No way you could find a taxi in Paris around noon today, they were all at the Invalides (you can see the dome in the background), demonstrating for their rights! There is a limited number of taxis in Paris and the Government wants to free up the market and remove this limit. This would result in more competition, therefore less revenues... I'd be interested in knowing if there are taxi limitations also where you live. PS: those who think that a Taxi strike can only happen in France are wrong! I just saw a news story regarding a strike in Toronto today. There was also one in NYC at the end of August!
Another reason to ride with Vélib' I guess:)
ReplyDeleteHey, that's a cool shot!
ReplyDeletePrivatization of taxis, uh? I'm sure "tomate farcie lutte finale" would find something to say about that but maybe I'll let someone else have at it for a change ;)
(A Taxi strike in Manhattan? oh, that will definitely hurt!)
Actually it was really peaceful here in NYC during our recent taxi strike. I think we have too many cabs. We should have taxi stands like you do in Paris. Our cabs spend too much time speeding around looking for passengers, which is both dangerous to pedestrians and other vehicles, and adds to our terrible air pollution.
ReplyDeleteI wish our government would seriously regulate the number of taxis in Jamaica. There are just far too many on the roads! But then again, we don't have a public transportation system so they do serve a very useful purpose.
ReplyDeleteWhen our taxis go on strike the whole country pretty much shuts down :(
BTW,are they still on strike or did they strike for part of the day and then go back to work?
ReplyDeleteJust moving back to Paris after 5 years abroad, I must say I am stoned by the poor level of service Paris is offering cabwise.
ReplyDeleteVélib' of course but... see my story today (in French sorry)
Hi Eric,
ReplyDeleteJ'aime lire votre blog, c'est tres interessant. Donc, les autres en anglais maintenant...hahaa.
I'm from Singapore and there are no limits on the number of taxis on the roads but there's something very special that happens from 11.30PM to 12.05AM. You see, the midnight surchage starts from midnight so in order to earn more, taxi drivers go into hiding until 12.05AM and 're-appear' to pick passengers! You can try but it will be fruitless to flag down a cab between these timings!
Vous pouvez voir mon blog ici:
www.veryclicky.blogspot.com
Par Photolicious
Hi Eric,
ReplyDeleteJ'aime lire votre blog, c'est tres interessant. Donc, les autres en anglais maintenant...hahaa.
I'm from Singapore and there are no limits on the number of taxis on the roads but there's something very special that happens from 11.30PM to 12.05AM. You see, the midnight surchage starts from midnight so in order to earn more, taxi drivers go into hiding until 12.05AM and 're-appear' to pick passengers! You can try but it will be fruitless to flag down a cab between these timings!
Vous pouvez voir mon blog ici:
www.veryclicky.blogspot.com
Par Photolicious
Eric, we used to live in Las Vegas. There are taxis all over the place there. Within the last few years, the city built a monorail connecting a number of hotels on the Strip. One thing that residents and visitors would like is to connect the Monorail to the airport. However, taxi drivers would not like that at all because it would severely cut their revenue. Right now, unless you have someone picking you up or you're renting a car, taxis are the only way for you to leave the airport.
ReplyDeleteHow long did the taxi drivers strike?
They went on strike only for a couple of hours, just to attract attention.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see that a new public service can be blocked just to preserve the interests of a small group.
But I understand the Taxi point of view too.
Oh, that's funny! I wish I'd seen it - I know that area so well, having worked at the British Council and British Institute for years. A sea of taxis must have been a sight - were they all honking their horns, and were they still accepting clients nevertheless?!
ReplyDeleteFortunately the only time I need a taxi is to return home from the airport late, LATE, at night. My gripe is two-fold. First, the taxis at the airport are lined up, and you have to use the taxi at the front of the line even if you'd feel more comfortable taking a ride from the 2nd or 3rd driver. I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but Mon Dieu!, some of these drivers are pretty scary looking. And my second gripe is the conditions of their vehicles. Taxis at an airport are the first impression one gets of our small city, and I'm ashamed to say some of these vehicles are pretty shabby, inside and out. If the airport is going to allow them to be part of the fleet of taxis that work the airport fares, then they should adhere to some type of standard.
ReplyDeleteThe number of taxis are limited here in San Francisco as well. Whenever a measure to increase the number of permits (called "Medallions") goes on the ballot the permit owners get up in arms, although I don't recall them ever going on strike. You can never get a taxi on Friday nights or when it rains. I'm sure this is true the world over.
ReplyDeleteNot that many taxis in Los Angeles - we like to clog up the roads with our own cars ;)
ReplyDeleteToo many taxis: in Paris, never. On saturdays nights, it's just impossible to catch a cab...
ReplyDeleteSo maybe it would be better having more cars available. But I totally understand the reaction of the taxis drivers.
Hmm-- il n'y a rien dans le journal local concerant une grève de taxis à Toronto--- where does this info come from?
ReplyDeleteIn Austin Taxi companies are highly regulated and we need lots more taxis. Unless you are downtown or at the airport, forget just flagging one. I've rarely used them in Paris, though, opting for my feet or the Metro. In New York I once weathered a strike while working there by getting a car service. Now we usually use a car service to and from the NY airports and then flag taxis pretty successfully to go here and there. (Although we hoof long distances there, too.)
ReplyDeleteAnonymous (about Toronto). J'ai trouvé ça sur Radio Canada (I found this info on Radio Canada, but it's in French).
ReplyDeleteLes chauffeurs de taxi manifestent
When I was younger I remember Taxi stands like they have in Paris..in Boston,but just like in Paris, many times you make your way to the taxi to find out that the driver isn't in the cab or isn't taking any fares right then. Why didn't he go doze off on some side street then??? Grrrr! I have walked many times from the 3eme or the 4eme all the way back to Ecole Militaire or Reuilly Diderot[after the Metro had closed] because I couldn't get a taxi in Paris. Luckily I never had to do it in the rain!
ReplyDeleteEuh, tonton flanur, just wondering what you were doing out so late after the Metro closure? ;) Metro closes pretty late in Paris, you know ;)
ReplyDeleteIt closes at midnight...not so late.
ReplyDeleteNo, it closes @ 1 am during the week and 2am during weekends. Probably still not late enough, but better than nothing.
ReplyDeleteI guess I didn't get the memo about the Toronto taxi strike. I don't use them much anyway. I only take them when I'm on my way to the airport for my vacation.
ReplyDeleteEric
ReplyDeleteI check your worderful blog every day. I'm from Rio de Janeiro, where they are yellow, highly regulated, and available 24h. Just cll your favorite company. By the way, there are more than 20.000 of them, and more than 95% with air conditioning. Yes, it look like a service of first world in a third world country, but hey work very well.
Regards