rss feedWith Britain having an abundance of traditional hackney carriage taxis it is easy to get used to a high level of comfort and clear pricing policies. Travelling abroad you may be surprised at the variety and difference in public transport. If you are planning a holiday we have prepared some tips about different taxi services available for popular destinations.
Thailand
In Thailand there are several different methods of getting around, the majority are very different to what you would find in the UK.
Songthaews are vehicles which resemble trucks of varying sizes. Large Songthaews are often adapted from small lorries and have room for several people and may have windows. Smaller Songthaews are usually adapted from vans and have no windows with fewer seats. Sometimes Songthaews will operate a bus service covering a small local area. Bear in mind that if you ask for a Songthaew alone and there are no passengers onboard then you may be charged at the taxi rate instead of the bus fare so check with the driver first.
Tuk-Tuk is a loose term used to name a range of light vehicles for ferrying passengers. A typical tuk-tuk has three wheels and is comprised of large cab at the back for two or three passengers and is pulled by the front wheel and engine of a motorbike. Most tuk-tuks are an amalgamation of various older vehicles salvaged and reassembled. Some are purpose built such as the more popular four wheeled variety common in Phuket.
New York
Yellow cabs are an instantly recognisable, iconic image of New York. Of the five boroughs of New York yellow cabs only operate in Manhattan and around airports.
Similar to how in Britain we have Hackney Carriages and private hire vehicles there are two distinct services in New York. Yellow cabs travel around New York and can be hailed in the street. Yellow cabs also run using a meter to work out the accumulative charge. The other type of cab is known as a black car or livery. These taxis need to be arranged over the phone and are not aloud to roam looking for fares. This how ever does not stop people from flagging them down in the street, especially outside of Manhattan. If you do flag a black car down be careful to check the fare first as many are notorious for over charging. Black cars operate on a flat rate basis which will be determined before your journey.
Be wary of unlicensed cabs. Known locally as ’gypsy cabs’ many illegitimate drivers will roam areas of New York looking for hopeful fares. If you are unsure you should check around the cab especially in the back window for stickers displaying licenses. Gypsy cab drivers are notorious for their unscrupulous conduct. If you are at an airport and need a taxi airport staff should be able to point you in the right direction.
Some quick points for tourists using cabs;
If you pass by any toll booths while in a cab you will need to pay the charge yourself.
Yellow cabs do not accept cheques or cards so remember to carry change with you.
By official regulations cab drivers are required to give you your change in full and are not allowed to hint at or ask for a tip. Tipping is generally expected at 10-20% but is strictly optional.
India
Traffic and driving conditions in India are particularly notorious, especially if you are used to strict regulated roads as seen throughout most of Europe. Cars and other vehicles are commonly seen weaving throughout lanes, around pedestrians and cattle. Similar to in Thailand the modes of public transport differ somewhat substantially to those found in Britain.
The vehicle of choice in India for taxi services is the ambassador which has been in production since the 1950s. Ambassadors are still made today to an almost identical spec to the 1950s model. Ambassadors are used by the Indian army as well as by official figures such as judges and politicians.
Ambassadors have started to wane in popularity since the 1980s. They are still a popular and in many cases environmentally friendly choice for taxi duties. In Delhi, recent legislation has declared that all taxis need to run with much cleaner emissions. Ambassadors and other selected vehicles in Delhi all run using compressed natural gas (CNG) as a fuel source.
Many ambassadors can be seen around Delhi and are available for extremely reasonable fares.
Since the nineteenth century Rickshaws have been used in many communities around India and Asia for transporting people. The original design of a rickshaw was very simple. It comprised of a cart supported by two wheels that would be pulled using long handles protruding from the front by a person.
Traditional rickshaws have since been withdrawn from service and are now replaced by auto rickshaws. Auto rickshaws are similar to tuk-tuks which are used in Japan. They are available in different seating capacities. Most rickshaws for tourist use will carry two to four people.
There are many different companies operating rickshaw services in India. This means you can expect to find prices set competitively in your favour. As with traditional taxis auto rickshaws also comply with the recent emission legislation and also use environmentally friendly CNG fuels.
