Comments on: Why I Dislike Taxi Drivers.

By: iantimothy

iantimothy — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:01:54 +0000

@CamryLimo - so totally missing the point. Read the post carefully and don’t get so easily offended. However I do apologize - the title is somewhat misleading despite my grievances against taxi drivers expressed in the post. And I also failed to give enough credence to the fact that I’ve probably had a significant number of pleasant cab trips.

Finally, do you like value for your hard-earned money? I do.

By: CamryLimo

CamryLimo — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:35:20 +0000

Yes that’s correct. Listen to your Singapore Government’s advice and take their billion dollar public transport system. Taxis are not meant for cheapskate passengers. I rather go for quality trip rather than quantity trips.

By: iantimothy

iantimothy — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:03:52 +0000

Hello CamryLimo…so what’s the alternative? what are the kind of passengers you like? The kind that appreciates being taken round and round, across the longest route possible, so that every possible dollar and cent can be squeezed out of us?

I’m so happy that we as customers and passengers exist for you to take advantage of. My life now has meaning.

Notice, I didn’t say I wanted cheap rides. I appreciate that a premium should be paid for a taxi ride and if I don’t want to pay that premium, I am more than happy to take public transport which I do most of the time.

The key is this. If a trip can be made at a certain cost, would I want to pay more? It is about value for money compared to other taxi trips.

By: CamryLimo

CamryLimo — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:16:17 +0000

Quote & unquote “You take me to the destination as quickly as possible and preferably as cheaply as possible.” -> My advice or rather suggestion is for you to STOP taking taxi and move your butt to a cheaply mode of transport. Not just me but many taxi drivers will tell you that we HATE this kind of passenger to begin with, I rather skip YOU then to bring you to your destination - Not a shit worth!

By: iantimothy

iantimothy — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:50:39 +0000

Hello Yuuka. Thanks for the comment. Hope the posts make you think good and happy thoughts.

I love trains too. I remember when the MRT was first started, my dad took me on a joyride just to experience what taking it was like. Good times.

By: Yuuka

Yuuka — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:21:52 +0000

I find that the only time some taxi drivers use a more leisurely route is when you seem as though you don`t know how to get to where you`re wanting to go or when you`re asking to be taken to a destination quite close to where you flagged the cab (say somewhere in Tampines, to another place in Tampines). Firm direction usually solves this.

As for their job scope, I generally see cabs as a mode of transport to take when I`m not sure how to get to a place by bus or MRT (or when I`m late/car-less) so I do expect them to know how to get somewhere without my input. I`m sure they find backseat drivers annoying.

That said, I usually pay attention to the roads they take and suggest quicker routes because I can`t let them take all the blame if I don`t even try to prevent myself from being cheated.

Trains will always be my favourite mode of public transportation! PS. Love reading your posts. They often make me really think!

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By: iantimothy

iantimothy — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:50:42 +0000

The point about the flag down fee is a good one. I was thinking about that too and I realized that maybe regardless of how much the flag down fee is, taxi drivers with arguably short-term thinking might still take passengers for a ride because they might never know when they will get the next passenger, so might as well squeeze as much as you can from the existing one.

By: Annonymous

Annonymous — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:28:29 +0000

I agree entirely that taxi drivers should know their way around. In fact, most companies do try to ensure this by providing them with a GPS system, you know the on board screen is actually has a map which can help the taxi driver locate the place you want to go to. Yet according to some of the cabbies i’ve taken, the problem with this GPS system is that it’s slow, hard to use, and for most cabbies, outdated. Apparently these taxi companies do not have a policy of ensuring that the GPS system is more than just a white elephant. But back to the other point about how the system is flawed. If you think of it carefully, the $2.80 flag down fee is quite substantial actually, add on to that peak hour bonuses, i’m not sure how that adds up, but i’m pretty sure a cabby has no incentive to take you for a ride.

By: Daily SG: 9 Apr 2008 « The Singapore Daily

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