Funny Story...Taxi Driver raids the fridge

I came across this story on the Internet today.  This story is from Sydney.  A Sydney cabbie raids the fridge of a customer who didn't have any money on him and had forgotten his pin number for his bank card.  The cabbie refused to leave.  Cabbie asked the customer, do you have any cans of fruit, or veg or anything?  The pair then walked into the customer's house and the driver helped himself to chicken, cheese, and crackers.

The driver was disappointed cause the customer didn't have $27 worth of food in his house, which was the amount of the fare.  The customer explains, "I hadn't been shopping yet".

The passenger thinks he got a good deal out of the bizarre barter.

Interesting, next time a passenger doesn't have money to pay me I'm gonna try this.  Will it work?

Taxi Cab Ettiquette

DO'S AND DON'TS FOR RIDING IN A TAXICAB

When using the service of your local taxi cab service there are unwritten rules that apply. For customers that request a cab at a certain time it is imperative that you be ready, time is money. If the driver has to wait to long they may leave to pick up another fare or they can start the meter. As a passenger in a taxi cab you must remember you are in someone else's car and you must respect the company's rules and policies.

For example, do not smoke in the cab unless the driver gives you permission that it is okay. The drinking of alcohol or use of drunks is definitely not acceptable. The use of profanity or vulgar language are also not acceptable behavior in a taxicab. Before getting into the cab make sure you have enough money to pay for the ride. Drivers most times to do have change for large bills such as $100 notes. It is also important that you do business with reputable and professional taxicab company's that are properly licensed and insured according to the laws of there area.

Taxi drivers down in the dumps and the pumps

Driver's in Atlanta are spending about $1500 per month on gas. "It's tough when you see it going up, and then they talk about it being $5 a gallon before summer time," says Abdul a driver for Yellow Cab of Georgia. He tells us his average ride brings in about $12.  Gas prices shrink his profit, and he has to cut back on some of his trips.

He predicts that enough drivers cutting back will begin to hurt customers. Relief at the pump can't come soon enough.

I have been driving a cab over eight years. Gas prices are at a record high. Yes we should charge fuel surcharges.  Our costs don't go down, our cost go up just like everybody else's. All other companies, when their cost go up, what do they do? They pass it on to the customer, right, so we should be able to do the same thing.  As gas goes up, profits for cab drivers come down. Limousine companies can implement a surcharge to help make up for climbing gas prices, but taxi companies must wait for the city to approve a surcharge. The city's taxi companies are at the mercy of political forces and are not allowed to raise rates, which are regulated by the city and enforced by a bureau of taxicab standards.

Weekend Buzz in Atlanta

This weekend is buzzing...to start it off with the 76th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival in Piedmont Park.  Candler Park is hosting the Sweetwater 420 Fest from 4:15pm to 7pm today.  Musical performances at both events today and plenty of spirits! 

SO PLEASE DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE.  Your local cab services are ready to drive you home or to another event.

What's new on the streets of Atlanta?

Atlanta Checker Cab is the 1st cab company in Atlanta to introduce the new MV-1 handicap accessible vehicle.  This vehicle is ADA compliant and can hold two wheelchairs and three passengers or one motorized wheelchair and four passengers or it can carry regular passengers.  The MV-1 is a versatile vehicle. Checker Cab has been a leader in bringing new technology to the Atlanta Taxi business. They were the first company to have natural gas cars and also a car fueled by propane. Checker cab set the standard in the Atlanta market with the introduction of the computer based dispatching system equipment in all of there taxis.

Welcome to the Atlanta Taxi Business Blog.  Our blog is designed to inform and educate the metro Atlanta area taxi riders and drivers.  Feel free to jump right in with any news, issues, or concerns that might affect our industry.  This blog was designed by a taxi driver with 8+  years of experience driving a cab in the Atlanta market. I have driven for Checker Cab, Dekalb Taxi, Yellow Cab of Georgia, and for a limousine/car service. In Atlanta, drivers sit at the Airport for hours waiting for a fare.  In New York taxis cruise through downtown with fares almost on every corner.  Almost 3 million people live within the city limits of Atlanta and on any given day a taxi driver can drive for hours and can't pick up a fare on the streets in Atlanta.