Cowboy

After years of listening to passenger tales about cowboy cabbies I‘d become somewhat immune to their complaints and at times struggled to offer a sympathetic ear.

“Did you get his plate number?” is my first question. The reply is generally no, with excuses such as the passenger was too upset or just wanted to escape the troublesome encounter.

Thus I wondered just how serious the problem was and couldn’t help but feel a little cynical about their saga. However that attitude quickly changes when the shoe is on the other foot as a passenger...

On Saturday evening my girlfriend and I hailed a cab on the corner of Campbell Parade and Beach Road for a trip into Circular Quay.

Although it was fairly busy around the beachside bars and restaurants I automatically assumed a painless exit up Curlewis Street headed for Double Bay and City north. This was despite first noticing that the twenty-something, South Asian driver wore jeans and a T-shirt instead of the compulsory uniform.

So when he made to continue along Gould Street rather than take Curlewis, I commanded he make the turn. He baulked momentarily and I insisted, knowing that to continue along Gould Street meant a congested and circuitous route to the City via Bondi Junction. Plus the extra time and money.

Yet despite my request this is exactly what he did, blithely suggesting that my directions were wrong. “Why you say this?” he queried. Rather than explain how I’d once lived in Bondi for 25 years and knew the joint intimately, I revealed that I too was a taxi driver. “No you’re not !” he snorted dismissively as he nonchalantly rolled into the inescapable traffic jam.

Now I was annoyed and demanded, “Where’s your uniform?” He ignored this so I repeated the question. From his lap he silently held up a bunched-up taxi shirt! It's anyones guess as to what this was supposed to mean.

I looked for his Authority card. “Hey, what about your Authority Card?” He hesitated before mumbling, “What you mean?” “The transport regulations require that you must display it,” I told him. “Have you got one?” By his failure to respond I could only conclude he was a cowboy.

By then we were at a standstill in a line of cars attempting to exit Gould Street. Having no interest escalating the confrontation and ruining what had been a perfect evening I simply opened the door and we left without paying. Thirty seconds later we found another cab for an uneventful fare to the City.

Yet in my haste to be rid of the prick I forgot to get his plate number so as to make an official complaint later. Now I understand how this happens.

Comments

[boy on a bike]

The show has been on the other foot for me lately. After nearly getting mown down by several cabs this month, I had to catch half a dozen last week for work. All the cabs and cabbies were clean and well presented and the drivers were calm and businesslike. They drove without fuss or bother or hooning and took great care with their driving. They were very pleasant to chat to. One told me how he had sold his cab and gone back to driving for others because it is so hard to find drivers that won't thrash and damage the cars. Some of them were more like chauffeurs than cabbies.

There are good and bad in every bunch of people. Then again, all these trips were during the day in the CBD, not at night on a weekend.

[Simon Food Favourites]

that was a good read. i haven't heard of cowboy cabbies before but know i know a bit more about it. :-)

[Peter Deane]

You bolter, Adrian! You should have gotten his plate number so you could leave the fare at the base for him to pick up later :-) !

[manlycabbie]

should have let him take you all the way to the city then got out without paying,would not have been a manly cab as that network has realy cracked down on the cowboys ,you get seen without a uniform or driver authority your straight of the road.

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[Uri]

I enjoy reading your blog and find it amusing and sometimes scary to hear the war stories of a taxi driver.

Having said that, I have to add some complaints of my own. I use taxis twice everyday for the past few months in Sydney and I find them mostly unprofessional.

There are a few types of incidents with taxi drivers:
1) A taxi driver doesn't know the way at all, he will ask for my direction on every street corner (even to central station)

2) A taxi driver knows the way but will deliberately take the more congested way which is off-course false economy on his behalf

3) A taxi driver will add charges to the meter as we're stopping, without a chance to look at the original meter charge.

4) Or just charge more on the credit card than what is on the meter, without any explanation or reason

5) A taxi driver will drive aggressively, switching lanes and braking and accelerating to the point of people almost getting seasick in the back seat

One of these things will happen everyday guaranteed

So you might be a courteous, professional taxi driver, but in Sydney mate you a rate breed.

Good luck.