Comments on: Taxi drivers and GPS

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 13:22:50 +0000

A GOOD GPS is a good idea. Mapscos are good too, but the GPS is more usable. And the customer can hear the way too, and know that you are not ripping him off.
I know my town pretty well. I use to cruse a lot when I was younger. I know where places are, but not so good with street names.

The big problem is that in my area, the use of Cabs is not all that great. Most people take the car. But in the areas that Cab usages is higher, I am a little shaky on the streets. So the GPS would be good. The streets are old, and should be in any map, or GPS system.

As far as needing to be professional driver for 5 years before driving a Cab, that will never happen. First of all, all the owners can about is getting money for the a lease. Thats all they really care about. They do not even care if you sink or swim, there aways someone else to take your place. And second, if you are a professional driver someplace, you would be clearing more money that driving a Cab in most cases. So why bother? Third, and really, thats not fair to demand that. It a guy has a Mapsco an knows how to use it, or has a good GPS, then he should be able to get around, and in turn, learn the area.
You need to start someplace. But I can also see your point too.
But I do feel that one should have a GOOD command of the English language if they want to drive here. Communication is very important. And the drivers need to treat the fare with respect, like he is glad that the fare got in his Cab. Do not blast the heat, or radio. And be clean, and well groomed. Have a clean Cab. Do not smoke in the Cab. And to not eat while driving a fare. Or talk on the phone. And certainly so NOT text while driving, with or without a fare. And here is something that you might not hear from people. Have the direct number to the Poilce, Fire and EMS. It saves loads of time than going threw 911.

By: nitesh

nitesh — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 23:11:24 +0000

can we perform ads by gpd device using in taxi for extra income

By: Madtown cabbie

Madtown cabbie — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:55:55 +0000

That is a really nice idea, making a taxi diver have 5 years experience driving professionally! Here is the problem, no wants to be a taxi driver, low pay and high risk. So I say if you think you can do a better job, drive yourself. As a current taxi driver, I get just as many out of towners who insist they know the shortest route. I just smile, take them the way they want to go and collect my extra $5.

By: Chen

Chen — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 05:06:32 +0000

I think every taxi driver must have a GPS device with the most current maps and text-to-speech. This can ensure faster time to get passengers to where they want to go. Plus, with the text-to-speech, the GPS will say the street names out loud when guiding audibly, so taxi drivers can focus on the road more to drive more safely, and passengers feel more comfortable when the driver drives more safely.

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:51:16 +0000

For a stay of 2 days or more, it’s cheaper to rent a car and find the places yourself. Why were you even in a taxi? They have rental cars at the airport. You live in New York? Then you should know better. Take the subway or the bus. Something tells me that you’re just a fat person that doesn’t want to walk the few minutes to a bus stop. How disgusting. I bet you wouldn’t have compained if there was a buffet inside that cab!

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:47:47 +0000

For a stay of 2 days or more, it’s cheaper to rent a car and find the places yourself. Why were you even in a taxi? They have rental cars at the airport.

By: Felix

Felix — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:54:40 +0000

As an ex taxi driver I have heard these types of horror stories both as a Taxi driver and now I get to experience them practically every day. I was one of the very few experienced (before I got my accreditation)drivers.
I knew Sydney (Australia) and I couldn’t get lost if I tried. I soon found out I was in the minority.
Now I’ve moved on to a management position at one of our largest hospitals and travel to work by taxi every day. I’m lucky if I get one good driver a week.
The simple answer is to make it mandatory for any new taxi driver to have had at least 5 years experience as a professional driver (courier, truck etc) before they can get anywhere near a cab.
That would solve the problem but they won’t do it because the taxi authority is run by taxi owners who want a steady supply of drivers to drive their cabs.
If the regulations were more stringent then that supply would slow down.
They don’t care about the public all they’re concerned with is getting their cabs leased out every shift.

By: Mark C

Mark C — Sat, 23 May 2009 05:17:07 +0000

Being a limo driver in Minneapolis, I must say I’ve never run into anyone who’s lived here at least 6 months who doesn’t know what “1st Av” is, much less the “Graves”. Funny story, and glad you survived to tell the tale!

By: Price Taylor

Price Taylor — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:49:01 +0000

I have one of those SOTA GPS units that I received for Xmas, a TomTom 920.

It’s neat, but I have a couple of complaints about it.

(1) It’s really dumb about routes to/from locations that I know well.

(2) Even if I don’t know the location, I begin to second guess it…which generally doesn’t work out too well.

Oh well, maybe in a couple of months I’ll meet in the middle.

By: Gary Barnett

Gary Barnett — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:40:46 +0000

Re London taxis – You’re absolutely right, in fact the “Knowledge” is still a requirement for London Taxi drivers.

See – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Knowledge#The_Knowledge

By: Dwayne Phillips

Dwayne Phillips — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:07:24 +0000

In June 2006 I made my first and only visit to New York City. At 8PM I was finished with my meeting at Dorset House Publishing (I don’t know what part of the city that is in, but somewhere near the middle) and got in a taxi. My hotel was near JFK Airport. Three hours later the taxi driver found the hotel. I had “neglected” to print a Google map for the address. I was mistaken to think that a taxi driver would have a map and be able to find an address.