[quote=“Icon”]
However, you may agree with me that a significant dent -not the normal wear and tear- on a taxi discourgaes the driver from being extra careful. He’s already got a dent, you know…[/quote]
Oh absolutely. Actually, I looked for both old taxis with no scratches and new taxis. The former was a possible indication of a good driver, the latter a possible indication of resources earned as a driver and therefore responsible behavior.
Speaking of new taxis (I always wondered why so many nice taxis on the roads given the fact that all the taxi drivers say they are making so little)…during discussion with taxi driver last week he said the government gives them a NT90,000 subsidy when they buy a new taxi. I was surprised. Wife told me that yes…our tax money goes to subsidize new taxis.
I would prefer paying less taxes and suffer by riding in older taxis.
If you see an ugly foreigner at an intersection protesting with the following sign you have seen flakman.
LESS TAXES, OLDER TAXIS!!!
I hope a taxi doesn’t run me over…or throw their betel nut juice on me.
Speaking of that…last month I had to watch in amazement as a taxi driver gulped down apple slices while simultaneously chewing his betel nut. Really nice guy but he was so busy with his apple slices, fiddling around with something on the floorboard, arranging his water bottles, etc. (all while we were moving) that he had little time to actually look ahead and watch where he was going.
[quote=“Flakman”]Speaking of new taxis (I always wondered why so many nice taxis on the roads given the fact that all the taxi drivers say they are making so little)…during discussion with taxi driver last week he said the government gives them a NT90,000 subsidy when they buy a new taxi. I was surprised. Wife told me that yes…our tax money goes to subsidize new taxis.
I would prefer paying less taxes and suffer by riding in older taxis.
If you see an ugly foreigner at an intersection protesting with the following sign you have seen flakman.
LESS TAXES, OLDER TAXIS!!!
I hope a taxi doesn’t run me over…or throw their betel nut juice on me.
Speaking of that…last month I had to watch in amazement as a taxi driver gulped down apple slices while simultaneously chewing his betel nut. Really nice guy but he was so busy with his apple slices, fiddling around with something on the floorboard, arranging his water bottles, etc. (all while we were moving) that he had little time to actually look ahead and watch where he was going.[/quote]
They don’t use their eyes, rear view mirrors, etc. the most advanced Taxi drivers use something that is known as
“The Force”.
I never ride in new taxis. They rarely let you smoke.
Immediately upon boarding a taxi, ask of the driver’s political affiliation. “green” or “blue”. Respective of what you believe, kiss ass. No detours, fast and polite delivery. major cost reduction. Works every time.
I took one taxi who hung all sorts of toys stuck on inside of front windshield (you know those hanging toys using small suction cup) which cut down the open area to only about half (the lower middle half). He had created some hanging apparatus to replace the roof light upon which hung alot of creatures made of bamboo. Back inside windshield used two sets of the black plastic shading material which essentially blocked the view…not like he could see back there anyway since his bamboo creatures blocked any view from his mirror (which of course had all sorts of stickers on it). His console was fitted with all sorts of electronic equipment. I spotted 2 mobile phones plugged in somewhere and a CB radio. I could not decipher what the other stuff was.
On top of that, he was an old fart could barely see over the steering wheel.
Well, since I was not going far I decided to stick it out…partly fascinated by what was the strangest taxi I had ever seen. He had created his own little world in that taxi…