Honesty

Yesterday afternoon a young woman climbed in at the Coogee Bay Hotel for a local address. She was an English backpacker and recounted a tale of extreme generosity by a taxi driver.

“When I arrived in Sydney the first thing my girlfriends told me was to watch out for the taxi drivers," she said. "They’ll take you around the world if you’re not careful.” Yawn.

“They’re probably just being hospitable,” I joked, “and giving you a tour around town.” “A few weeks ago,” she continued, “I was in the Cross late at night and didn’t have much money-about $20-and needed to get to a friend’s house in Annandale.”

Twenty bucks was pretty close to the fare anyway but just to be sure she warned the driver before boarding the cab. The cabbie agreed to take her due to her being honest straight-up, rather than upon arrival which is what often happens in those situations.

With only a partial address they drove around until finally locating the house, but her friends weren't home. So rather than wait she decided to head back to Coogee...with no money. Once again, the driver willingly agreed to take her, for free, even stopping at Maccas for food and shouting her a cheeseburger.

All up this amounted to a $40-50 exercise. “Surely you had plastic?” I asked. “Nup,” she claimed, “my credit card was maxed-out and the savings account was empty. I was earning shit money and had spent the last of it on the night.”

Whilst I regarded the driver’s generosity hard to believe her spending was definitely irresponsible and placed unfair emotional pressure on the driver. Sure, she was a charming and vivacious girl, but still...

“Sorry, but I wouldn’t have driven you back to Coogee,” I flatly told her. “Maybe to a bus stop but not all the way to Coogee. Most drivers work for money, not charity.” She just laughed good-naturedly, “I guess I got lucky, then,” and gave a small tip. This left me feeling lousy for being so forthright.

Undoubtedly some people will freely help others who don’t necessarily deserve help, but I’m somewhat more judgemental. And it would be fair to say most cabbies are also selective with their charity, increasingly so given the frightening economic situation.

Comments

[Paul (ex-brissie cabbie)]

Hello Adrian,
No point in feeling bad. You are a commission worker making often less than $10- an hour.....

I have heard the same bullshit before from pommie/irish backpackers.... I think it is a scam to get you to bet the other fools generosity....

For the money taxi drivers earn.... they can't afford to give to charity cases.... they need every dollar to pay for living costs.....

Taxis are an expensive form of transport and one should not spend what one can not afford.

Thanks for telling this story..... another lying pommie I thinks to meself!

[Rainer the cabbie]

I will always remember the fare that asked me to turn my meter off whilst they were doing some shopping. I replied, sorry I can't do that, and she asked me why ? I said that I earned my living out of this meter, therefore I can't stop it.
She said fair enough, did her shopping and paid the full fare, including a tip.
That experience taught me that they will try anything on you, given a chance. Especially those British Ros...err carnations.
Watching too much Neighbours will do that to you.

[kingofnewyorkhacks]

When they ask me to shut the meter off and I refuse. The usual resonse is " I'll take care of you!!" .....and so I must reply, so will the meter.

[Fyodor]

If she had been a hairy legged ugly feminist of a certain age I do not think you would have been so generous. Adrian you have traded the cooing of a genY capitalist for a fare. You are a class traitor. Next committee we discuss.

Fyodor

ps not to say I vud not haf done the same.

FU

[unique_stephen]

I always try and tip up to the the next 'ten'. I hope that that help to cover some of the odder assortment of early morning fairs you guys get.

[Dianne]

Maybe she was just trying it on by saying how nice another cabbie had been to try to get a 'bit more' out of you. Life is complicated and sometimes we can all be a little sceptical. Overall she was a nice person and she left an impression on you. Probably better than a lot of the people you meet every day.

[Andrew Debreczy]

Excuse me...I know that (English) backpackers are synonymous with (English) tightarses but the pound is fetching how many Aussie dollars? They may be scrimping on cab fares but they sure know how to wolf down our lobsters...at half the price.