Comments on: Taxis: Love ‘em or Hate ‘em? http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/taxis-love-em-or-hate-em/ travel culture worldwide Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:47:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mike http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/taxis-love-em-or-hate-em/#comment-39495 Mike Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:02:16 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=2441#comment-39495 Where I'm from, all taxi drivers reek of curry and sweat, none speak english, and they charge about $60 for a 20 minute ride. In the city. And, unbelievably, this city is in north america. Where I’m from, all taxi drivers reek of curry and sweat, none speak english, and they charge about $60 for a 20 minute ride. In the city. And, unbelievably, this city is in north america.

]]> By: Erin http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/taxis-love-em-or-hate-em/#comment-35786 Erin Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:45:54 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=2441#comment-35786 Ha! That sounds pretty much like I remember Detroit. Glad to know things haven't changed! Ha! That sounds pretty much like I remember Detroit. Glad to know things haven’t changed!

]]> By: Katie Hammel http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/taxis-love-em-or-hate-em/#comment-35754 Katie Hammel Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:32:42 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=2441#comment-35754 In Detroit, everyone drives, so it can be hard to get a taxi. But the last time my husband and I were home to visit, we decided to be safe and get dropped off at the bar to hang out with friends, figuring we'd just take a cab home so that we could drink without worry. When I asked the bartender to call us a cab, I had to repeat the question. Twice. He finally understood my strange request, made the call and then informed me I could expect to wait about 45 minutes. The cab finally arrived and off we went, my husband making small talk with the cabbie about how many fares he usually gets in Detroit (not many, the driver said, lots of time sitting around waiting). I thought the car was swerving a bit as we drove down Lake Shore into Grosse Pointe, but then thought maybe I was just swerving from the beer. As we pulled onto my in-law's street, lights started flashing behind us. At this point, we could see my father-in-law's house so we tossed $20 to the cabbie and started to get out. "Get back in the car!" a cop yelled over his megaphone. He came over and shined a light in the driver's face and it was then that we noticed his eyes were bright red. The cop said that they received calls reporting a cab driving erratically and could the cabbie please step out for a sobriety test? We explained that we could walk the rest of the way home. When we reached the house, we looked back to see our driver, spotlight trained on him as he stood in the middle of the street, one arm extended and the other reaching to touch his nose. In Detroit, everyone drives, so it can be hard to get a taxi. But the last time my husband and I were home to visit, we decided to be safe and get dropped off at the bar to hang out with friends, figuring we’d just take a cab home so that we could drink without worry.

When I asked the bartender to call us a cab, I had to repeat the question. Twice. He finally understood my strange request, made the call and then informed me I could expect to wait about 45 minutes.

The cab finally arrived and off we went, my husband making small talk with the cabbie about how many fares he usually gets in Detroit (not many, the driver said, lots of time sitting around waiting). I thought the car was swerving a bit as we drove down Lake Shore into Grosse Pointe, but then thought maybe I was just swerving from the beer.

As we pulled onto my in-law’s street, lights started flashing behind us. At this point, we could see my father-in-law’s house so we tossed $20 to the cabbie and started to get out. “Get back in the car!” a cop yelled over his megaphone. He came over and shined a light in the driver’s face and it was then that we noticed his eyes were bright red. The cop said that they received calls reporting a cab driving erratically and could the cabbie please step out for a sobriety test?

We explained that we could walk the rest of the way home. When we reached the house, we looked back to see our driver, spotlight trained on him as he stood in the middle of the street, one arm extended and the other reaching to touch his nose.

]]> By: Kathy http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/taxis-love-em-or-hate-em/#comment-35863 Kathy Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:05:20 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=2441#comment-35863 What a handy service that Ihatetaxis provides! I always stress inordinately about how to find ground transport from a new airport. I'm bookmarking that site! What a handy service that Ihatetaxis provides! I always stress inordinately about how to find ground transport from a new airport. I’m bookmarking that site!

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