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Stupid Boston cabbies
By adamg on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 11:08pm
ChezNiki posts a copy of a letter to the Boston transportation commissioner:
Early this morning (July 12th 4:20am) when I returned to Boston at South Station, Medallion Number 1107 of Independent Cab refused to take me to my home which near North Station.
When I got in his car, he turned on the meter but refused to drive. He rolled the window down to complain to the other drivers that I was not going far enough to make a good fare. When I asked him again to take me to North Station, he yelled at me and told me to get out of the cab. I had to take another cab AND give directions, because the second driver was "new" and pretended not to know how to get from South Station to North Station.
This is unacceptible. Unfortunately, this is not the first time Ive had trouble, been refused service, or been driven in the wrong direction on purpose to "run the meter up." ...
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Comments
I propose a new law...
for Boston cabbies: Do your job, or go back to Haiti. Don't come into my country and tell our people where they can and can't go.
my god
Speak for your ignorant self.
That's exactly what I'm
That's exactly what I'm doing, Liz. If I went to Haiti, and was rude to the natives, I'd be an "ugly American." Do you endorse a double standard?
no double standard - there's a difference
when people live here, they are natives.
when you're a tourist and rude to people - you're an "ugly american"
I didn't tell them to live
I didn't tell them to live here. Why move here if you're going to act like an ass?
Incorrect.
Just living in a place doesn't make you a native. I've lived and worked in plenty of places where I wasn't a native. Just because you disagree with someone politically doesn't give you a license to make up word meanings.
I agree it's unfair to pick on them for being Haitian, or Ghanian, or Barbadan, or what have you. But most of the Boston cabbies I have encountered (>100) have been foreigners, with poor to middling command of English, who required directions from me, the passenger, to find their way around Boston. They're not native Bostonians, not by a long shot, and seem unlikely ever to become or even simulate natives.
The last thing I want when I get off an overnight flight from Sao Paulo is a taxi driver who doesn't know Boston from a hole in the ground and needs repeated promptings to turn. The taxis here suck, and one of the reasons they suck is that so many drivers truly don't know their way around. There ought to be some basic test of city knowledge for qualification.
racism & BMs
your posts reek
I love blatant misuse of
I love blatant misuse of "racism." For the record, my views apply to everybody. I'm an equal opportunity offender.
As for the coffee post, that was a scientific remark. That's what caffeine does.
your views were written only
your views were written only directed to Haitians.
that's racism.
"for Boston cabbies: Do your job, or go back to Haiti. Don't come into my country and tell our people where they can and can't go."
Yes. And then I offered a
Yes. And then I offered a clarification. But don't let the facts get in the way of your desire to mislabel me.
Not racism
That's not racism, it's chauvinism (not male chauvinism). A chauvinist may have that attitude because he is racist (e.g. "Blacks should go back to Africa!"), but Will based what he said on their decision to work or not, not their race. That wasn't being racist ("Black? Go home"), just chauvinist ("Won't work? Go home").
??????!!!!!! - WOW
???????????!!!!!!!!!!!-WOW
I am horrified and frightened by your comment.
I have had many bad cab drivers from many different backgrounds and the same goes for the good ones.
I don't know why you made that comment, but I think it has nothing to do with cab drivers.
Boston Cabbies
Boston Cab Drivers are a disgrace. I drive in and out of downtown Boston each day and at least once a week a cabbie almost causes an accident due to poor driving, speeding, not paying attention, talking on cell, etc.
Boston cabbies think nothing of pulling into lanes without a signal or blinker, stopping an entire lane of traffic to let a fare out or pick one up (as opposed to pullling over to the side of the road).
Tonight I saw a cabbie take a hard right turn down a street from the far left lane. I guess the two cars he cut off and almost crashed into don't matter because he is trying to make money. Disgusting.
Don't get me started on the odors you encounter once you step into a cab.
God Bless and Happy Sunday!!!
Ronald
More frequently - I get stuck behind VERY slow cab drivers
who are straddling 2 lanes. I can't pass them and long for the stereotypical speeding drivers.
I do think the cabbies have a lot of BS to deal with. The fare rates don't let them make much of a profit & they buy their own gas. It's crazy that the refuse short drives, but that's because they're not making much money, not because they're assholes.
"Boston Cab Drivers are a disgrace. I drive in and out of downtown Boston each day and at least once a week a cabbie almost causes an accident due to poor driving, speeding, not paying attention, talking on cell, etc"
Sorry, they're assholes
It's crazy that the refuse short drives, but that's because they're not making much money, not because they're assholes.
Tough. By law, cab drivers cannot refuse to provide a ride within the city of Boston. It's pretty simple. Somebody at South Station at 4:30 a.m. (or any time, really), shouldn't have to beg or be insulted for wanting to get home.
you're right
no one should have to beg or get insulted when they try to get a cab - and it sounds awful to be stuck at South Station with no options....but I do think it has to do with the drivers not making a working wage. The bureaucracy and red tapt to increase fares is a long process - takes longer to have harings, make decisions than it does for gas prices to rise.
I though drivers could refuse fares based on location.
refusal of passenger
http://www.massport.com/about/pic/taxicab_service.pdf.
the "refusal of passenger" section is interesting. It seems very subjective, and like the drivers could claim that they thought someone was drunk, or that they were going to cause them bodily harm or damage the cab.
They can refuse out-of-town destinations, I believe
But within the city? No.
I'm sorry cabbies are getting squeezed by evil medallion owners and high gas prices. But they should be dealing with that at City Hall, not with some woman who just wants to get home. If they're unwilling to comply with basic requirements of the job, then go work in a McDonald's or something.
I-Team Finds Boston Cab Drivers Breaking The Rules - A 2007 report on the difficulties of getting a cab at South Station:
I-team is a bit wrong
when they say
"The only reason they can refuse a fare is if they fear for their lives."
According to the official rules on massport they can refuse if they think someone is drunk, if anything illegal is happening, if the fare has a known history of problems or if they're in fear for the safety of their cab in addition to fear of their personal safety
Boston Police Hackney Division is a joke
The Boston Police Hackney Division that controls cabs is a major part of the problem.
They have allowed leasing rates for the cab owners that make it virtually impossible for drivers to make any kind of profit. Throw in the price of gas and these drivers are looking at a $140 nut to make back before they make a dime.
The divider between driver and pssengers makes riding in the back seat uncomfortable with problems with ventilation and simple comfort.
Fidelity was so disgusted by the situation 20 years ago they started Boston Coach as an alternative to cabs.
Many cabs today are owned by Hatian credit unions based in Montreal who literally put drivers behind the wheel who have been in the country less than a month. These drivers are promised ownership of cabs but at terms that are impossible to meet. It is virtual slavery.
The Hackney Division then comes up with idiotic rules like the inside of trunks must be painted white.
Cambridge enforcement is even worse and Brookline the last 2 years as well.
Yes drivers are a problem but it is the system that needs to be overhauled.
Please! Last night i took a
Please!
Last night i took a cab from south station to oak square. It's a $20 cab ride, and instead he charged us ~$50!
Cabbie, instead of jumping on the pike for the lousy $1.50 toll [which they have to pay btw], took 93.
Didn't know storrow was closed, so we went through a tour of Charlestown, running the meter past $20 before we even go back to storrow.
Told him he;s only getting $25 and he had the nerve to yell at me, and say he can't cover a $50 cab ride for a mile ride.
FUCK BOSTON CABS!
Seriously, this is the only city I've been in that you have to put up with this shit from. World class my ass!
I lived outside of San
I lived outside of San Francisco for about 6 years and the cabs are just as bad there.
Not to mention super-expensive!!
n/m
I just had friends visit and
I just had friends visit and the cabbie from Logan didn't know how to get to Brighton center. We had to give the cabbie directions over the phone. It's ridiculous. I've been given many tours of the city going in circles, been more or less verbally assaulted, almost been in at least 2 accidents.
Almost every cabbie doesn't speak English (or pretends not to), is rude, talks on the damn bluetooth headset the whole ride, has no clue where to go, behaves and drives as if they were drunk or high or falling asleep, and then they have the nerve to complain when you don't tip enough. On top of that the rates are completely ridiculous when compared to other major US cities.
Yes, and random question
I had a similar experience a couple of months ago...wanted to go from Logan to North Station. Instead of taking the Sumner to 93, the shortest route, he took the Ted, and kept going straight past 93, to the Allston/Brighton/Cambridge exit, and back in down Storrow.
I realized he was taking a circuitous route after we passed 93, and had to yell at him that I needed to be back at North Station (and by yell, I don't mean angry, more that, yes, he was jabbering away on his bluetooth, and had to make him hear me).
I don't know if he was either a) distracted by his phone conversation, b) figuring I was new to the city and wouldn't notice, c) wanted a larger fare, or d) all of the above.
It's important to remember, though, that there are some good cabbies out there. They're just few and far between. But I have had a couple of really pleasant, speedy travels in my time, with friendly drivers.
Okay, random question time:
The signs in the cab say a certain amount for every 1/4 mile. Why does the fare box number change when the cab is idling at a stop light? I see nothing on the signs that indicate fare being based on time, only on mileage. Does anyone know why this happens, or the justification behind it?
$24 per hour wait/traffic
$24 per hour wait/traffic time
http://www.cityofboston.gov/transportation/CABS.ASP
Thank You
It's nice for someone to clear that up for me.
Although I didn't see anything at that link which indicates traffic as a fare indicator. Waiting? Yes. If I am in a cab and have it stop at a supermarket, go inside and spend half an hour to purchase sundries, then come back out and go somewhere else, of course I should be charged for the waiting time. In fact, for that kind of thing, I think $24/hour is way too low.
But traffic? I just don't think the rider should be penalized because there are so many cars on the road, and so many traffic lights.
Time is money
It's not the cabbie's fault there are so many cars on the road or traffic signals either, but he can't pick up any other fares until he's done with you.
Gas
When the motor's running, the car's burning gas. It's fair to charge for time in traffic.
On the other hand, cabbies should pay me to give them directions. What does somebody who is not from Boston do when they take a cab here?
Kaz and Gareth:
I guess I misphrased my statement. I'm not saying the cabbies should be penalized by traffic-based idling, but nor should the passenger.
And while I don't support penalty on anyone, I still hate the idea of my fare increasing by virtue of waiting for red light after red light. In so many places throughout metropolitan Boston, the traffic lights are so horrendously misaligned, and coupled with rush hour, that changes a $15 fare to a $25 fare, if not more.
And Gareth: interesting idea for demanding pay for directions...theoretically, yes, but hard to implement.
I'm buying a bicycle!
That is pretty insane that a cabbie would do that. I am buying a bike to avoid this situation.
a bike is going to help you at Logan?
you'll have balance your suitcases in each hand
Heh..
And have fun trying to get to Eastie on a bike...
Seriously - they should have
Seriously - they should have built a bridge instead of the tunnels!
Not if you buy a Bike Friday
I have a bike that fits into a standard samsonite clamshell suitcase. It has an optional trailer tongue with a set of wheels.
If I bought the trailer tongue and wheels for the suitcase, it would turn into a trailer. Just take the bike out and set it up, assemble the suitcase/trailer and attach it, throw the stuff in the now empty suitcase (or even on top of it) and tow it all away.
Or you can do all this at Aquarium T stop, after you surface.
That letter is being sent to
That letter is being sent to the wrong people. The Police Dept Hackney Division regulates taxis.
Boston Cab by Mike Barrett
Boston Cab (sung to the tune of Country Roads)
by Mike Barrett
1.
Not quite human, Boston cabbie
He don't speak English, his driving's kinda shabby
I'm in the back seat feelin' kind of gross
Cause the driver in the front seat
Farts and picks his nose
Chorus
Boston cab, what's the deal?
Who put you, behind the wheel?
Learn the language
Learn to drive
Take a shower try to get me home alive
Bridge
I see his face on the permit right in front of me
He looks just like a terrorist who just escaped from jail
I tell him where I'm going
But he don't understand just turns and stares at me
And I say gee…
Chorus again
2.
I try to tell him I'm going to Mission Hill
He takes me to the airport, then through Somerville
He says something, I don't know what it is
But he's acting pretty angry, I think he wants a tip
I say forget it, I say here tip on this
I ain't getting' fucked, if I ain't getting kissed.
You can complain online
Boston taxi complaint form.
FYI
this link has a list of flat rates http://www.massport.com/LOGAN/getti_typeo_taxis.html
it is more current than the link to the brochure I posted, as it has updated smoking rules, but it still gives the subjective instances that drivers can refuse fares.
First of all, that's Massport
Those rules only apply at Logan, not the rest of the city, but in any case, I don't see anything in there that says you can refuse to give somebody a ride based on where they are headed.
yes
I agree. I think the subjective refusal criteria is much like the police who can stop someone for "suspicious activity" though - sort of a blanket excuse to bend the rules.
None of which ...
Were at issue in the ChezNiki's complaint.
devil's advocate
if I was her driver, trying to look like I was following the rules, I would say she became argumentative with me, and I feared that she would somehow damage my cab.
Then you shouldn't be driving a cab
So go work at McDonald's.
:)
yes
They definitely cannot
They definitely cannot refuse a fare based on location.
oh man, poor Petersham,
oh man, poor Petersham, MA.
I'm assuming it's a typo, but the flat rate to their town is listed as $445.40 (the highest on the list by over $50), while their neighboring towns range from $164-$221.
What a [Peter]sham!
Behaviour of Boston Cabdrivers:
It's true that many of them are rude, they drive too fast, and, as has also been pointed out, don't speak Engllish, or at least pretend not to, which is disgusting, imo. I think it's a racket myself, because they want to make money however they can, which is often by ripping off the passengers.
Regarding speeding; on several occasions, I've had Boston cabdrivers who drive way too fast, and, when asked to slow down, they either totally ignore that request and keep on as they are, or they get rather nasty. Boston cabdrivers aren't that well-trained, either, which has a lot to do with it.
But, what can we do?
Boston Cab Service is awful, but then again so is the T, the Mass Pike, and a host of other government provided or regulated services.
The Boston Police is not equipped to deal with a service oriented industry, and yet it remains unchanged.
My heart feels for everyone who complains, but I am at a loss as to how we can effect a change. If anyone has a valid and reasonable suggestion, I for one am open to hearing it.
Also,
In addition to being poorly trained and outright rude, many of Boston cabdrivers are tough guys, and/or have criminal records, to boot. I've had good and bad experiences with Boston cab drivers. One never knows who or what they'll get when they take a Boston cab.
Stick to the town car
A cab like that
He’ll keel your broder
Don’t take that cab
Wait for another
Stick to the town car, only the town car
Welcome back, Miki.
You're all so willing to hop
You're all so willing to hop up on your high horse and defend these smelly, rude, sexist, homophobic cabbies. They cannot drive, very unsafe and dangerous to pedestrians and cars alike. My friend was gay bashed by a cabbie when the cabbbie realized he was being brought to a gay club.
I would love to see them all deported back to their godless homelands...and not spread their stench and awful ideologies.
So go ahead and call me a racist or whatever. When you witness the same things everyday, you cannot help but feel this way. GO HOME
Sorry
about your friend.
Anti-Immigrant Screeds Don't Fix Problems
I'm sorry about your friend, but I don't think the ethnic makeup of the cab fleet has much to do with it.
We just returned from a trip West of Worcester without a car involved and four people plus luggage to transport. I also travel a fair amount for work.
The cab drivers in other cities are pretty much the same ethnic mix as those in Boston, with some minor local modifications. What is different elsewhere is the rational regulation of cabs as a safe public transit resource, rather than as a private profit center and early 20th century phenomenon.
I was pretty annoyed, but not surprised, when the ride home from the airport involved an ATM stop. Cabs in every other city I have recently visited take credit cards. That isn't the cabbie's fault, nor are busted seat belts, poverty wages, poor cab driving conditions, etc. These conditions reflect an overall failure of the regulatory systems that protect both cab drivers and passengers.
Local culture regarding a lack of oversight of any sacred cow, flauting of laws as a perverse indicator of maturity, not enforcing laws, etc. also contributes to the "I can get away with it" attitudes involved in the assault you describe.
Hi, Gareth.
Thanks for the morning laughs. How're you doing?