Runners are a passenger is not going to pay for the Fares. There is much type of them. Some runners do it for pleasure, other just don’t have the money/credit cards to pay for the fare, and they needs to get home late at night.
My Experience with some runners;
Pickups a fare in North Beach at a restaurant, an elder man in his 60’s get into the cab. The destination is UC Medical center /ER. During the trip, he complains about pains in his stomach and asks me to drive faster. As I approach to the hospital, he said, for me to pay the fares. I have to go inside and get a voucher for you. I then ask him to leave me with a deposit, either an ID or a Cell phone. He refused my request and run inside into the hospital. I exit my cab and waited for him outside. A moment later, I saw him leave the building at another door exit. He looked at me and wave with a smile. The fare was $16.35. I contacted my taxi dispatcher and reported the situation. The dispatcher’s replies were; He is a regular runner.
Pickup a fare in the Fishermen’s wharf (Pier 39), around 12:30 am. The passengers are 3 teenagers. The destination is Turk/Webster. When I stopped at the red light close to the destination intersection. They jump out the Taxi and run off. The 3 passenger ran at different directions. The fare was $14.00.
Pickup a fare in Castro at a night club, around 01:30 am. The passengers are 2 men.
The destination is Stanyan/Fell. As I approach to the destination. They were acting
suspicious, looking left and right at the intersection. I sense troubles. They jump out of
the taxi and run toward the Golden Gate Park. I decided to chase after the runners in
the cab. I drive the cab into the park following them while honking the horn. After
about a 1/8 of a mile into the chase. They stop with exhaustion. I get out and
confronted them with paying my fare. I told them here am your options, Pay me with
cash or credit cards. If I do not get my payments. I will call the police now, and you
will have to deal with the law enforcement officers. One of the men said to me, we
have no more money now. I can provide you with oral sex to pay for the cab ride. I
was disgusts with the answer. I got back into my cab and took off. The fare was
$12.00.
My Experience with Robbers;
Robbery: 1. TO steal (from). 2. To deprive of something.
To avoid being in bad situations. I have to expect the unexpected; there are many
ways to prevent unnecessary problems. First, identify the fares; size them up within 3
seconds, making the correct business decisions, before the pickup and delivery. The
rest is all lucks.
I Pickup a fare in the Financial District, at around 5:30 pm. The passenger is a women, ages in her early 30’s. Dress in business formal attire. The destination is Chestnut/Fillmore. Just before I reach to the destination. She requested that I pull the vehicle to the bus stop. While she locate her money to pay for the fare. From my past experience, a normal and common request. To my surprise, she pulls out a knife and put it against my neck. She said loudly; do you wants to see some blood? Give me all the cash fast. Base on my training and other taxicab driver’s tips. I immediately reach into my shirt pocket. Take the stack of dollar bills and throws it in the back seat of the cab. She reach for the money, I then ran out of the cab safely, and a breath of fresh air. The robber really got played by me, she only get about 14 dollars from the robbery; the real cash money were in my pants pockets.
I Pickup a fare in the Financial District, at around 9:30 pm. The passenger is a women. The destination is Turk/Fillmore. After she enters into the cab, I immediately lock the doors. She asked me why I locked the doors. My reply to her is; for our safety and security reasons. I stopped at the intersection at Mission / 6th street. Two men approach the Taxicab from both sides and attempt to open the doors. The doors were lock, and I then move the vehicle forward to avoid more confrontations. She was very scare. When I reached to her destination, she said to me that I did a great job. And provided the customer services that exceeded her expectations. She then gave me a kiss and a big tip.
Happy Drunks are good customers. Their motives / expectations are getting to the destinations quickly, safely, and receive good customer service.
Violent Drunks are tough to deal with. Most of them have personal problems. Just like many of us dealing with life.
Drunks that throws up. I experience many situations, too many stories to tell. Here are a few stories:
Pickup a fare in Downtown at a night club, around 01:30 am. The passenger is a woman. Very pretty and dress in black. She did not look sober at all. I sized her up and decided to refuse her fare. I told her base on her conditions, you are going to throw up in my cab, if you throw up in my cab; I am done for the rest of my shift. I have to work until 4: am. Nobody is going ride in my taxi after you throws up, because it smells like shit. She begged me to drives her home. And said I will not throw up, if I do throws up, I will pay you doubles the fares. I feel bad for her, and my reply to her is; I trust you and make this an exception, if you do throw up in my cab, you will clean it up and I going to kick your ass. She agrees and replies to me its fine. The destination is Sunset district. After a few blocks during the trip, I hear a nasty sound in the backseat; I did not wants to look back or trying to do anything. I just give her a bag and continue driving to her destination. She felt asleep in the cab during the rest of the trip. When I reached to the destination. She wakes up and started crying, and said to me, I am so sorry, I throw up into my SHOES, please don’t hit me, I will clean up the cab and paid you double the fare. My reply to her is, you are not currently in the conditions to do anything. I will carry you out of my cab. Just pay me my fare. The fare was $22.00. She paid me $100.00 and said Thank You for taking me home.
Taking public transportation in San Francisco to your destinations is an experience. Getting there SAFELY, QUICKLY, and ECONOMICALLY.
Lost property?
Complaint?
Compliments?
Illegal limousine solicitation?
Taxicab Fares?
Guide to tipping.
1. Lost property in a Taxi is a nightmare experience. When you get to your destinations, record the Taxicab numbers and the name of the cab company. Always check your belongings before closing the doors. Wallets and Cell phones are hard to recover. LOST AND FOUND is a joke. What you lost is what the driver found.
2. Complaints, Compliments, Illegal limousine solicitation.
Do not take matters into your own hands; Call San Francisco Police Department Taxi Detail 24 hours a day at (415) 553-1447.
San Francisco Taxi Commission (415) 503-2180. EMAIL:sftaxi.commission@sfgov.org
3. Taxicab Fares can be negotiate when entering a Taxicab. Depending on the Time and Date of your ride. You can negotiate the fare with the cabbie. The meter rate is for you to see. I call it supply and demand. The cab driver will determine your offer, most of time he will take your offer. Doesn’t hurt to try.
4. Guide
to tipping. When you take public transportations. Buses, Trains, etc.
no tipping is require. If a cab driver go out of their way to
accommodates and provides services to exceed your expectations. Tipping
can be appropriate. If you over tip, the cabbie will take you as a fish.
5. Cash Advance using Credit Cards -Most Taxi drivers will give you Cash Back when you are paying the fare with a credit card. The service charge is $5.00. Or less. Can be negotiating ATM service charges are average $3.00.
6. Taxicab Business Corruptions Stories. I was told by some cabbies the inside scoops with the San Francisco Taxicab dirty laundry. I cannot validate if the information is facts or fiction. Some taxicab companies are operated by the Mafia, Italians, Irish, Asians, and Brazilians. Enclosed is a newspaper article with the SFPD Officer are accused of taking money to give cabbies passing grades on driving tests.
