Taxi etiquette tips from a regular user
"Oh, and one last and very important tip for passsengers - do not call them taxi 'drivers', they prefer to be called taxi 'operators'."
Crystal Park resident Gladwin Morereane had to resort to travelling to work by taxi after his car recently broke down.
He said the experience has been interesting.
Gladwin has to board a total of six taxis to get to and from work in Bedfordview, which costs him about R1 800 a month.
To get to work on time, he leaves home at 6am and explained how a 20-minute trip from Crystal Park to Benoni Station can turn into a 45-minute trip with all the stops the taxi makes to pick up passengers.
“The advantages of a taxi is being able to get to wherever you want – as they travel almost everywhere – and their ‘smart’ driving techniques in the morning allow me to get to work early,” Gladwin said.
“If the taxi breaks down, there is always another one on the same route you can hop onto.”
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He cautions first-time passengers on the importance of being respectful to the driver and passengers; greeting when you board is a must.
“You may not know exactly where you are going and could have to rely on these people for help, so it is important to be courteous to everyone in the taxi.
“Also, having the correct taxi fee or change in the morning makes it easier for everyone because the driver doesn’t have to stop at the garage to get change, which makes the travel time longer.”
One of the disadvantages of travelling by taxi, according to Gladwin, is that you will not be dropped off at your gate if you do not have a house that is on the route, which could be unsafe, especially at night – and really annoying on a rainy day, he added.
“I think people who use taxis bodies hurt by the end of the day, especially when you have to squeeze into a spot with limited space,” Gladwin said light-heartedly.
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