Calgary Taxis - MIA?? - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

RougeUnderoos · 11-20-2006, 06:27 PM

I got a ride home from a non-cabbie cabbie last summer. I was trying to flag a cab down on 17th and he came up to me and said "I drive a cab, I'll take you home".

His cab turned out to be his mini-van. No signs, no meter, nothing. He charged me less than it would normally cost in a real cab for the same trip.

It's barely one step above hitchiking, but it got the job done.

It seems to me that cabbies are doing more "flag" pick ups than they used to. I've had several in the last month or so and that used to be impossible.

browna · 11-20-2006, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I got a ride home from a non-cabbie cabbie last summer. I was trying to flag a cab down on 17th and he came up to me and said "I drive a cab, I'll take you home".

His cab turned out to be his mini-van. No signs, no meter, nothing. He charged me less than it would normally cost in a real cab for the same trip.

It's barely one step above hitchiking, but it got the job done.

Hmm...did he offer you candy too?
Ask if you wanted some special "hot chocolate"?
Ask if he could call you "Wheels" from Degrassi and offer to drive you to the middle of nowhere?

browna · 11-20-2006, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cube Inmate

There's something wrong with a system where a person has absolutely no options for travel in certain circumstances.

A less regulated market would quickly fill the void by starting up a "premium" taxi service for a premium price. Maybe charge double the fare, but provide a service and availability guarantee?

There are enough affluent people out there getting drunk who would happily pay twice the price (or more) for this kind of service. Or would this start a slipperly slope towards two-tier health care?

Limo and private car services can do that.

Its going to get tricky here the next 3 or 4 weekends, with corporate Chistmas party season in full swing.

RougeUnderoos · 11-20-2006, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by browna

Hmm...did he offer you candy too?
Ask if you wanted some special "hot chocolate"?
Ask if he could call you "Wheels" from Degrassi and offer to drive you to the middle of nowhere?

It wasn't hot chocolate, it was an open beer and I didn't end up in the middle of nowhere but at home. I don't remember getting home and my pants were undone when I did wake up on the deck but I did get there so that's what counts.

Really though it was a little odd but whatever. The worst part is I had been at a work function and a legit taxi ride would have been covered by the company but I had to pay this guy out of my own pocket.

Barnes · 11-20-2006, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by browna

Hmm...did he offer you candy too?
Ask if you wanted some special "hot chocolate"?
Ask if he could call you "Wheels" from Degrassi and offer to drive you to the middle of nowhere?

You have such strong legs wheels.

I hitchhiked once before. I will never do it again. Guy turned the wrong direction, ran every red light and stop sign (it was in Montreal so it's not that unusual) and was hammered. My friend and I jumped out when he had to stop at a red light because of traffic. i should have paid more attention to Degrassi.

Bunk · 11-21-2006, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Calgary needs a true metro system. The LRT should serve all quadrants of the city, and run 24 hours on weekends.

Fully agree. Time to fastrack the West and SE LRT expansion followed closely by the North line. Interestingly, our system runs more hours of the day than almost any city out there, even Toronto's subway. They need a couple hours of full closure on a regular basis for things like maintenance. But keeping it 24 hours on friday and saturday nights is a good idea.

I-Hate-Hulse · 12-04-2006, 09:47 AM

This isn't getting better anytime soon....
Cab companies say the wait for taxis will only get worse through the holiday season. Enders said customers can book ahead but the company isn't guaranteeing the cab will show up on time.

Richard and Enders both say taxi customers shouldn't expect any improvements until Alberta's economy slows down.

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/200...i-calgary.html

GrrlGoalie33 · 12-04-2006, 10:07 AM

If you find a cab driver that you like, ask for his card. If you call them direct vs calling through the dispatch, usually you'll get faster service because they know you are there waiting and not just some name that came down the line.

fredr123 · 12-04-2006, 10:12 AM

They had a clip about this on the CTV news last night. They mentioned that late at night you could find dozens of cabs cued up at the Calgary International Airport waiting for fares. Why would so many cabs be waiting up there when there are plenty of other calls to be answered eslewhere in the city?

Further, and correct me if I'm wrong, but these cabbies pay a fee to work the airport. So, unless they're charging the customer FEE+X (and keeping X in their pocket) they would probably make more money on a regular fair downtown, no?

burn_baby_burn · 12-04-2006, 10:16 AM

Any time I need a cab after the bar I allways just walk up the street and flag one down. In the past it has worked well. But it doesn't work anymore. The cab shortage is not just in Calgary and isn't a recent problem either. I remember being in Medicine Hat about 10 years ago, and we coudn't get a cab to save our lives. All the locals told us it would be a 1.5 hour wait minimum on any Friday or Saturday night. We ended up flagging one down and giving him extra money (he was on his way to pick some one up that called). Another time in Saskatoon I waited outside the bar in minus 30 weather waiting for a cab with about 100 other people at 2:30 am. I ended up sitting in Robins donuts for a about an hour and finally decided that I had to drive or I would freeze if I tried to walk. Bad decision, but when it is cold out, people will do stupid things. Which is what many people will probably resort to this month. During the summer I had more than one buddy give me a call at 3am looking for a ride because he coudn't get a cab. But I know that I won't want to be answering the phone to go pick someone up at 3am when it is minus 20.

Engine09 · 12-04-2006, 10:18 AM

I have a friend who was off to Cuba last weekend, she spent 3 hours on the phone trying to book a cab to pick her up in the morning for her flight. She couldn't get through to anyone and started to get worried.

I ended up driving her to the airport at 4AM and keeping her car for the week.

nfotiu · 12-04-2006, 10:35 AM

My experience in similarly sized american cities is far worse. There just aren't cabs around after midnight or so.

They really need to let cabbies charge time and a half after midnight. That would probably be enough to get enough cabbies out.

Dion · 12-04-2006, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

I have a friend who was off to Cuba last weekend, she spent 3 hours on the phone trying to book a cab to pick her up in the morning for her flight. She couldn't get through to anyone and started to get worried.

I ended up driving her to the airport at 4AM and keeping her car for the week.

Instead of phoning for a cab why not tell her to use "Park and Jet" in the future. It's only $59.70 for a weekly rate (+GST), about the same as cab fare. I've been using this service for years and I think it's great.

http://www.parkandjetcalgary.com/home.html

Bill Bumface · 12-04-2006, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

They had a clip about this on the CTV news last night. They mentioned that late at night you could find dozens of cabs cued up at the Calgary International Airport waiting for fares. Why would so many cabs be waiting up there when there are plenty of other calls to be answered eslewhere in the city?

Further, and correct me if I'm wrong, but these cabbies pay a fee to work the airport. So, unless they're charging the customer FEE+X (and keeping X in their pocket) they would probably make more money on a regular fair downtown, no?

You do pay an airport surcharge if you get picked up or dropped off there.

troutman · 12-04-2006, 04:58 PM

We need the "collectivos" that I witnessed in South America. A bit more expensive than the bus, cheaper than a taxi. A car or van drives around picking up as many people as the car can hold, going in the same general direction.

fredr123 · 12-04-2006, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

We need the "collectivos" that I witnessed in South America. A bit more expensive than the bus, cheaper than a taxi. A car or van drives around picking up as many people as the car can hold, going in the same general direction.

They've got them in Mexico too. Stand on the side of the road and they flash their lights at you. Negotiate your price and sit next to a bunch of locals making fun of the tourists. I wonder what the local equivalent would be? Big SUV driven by a dude from Saskatchewan?