

I need to get busy and learn to use Uber or Lyft.

I’m a bit concerned about being stranded if I use the car service for my medical appointments.

I know that there are plenty of drivers that would take me to my appointments but they are in rural/suburban areas and I’m not comfortable that I would be able to find a ride back.

I’m not sure of how to check in advance other than with a planned pickup reservation but that is a bit difficult to set a time when the appointment would be finished.

I’ve also noticed that both services quote a higher return trip fee which only reinforces my concerns.
 
As noted, long DEAD thread (2014) that began just as Uber and Lyft became popular that at first to gain market share were far cheaper than taxis. So decimated those highly regulated older businesses. Now they cost about as much that was predictable. If I use my local airport, I carrying baggage, walk 3 blocks and take 2 buses. Our airport parking charges are insane for long term parking.
 

I haven't driven since 2005. I didn't need to take taxis until after my husband died. The last taxi I took, I said no more. I had missed a bus and the driver took me to the station to catch the next one, because I had luggage. He was nice and I don't mind tipping, if it's deserved, but since Ubers and Lyfts are readily available in my area, that's what I use if my son or grandson can't take me...usually to doctor appointments.

I like the convenience of door to door service, the rides are always nice (not like some raggedy taxis) and I know exactly who's picking me up. Also I can share the information with my son or someone else if I want. There's even a feature that allows passengers to indicate if something has gone wrong or they don't feel safe. It self activated a week ago when we were sitting in traffic too long on the way to my appointment. Another plus is I know what I'll be paying and get cashback rewards up to 5% on each ride because I use my credit card(s). I always check both services to see who has the better price.
 
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Growing up in a mostly farming community, if you didn't have use of a vehicle, a ride & or a license, you didn't go many places. So when I joined the service & was stationed overseas, you walked or a taxi was usually your only way to get around. In Okinawa they had 2 types of cabs, one you took as a venture at your own risk & wasn't allowed on base, the other was somewhat normal, & more costly. In Germany, you took whatever you get to slow down enough to get into.
 
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I've taken several cab rides in the past, but one in particular stands out. I was in college in my late teens and on summer break. My boyfriend at the time lived in another state, and I was going to his parents' house to visit for a long weekend. I called for a cab to take me to the train station. When the cab arrived, I wasn't quite ready yet and asked the taxi driver if he minded waiting for a few minutes for me to finish getting myself together. He was a very polite older gentleman, and I took a chance by inviting him in to wait. (I know, never mind, lol.)

When I was ready, he carried my rather heavy suitcase to the cab and put it in the trunk. On the way to the train station, we had a lovely chat. He told me about his family, and I told him I was going to visit my boyfriend and his family. When we got to the station, he parked the cab, got out, unloaded my suitcase, and said he'd be glad to carry it down to the platform for me because it was heavy. Did you ever hear of such a thing?

On the platform I thanked him profusely for his kindness, paid him for the ride, and added a generous tip, which he refused but that I insisted he take. What a nice man! 🙂

It was the most pleasant cab ride I ever took! 🚕
 
I used cabs a lot when I was stationed in San Diego and down here in Pensacola. I went to San Francisco one weekend and spent a fortune on cab rides.

I remember getting in a cab in San Francisco and just wanted to ride. I asked the cabbie if he knew the city well. He said he lived in SF all his life. I had a list of 5 places I wanted to see and handed it to him hoping he could read English. He looked at the list and told me to sit back and relax. After about 1 1/2 hours, we were on our way back to Treasure Island when I asked him if he had time for a drink. He stopped at a really nice bar just outside of Treasure Island. He also cut me a break on the fare. I think I paid around $150. This was in the late 80’s.
 
My son ordered an Uber cab for me a couple of weeks ago, to take me into the city which is about 25klms from my place. He arrived almost 2 minutes after it was ordered. He was the nicest young man and was very talkative and told me all about how he came to Australia from Iran when he was 16 years old. He was the youngest of 8 sons. He got into Trade school and became a carpenter and now works for himself. We got on so well and I must admit he was more courteous than the regular taxi drivers.
 
A famous TV evangelist died and was standing at the Pearly Gates before St. Peter.

"Well, here I am! Open the gates."

St. Peter says, "We'll have to check your credentials first."

"CHECK MY CREDENTIALS??? Do you know who I am? I have been driving Satan from sinner's souls for 50 years! I deserve to enter immediately!"

Just then St. Peter sees another man standing in line, tells the evangelist to step aside, and ushers the other man through the Gates without a pause.

"What the heck is going on here? I have to stand here waiting and you let that guy just waltz right in? What kind of show are you running anyway? Who is HE???"

St. Peter smirks and answers, "He's a New York taxi driver. He's scared the more hell out of people in one year than you ever did in 50!"
 
I traveled on business for many years and although I've had a couple of rude taxi drivers the positive stories I have to tell are amazing. I took a taxi to a cruise ship and left my passport in the back seat of a taxi. The taxi driver was halfway from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami when he discovered it. He called me and delivered it back to me in Ft. Lauderdale. He got a big tip!

One of my business associates took a taxi in NYC. He left his brief case in the back seat. The taxi driver called him and delivered it to his business appointment.

The only negative experiences I've had were when I wanted to take short trips. I had a taxi driver pick me up at LAX and insist that I get out of the car because I was staying at an airport property (even though it wasn't on airport grounds).

I don't travel on business anymore, but when we travel for vacation we take Uber or Lyft. They are both great and I've never had a negative experience. I can connect with them on an app and it tells me exactly where they are. They are the future. With the exception of places like NYC, taxis are the past.
 
My son many years ago was in New York and was wondering about when a taxi pulled up and asked him if he wanted a ride. When my son spoke to the driver, he immediately recognised his accent and asked if he wanted a tour of the city. My son said how much, and the driver said whatever you can afford. He said he had 40 dollars, and he said, that would do. Well, he took him everywhere and at the end of the trip my son said he was so grateful. I told him he was very trusting with a stranger, but he said he was so friendly and proud of his beautiful city. That was back in the 90's. Don't know what it would be like by today's standards.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I live in the sticks, everything is 30-45 minutes away by car. Before I regained the ability to drive, it would cost me $80-90 to go to the MDs, and $100 to get groceries. If I had an appt for 3 PM, I'd better get the call for it in by 10AM. The cabs were OK, but you could tell they ran the hell out of them.
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Those prices are in line, each way, with what I’ve been seeing for my medical appointments.

If I have to stop driving it would still be much cheaper than the cost of owning and operating a vehicle.

We’ll see! 🤔
 
When we travel, we use taxis and Uber/Lyft. I’ve only been long hauled a couple of times. I called both of them on it - actually reported the one and got a partial refund.

Aunt Bea said:
I know that there are plenty of drivers that would take me to my appointments but they are in rural/suburban areas and I’m not comfortable that I would be able to find a ride back.
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You could take an Uber there and a taxi back home. Just check if there’s a taxi company where you’re heading. It may mean a bit of a wait. You’d find out how efficient things are.

Also you could also just Uber there. When ready to return put a pickup request to Uber and see how long they say they’ll be. You can decline if you don’t want it.
 
Used many Taxis in my travels, from motorcycle types in Southeast Asia to European ones on that continent.

One I remember was 3 of us being driven around Cairo, Egypt for the day back in 1979.
Driver was happy to stay with us as we explored the city, all day.
I learned a lot about the city listening to him.

While visiting London with my wife for the first time in 1986, she wanted to ride in one of the 'Black' taxis, so we got one
to go from one Tube station to another.

Haven't been in a 'Cab' in years, we just Uber or Lyft like some many others.
 
i_am_Lois said:

Have you ever taken a Taxi? How was the experience?​

..... Anyone here ever need to take a Taxi?
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Two airport bus tickets from the city is more expensive than the price of two passengers in a taxi. And the taxi even picks you up from your home doorstep at the hour you want. That is the only time I use taxis.
 
This area is rural, there is a bus line that connects to the cities to the East. I don't think there are cabs anymore, but Uber and Lyft will come here, my neighbor uses one whenever he has a medical procedure that requires a driver for the return home.
 
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