Getting a taxi from a rank

Parchment

Ladies - i dont get a taxi often but recently did. I was with a few female friends at the time and was getting in the taxi alone.

I got into the first one and waved to my friends.

Later one of my friends called to ask was i home ok. She then said - her and my other friends discussed getting a taxi from a rank and two of them said they never just take the first one. They "suss" out which one to take when travelling alone - i guess making a judgement on which seems the safest. They said sometimes there can be a female driver in the rank and they would get into that car.

Any opinions on this? what do you do when travelling alone in a taxi?

Mars Bar

I think you are supposed to get the first in the queue anyway aren't you? There has been lots of talk here in Galway about people purposely avoiding black taxi drivers and going down the queue until they get to a white one.

Personally, I get in to the backseat and not the front seat if I'm ever in a taxi on my own regardless of the colour of the driver.

dirkmeister

Mars Bar wrote: »

I think you are supposed to get the first in the queue anyway aren't you? There has been lots of talk here in Galway about people purposely avoiding black taxi drivers and going down the queue until they get to a white one.

Personally, I get in to the backseat and not the front seat if I'm ever in a taxi on my own regardless of the colour of the driver.

This was discussed on The Last Word recently.

You can get any taxi you want in the rank.

Mars Bar

dirkmeister wrote: »

This was discussed on The Last Word recently.

You can get any taxi you want in the rank.

Ah ok. The taxi driver in Galway that was speaking for the black taxi drivers made it sound like it was illegal to go down the line.

Parchment

OSI wrote: »

One of the reasons I won't get a taxi from a rank is because they make up their own damn rules at every rank. They're all buddies who will only let each other in and insist you take the first taxi regardless of what the actual rules are. Hailo all the way, at least you have a record of the trip and driver then.

I dont use taxis often - maybe once a year so an app would be useless to me but if i did use them regularly i would use the app for sure.

Before anyone else latches onto the race issue alluded to - im not talking about that, im just talking about picking a driver you might feel is safer.

neonsofa

I always thought getting in to the first in the rank was the decent thing to do so that's what I do. I always sit in the passanger seat and chat to the driver. I've had lovely chats with black drivers and white drivers and I've never felt threatened by any drivers before, maybe I've been lucky. You can't really judge who is going to be safe or not. Someone can look like the most respectable well mannered person and do horrible things. My friends would always want a "got home ok" text when i get into a taxi but generally that's too little too late if anything were to happen really. I tend to use hailo more than ranks anyway.

Parchment

neonsofa wrote: »

I always thought getting in to the first in the rank was the decent thing to do so that's what I do. I always sit in the passanger seat and chat to the driver. I've had lovely chats with black drivers and white drivers and I've never felt threatened by any drivers before, maybe I've been lucky. You can't really judge who is going to be safe or not. Someone can look like the most respectable well mannered person and do horrible things. My friends would always want a "got home ok" text when i get into a taxi but generally that's too little too late if anything were to happen really. I tend to use hailo more than ranks anyway.

Sorry - like i said above this is NOT a race issue.

neonsofa

Parchment wrote: »

Sorry - like i said above this is NOT a race issue.

I noted that I've had good experiences with black and white drivers, seeing as race was brought up within the thread. The rest of the post was about drivers generally.

Carlos Orange

Parchment wrote: »

Sorry - like i said above this is NOT a race issue.

Picking a taxi based on a 2 second glance through a window is always going to be more susceptible to racial bias. I just hailo since they come to you (especially as it gets colder,wetter and darker) and there is a record. If someones is liable to worry about things I'm not sure why they would pick a random dude at a rank over someone who has been vetted by a company, even if that vetting might just end up as being extra sure they actually have a taxi license.

woodchuck

I don't get taxis as often anymore, but I do recall if I was coming from the back end of the queue, they'd always wave me towards the front. I don't know of the official rules, but there definitely seems to be an unofficial rule that whoever is at the front gets the next customer!

How would you know just by the look of someone who is safer anyway? In an ideal world I might prefer a female driver, but I haven't come across many in my time.

sullivlo

I just get in the first taxi.

I rarely get taxis home from a rank - usually I hail one on the street.

But I always say - "awful weather out there today" if its daytime, and "are you busy?" if it's night time. Without fail.

And if a taxi driver doesn't engage me in conversation I get really thick with them. But I also get really thick with them if they try to engage me in conversation and I don't want to talk.

Bottom line - I'm never happy :pac:

beks101

I use uber almost exclusively these days as black cabs in London are hilariously expensive, but I've never had any concerns at taxi ranks or with taxi drivers in a general sense.

Uber is great as you have a record of the driver and the ratings system means you can choose someone with 4/5 stars (who's generally not going to be a complete arshole) and they're about 1/3 of the cost too.

I've always sat in the back of the cab as a rule though, it wouldn't even occur to me to sit up-front.

neonsofa

beks101 wrote: »

I've always sat in the back of the cab as a rule though, it wouldn't even occur to me to sit up-front.

I'm the opposite, I'd sit in the back if I was with someone but if alone I'd always just sit in the front, never questioned it.

RacoonQueen

Can pick any taxi you want ya...and it could be for any reason. There are taxi ranks I would never go to in Dublin also. Haven't gotten in a taxi at a rank in years though.

Would never get into the front of a taxi myself, don't like sitting up beside the driver and I think most drivers prefer people to sit in the back also. Personal space issue for many people too I'd say.
When my dad drove a taxi he would lock the passenger door and used the front seat as his office. He felt safer, as a driver, with passengers in the back seat.

Parchment

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Can pick any taxi you want ya...and it could be for any reason. There are taxi ranks I would never go to in Dublin also. Haven't gotten in a taxi at a rank in years though.

Would never get into the front of a taxi myself, don't like sitting up beside the driver and I think most drivers prefer people to sit in the back also. Personal space issue for many people too I'd say.
When my dad drove a taxi he would lock the passenger door and used the front seat as his office. He felt safer, as a driver, with passengers in the back seat.

That makes total sense that your dad did that.

Loveinapril

If I am alone getting into a cab I will always text the drivers number (sometimes a photo of the ID card) to my husband with the colour of the car (I rarely know makes). I hate talking to the driver so having my phone in my hand is a good excuse not to! If I am with friends at a rank I will get them to pay attention to the make/ model and reg if possible. I always get in the back too.

I have to laugh at people who make a point of not getting into a taxi with a black driver ... a quick Google will give you a Romanian and a Ukrainian taxi driver recently convicted of assaulting female passengers.

A couple of years ago, we were super careful after some report about taxi drivers being ex-cons and such, I seem to remember something about the guy who was convicted of raping Miss X ended up as a taxi driver.

Anyhoo, when we would put a friend into a taxi on her own, we'd make a point of mentioning out loud that we expected to hear from her when she got home. One time one of my friends said "And I've a note of the taxi number" and the taxi driver got in a huff and threw our friend out of the taxi.

Nowadays I nearly always use Hailo.

Miaireland

I don't get taxis that often but have downloaded the app Driver Check (taxi regulator app).It allows you check whether the taxi is registered and who the driver should be. If it is not registered or the driver is different to who appears on the app then I will skip that taxi and take the next one that is registered.

The app allows you send the taxi details to a friend (or used to the last time I used it) and I normally send them a text saying that I am on my way and how long I should be.

I know I am a bit ott but I had a bad scare in Uni.

Galwayguy35

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Can pick any taxi you want ya...and it could be for any reason. There are taxi ranks I would never go to in Dublin also. Haven't gotten in a taxi at a rank in years though.

Would never get into the front of a taxi myself, don't like sitting up beside the driver and I think most drivers prefer people to sit in the back also. Personal space issue for many people too I'd say.
When my dad drove a taxi he would lock the passenger door and used the front seat as his office. He felt safer, as a driver, with passengers in the back seat.

I'd have thought he would have felt safer having them in the front where he could see them instead of in the back where someone could take you by surprise.

neonsofa

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

I'd have thought he would have felt safer having them in the front where he could see them instead of in the back where someone could take you by surprise.

Yeah I spoke with a driver who had someone pull a knife on him from behind in the back seat.

Galwayguy35

neonsofa wrote: »

Yeah I spoke with a driver who had someone pull a knife on him from behind in the back seat.

Unless there was safety glass between the back seat and the front ones in her fathers taxi but I didn't see it mentioned in her post.

neonsofa

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Unless there was safety glass between the back seat and the front ones in her fathers taxi but I didn't see it mentioned in her post.

Oh that makes sense actually!

Precious flower

I always thought it was just me who dislikes or feels uneasy about getting taxis. My whole family go on at me for it, saying I have to grow up but I tend to avoid getting taxis if I can. Which is awful because judging a person by their profession is ridiculous, but very taxi I'd gotten (which aren't many) the driver has always made be feel a bit uneasy.I always sit in the front too, because I have a stupid notion it's rude to sit in the back.

RacoonQueen

Nope, no glass but he'd never had a knife pulled on him. Had been mugged a couple of times and with them behind you they can't as easily grab for your cash.
Personal space thing as much as anything.

I never get peoples fear of being in a taxi but I can be stupidly fearless - would have no issue walking round on my own at night etc...

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Rachiee

Its only fair to get the first driver all taxi drivers are trying to make a living and any taxi driver who is willing to skip four other drivers whove been waiting longer for a job isnt a particularly decent person anyway.
Also what if there is no female driver do you just go to the top of the que or pick the next least threatening by age or race.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

Don't use ranks often but would always take the first one, I know you don't have to but I do. I don't know how you could eyeball someone and make any kind of meaningful judgement on how safe they're going to be?

Have heard some horrendous stories about taxi drivers but I've always been lucky. I suppose I'd be that bit more situationally aware in a taxi by myself, and when I leave a night out by myself there'd always be the 'home safe' text, but beyond that don't take any particular precautions.

whiskeyman

I'd recommend anyone, especially late at night, to only get taxis at ranks and not just hail off the street.
At least at ranks you're highly unlikely to get dodgy / fake plated taxis as the other drivers would have them reported and they'd know something was up.

LynnGrace

Shane Bald Spoonful wrote: »

Don't use ranks often but would always take the first one, I know you don't have to but I do. I don't know how you could eyeball someone and make any kind of meaningful judgement on how safe they're going to be?

Have heard some horrendous stories about taxi drivers but I've always been lucky. I suppose I'd be that bit more situationally aware in a taxi by myself, and when I leave a night out by myself there'd always be the 'home safe' text, but beyond that don't take any particular precautions.

Same here, tbh.

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Pat Mustard

For years, I always used to take the first cab from the rank. However, I don't hail cabs from the street or from ranks anymore, due to two issues.

First, I have found in recent years that there is an increasing tendency for many drivers who have been hailed from the street or picked up from the rank to attempt to charge as much as 50% more than than what a reputable local cab company will charge.

Secondly, I have found that a significant minority of non-local drivers from the street or the rank drive the wrong way to where I am going, either out of lack of knowledge of the route or in an attempt to inflate the fare. This is in relation to routes with which I am fully familiar. When the fact of the incorrect route is pointed out to them there is often a tendency to protest in a loud and semi-aggressive manner that they have been driving in this country for 6 months or 2 years or whatever and that they know the way, despite having taken a completely unnecessary 45 degree detour in the wrong direction.

The taxi regulator isn't going to be sitting in the back of the cab to monitor what goes on but there needs to be a comeback on the driver if the passenger wants to be sure that the driver behaves properly and politely, drives properly and charges the fare correctly.

I tend to use drivers that I have used before or cab companies with which I am familiar. In this way, I avoid the above problems. I find Hailo good, generally.

I don't pick up taxis from the street or the rank anymore.

SarahMollie

I have a friend (who has since copped on to herself after a stern talking to) who used to pick and choose from the rank and it was certainly a race thing. A bunch of us suspected what she was up to and ultimately called her on it.

I honestly don't find people credible when they say they look for a safe driver in the rank, but "oh no, its nothing to do with race"...... like do they go and interview them on their driving style? Ask about their no claims bonus? How often the car is serviced? Doubtful.

skallywag

Parchment wrote: »

Before anyone else latches onto the race issue alluded to - im not talking about that, im just talking about picking a driver you might feel is safer.

Can you go into some more detail on how one driver may feel safer compared to the next?

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Pat Mustard

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This may make sense on an objective, logical basis but people make value judgements based upon the appearance of other people, all of the time. There are various studies which attempt to measure the length of time within which people tend to form these types of judgements. Here is one:

A series of experiments by Princeton psychologists Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov reveal that all it takes is a tenth of a second to form an impression of a stranger from their face, and that longer exposures don’t significantly alter those impressions (although they might boost your confidence in your judgments). Their research is presented in their article “First Impressions,” in the July issue of Psychological Science.

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Parchment

skallywag wrote: »

Can you go into some more detail on how one driver may feel safer compared to the next?

For me I would prefer an older driver - I suppose that's based on anything happening that I would have a better chance of protecting myself.

Also I glance to see all the livery that should be on the taxi is.

As others are trying to say its a race thing - its not for me. I can only speak for myself but I would always choose an older driver as I am young and fit so the odds are stacked in my favour. That's all really. Its worst case scenario but it is somewhat risky to be alone in a car with a strange man so when I am in that situation I like to do what *I* can to be happier about my choice of taxi.

Neyite

I go with a cab that's affiliated with a cab company. Better vetting and accountability of their drivers that way.

blue note

I'm amazed that so many people on an anonymous internet forum are stressing the point so strongly that they like to choose their taxi based on the look of the driver but that it's not a race thing. Why is race so unacceptable a basis to judge people on but age or gender absolutely fine? (a couple of posters said they wish they could pick female drivers all the time).

A very relevant story that's close to home is my cousin who got a taxi home from a night out in college (black African male driver). She told him where she wanted to go and gave him directions on the journey. He took exception to being given orders by a woman (he felt he knew a better way), dragged her out of the taxi by her hair and beat her. She ended up in hospital, thankfully with no serious injuries. One of the organisations dealing with her after told her that they'd love to issue general advice for women on their own to go down the rank for an Irish driver because of the number of complaints they receive of threatening behaviour and even of assaults like this, but obviously they can't.

This is the only serious story I know of (where I actually know the person involved) regarding a taxi incident. But since I do know it I just can't understand why everyone is saying that they'd pick and choose what taxi to get into, but that race wouldn't come into the decision. I suppose frankly, I don't believe it.

There's probably a market out there for a female only taxi company if anyone wants to set one up by the way. I could imagine it doing very well on going out nights.

Speedsie

blue note wrote: »

There's probably a market out there for a female only taxi company if anyone wants to set one up by the way. I could imagine it doing very well on going out nights.

A female only cab company, Angel Cabs, opened up in Dublin in 2008. It only lasted a couple of years as I recall.

Parchment

Speedsie wrote: »

A female only cab company, Angel Cabs, opened up in Dublin in 2008. It only lasted a couple of years as I recall.

Its a pity - I think there are a few companies like that in London. Makes perfect sense to me.

I wonder if it was tried again would it work. It would have to be a smaller fleet than normal to make it sustainable.

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Carlos Orange

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A quick google says they actually hired male drivers. Maybe they only had female customers but it seems well dodgy for a taxi drivers to be refusing to serve customers when they are hailed down.

Going Forward

A useful app below, particularly when you're actually in the taxi; drivers are required have their details on an ID card on dash, visible, (one thats folded down or missing might not necessarily mean they're not licenced but doesn't look great) the roof sign will show the taxi licence number.

Enter the details in the app (easier to do from the back seat;)) and it will tell you if everything's above board.
Always ask for a receipt, particularly if the journey has been "eventful", that's why taxis have meters and printers that are required to be in working order.

https://www.transportforireland.ie/taxi/taxi-driver-check/

https://www.transportforireland.ie/taxi/check-if-a-taxi-driver-is-properly-licensed/

Spirogyra

I never like phoning them, try to get the numbers of those who I like, but theyr'e not usually available. Not had a bad experience but I instinctively feel a teeny bit anxious.

_Jamie_

How do people who move down the rank know who looks like a "decent" driver?

And I'm not accusing anyone here, but absolutely some women would be influenced by race and it's naive to think that doesn't happen.

FWIW, the only sleazy taxi driver I've ever had was white and Irish and older.

blue note

It's perplexing to say the least. They're making a decision based on what the driver looks like, that's not disputed. Judging the driver based on age and gender is acceptable to most people, but on race is not. Also just judging on whether they get the "no" feeling looking at a driver. But that's driver specific and not based on race? I'm sorry, I think people who say these things are just kidding yourselves.

That's not to say that you're wrong to skip a taxi if you don't like the look of a driver for whatever reason. It just means that part of the reason could be subconscious racism, sexism, ageism, something else ism.

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blue note

Likelihood of being attacked of
physically or verbally. Women going out drinking, wearing revealing clothing is highly unacceptable in a lot of cultures and I know a few women that have had problems with this in the past. The worst case being my first cousin who encountered a driver who didn't like taking directions from a woman (when she told him what route to take) and dragged her out of the taxi by her hair and beat her.

Yes the same things can happen with a white irish driver, but if you're choosing a taxi to minimise risk, you may be better off choosing the white taxi driver.

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