Instinct

Last week I was interviewed for Weekend Sunrise which appeared on Sunday morning. Unfortunately they requested I not advertise the fact beforehand, hence the lack of notice here, so I’ll post a copy when it arrives.

One question was what had taxi driving taught me to which I nominated tolerance and heightened intuition as standout lessons. Sooner or later all cabbies attain these essential qualities, otherwise they would not survive for long.

On three occasions last night these attributes were called upon when my first instinct was to reject the fares. By applying some trust, indulgence and humour respectively, each fare worked out okay.

Firstly an elderly woman in a Kings Cross bus shelter hailed a cab travelling in front of me. When he braked then kept going something told me to stop, even though she looked homeless. She was overdressed for the warm evening and clad in the shabby, non-descript clothing favoured by street people.

With an unlit cigarette hanging from her mouth and using a walking stick she hobbled to the cab and climbed in the front seat. Immediately I was hit by the repulsing odour of stale sweat.

She paused, spaced-out like, so I waited. Finally she said, “I want to go to a restaurant, where can I go?” Even though no restaurant would accept her in that condition I suggested nearby Darlinghurst as a way of getting rid of her.

When she demurred and requested Bondi instead I wondered if she was a joy-rider. Yet she wound down the window, stuck her arm out and confidently directed me by the most direct route, indicating she knew exactly what she was doing. Thus I relaxed.

Sure enough, at Bondi she opened her purse to reveal around a $1000 in fifties! No worries.

At Central around midnight an aboriginal mother and daughter hailed me for a short fare. Even though they carried open beer bottles I let them board. Don’t ask me why but it just felt like they'd be okay. And they were.

The cops had refused them passage through the country platforms to Elizabeth Street, they called it racism but who knows. I went along with their story and suggested next time they should record such encounters on the phone. This really won them over.

They too produced a fifty dollar note, for a six dollar fare. I couldn’t change it so accepted four bucks in loose coins. Yes, it’s an old trick but sometimes something is better than nothing.

The third passenger was an American woman who, along with a friend was somewhat tired, emotional and really boisterous, bordering on belligerence. Within minutes she was screaming at me to take a certain turn. This unwarranted behaviour almost had me stopping to throw them out.

So when the old intuition suggested giving them a chance I hit the record button on the phone, just in case things went pear-shaped. And with the application of a little levity she soon settled down, making for an entertaining trip which resulted in a small tip. No worries.

Comments

[shadow]

You've got it mate.

Write that book.

[Involved]

Well done.

[Involved]

Love this audio :)

[Peter Deane]

You're famous, man! I must say driving a cab was the most exhillarating job I ever had. You meet so many interesting people who are prepared to tell you anything - often more than they'd tell their spouse.

Can I add a "BUT", however? That is, although I drove as long as I did, my bank balance never increased one iota whilst I was doing it. I was sorry to give it up and I miss it socially, but NOT financially!

[adrian]

Peter, the money is ordinary, though can't imagine what it's like outside the City. But yes, if it was for the blogging I probably wouldn't be still be driving. Happy blogging.

[Don Wigan]

Agree with all you've said. Tolerance is a big factor. Sometimes they're seriously on the nose;sometimes they're obnoxious and abusive (at least at first) but we are providing a service, not a judgment on people. And we have to trust our instincts.

One passenger I had once stopped me from going the direction I wanted and insisted I turn around and go this other (longer in my belief) way. I briefly justified my choice (the beginning bit was in fact angled west for 300m before going in the intended east direction but was still shorter) but to no avail.

In addition I was subjected to a long talk about how his chosen route was shorter, but accepted all that on the premise that the customer was always right. It was quite surprising, then, to get a $4 tip at the end of the journey.

Only yesterday I had to wait several minutes while this very old feller was helped down a series of steps and into the car, where getting him in and arranging the seating to accommodate his very stiff legs were a challenge. With his speech a bit slurry and my hearing a bit faulty it took a while to get his address. It was only a short journey, about $6, but one I'd never considered as anything other than the service we were there for.

Imagine my surprise when he insisted on giving me $25. I refused, but he likewise refused to take it back, saying "you've been very kind to me". I helped him out of the cab. Aside from the reward, the appreciation really touched me.

As Peter says, the money return is ordinary at best (I'd be interested in your thoughts on the current SMH-urged enquiry into the cab working conditions), but it is interesting and has its own rewards.

[Rainer the cabbie]

If you do it for the money, you will have a very short shelf life as a cabbie.
You will be just another driver, and we have, and had, plenty of them.

[Peter Deane]

I certainly agree. Money is NOT the reason why I started driving cabs (did so because my Uncle had done it and always loved the stories), and money was not the reason I continued (this was because of the free sociology lessons).

But really, money was the reason I stopped (or the lack of it). I started to work in the radio room! And I drove about four shifts whilst working there and just gave up. All good intentions to keep my hand in, but just never got back into it, and even let the licence lapse after a couple of years.

Then we got computers :-( I was probably the only operator who had actually used a computer at the time, and I just knew things had to be better than what they'd provided us. This view contrasted with the General Manager's, unfortunately.

[adrian]

Hey Don, that's a great story. Suspect that the tip was more important to the passenger so good on you for accepting it.

Yep, the SMH is really going after entrenced industry practises so good on them. But they'll need lots of stamina as there have been many attempts but bugger all results. I reckon that journo is on track for a Walkley.

Peter, if you're looking for some niche content for your blog, here's a challenge.

[manlycabbie]

adrian whats your thoughts on the governments idea to flood stdney with up tp 1000 more cabs with this short term leasing idea and what that will do to earnings and plate values.

[Peter Deane]

1000 more cabs? Sheesh. If there's one thing a co-op tries to do it's STOP extra licences being issued. In smaller co-ops (and I've worked in both Newcastle and Gosford) the addition of one extra plate could be devastating. I remember there used to be four plates restricted to each of Toukley and Wyong. The addition of one more plate would in practice reduce the value of the owners' investment by 20%. So much for the GFC, eh?

In all reality, however, if people were twice as likely to use cabs, I reckon you could halve the fares. So much time is spent sitting vacant - that's what I remember anyway :-(

[billy]

I also worked as a cab driver in Newcastle back in the early 90s.
A Friday/Saturday night there back then was very lucrative with gross takings some nights going over $400.00.before expenses.
I doubt they get that nowadays.
I could never get that kind of money in Sydney back then because of the oversupply of cabs.

[nursemyra]

love the sound bite

[colin]

adrian, at the end I would have said yeah fifteen, thats what I've been saying all along not fifty!

[LoveIt]

That is one of the funniest things that I have heard for a long time.