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Original poster

If you get in a taxi on your own - where do you sit?

91 replies

Workyticket · 25/03/2023 11:21

I got an Uber yesterday on my own. I sat in the back and had a lovely peaceful 10 minutes

One of the people I was meeting commented that it was weird and I should have sat in the front. Just wondering what the norm is?

I used to use a local taxi firm back in my clubbing days and knew the drivers so used to sit in the front and have a chat. I don't know any Uber drivers though and didn't want to make pointless small talk.

OP posts:
MistyFrequencies · 25/03/2023 14:31

Mammyloveswine · 25/03/2023 11:31

In the back after I was sexually assaulted by a driver when sitting in the front..

Sorry that happened to you x

MistyFrequencies · 25/03/2023 14:32

Back. Every time.

ohnoh · 25/03/2023 14:36

back left

dontgobaconmyheart · 25/03/2023 15:23

The back. I always feel a bit like it comes across rudely and I probably should have situated myself in the front if I'm alone but I've got zero desire to talk to the taxi driver and sitting in the back usually ensures you don't have to so that trumps the social awkwardness I feel at rejecting the front seat.

Rosecoffeecup · 25/03/2023 15:26

Always in the back. I don't think its anti social, the cabbie still chats if they want to.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 25/03/2023 16:01

Always in the back. Never even crossed my mind to sit in the front. And I really don't want a chat with the driver!

Ireallydohope · 25/03/2023 16:33

I used to sit in the front but now the back because it's more comfortable and less awkward

IsaiditwasLighthearted · 25/03/2023 16:42

Workyticket · 25/03/2023 11:32

Ha! I knew I wasn't being weird!

Person who commented was a bloke by the way. My dh always sits in the front if he's on his own too.

Male privilege - doesn't have to consider personal safety the same way a woman does.

It's probably never even crossed his mind that we have to think about the risk of sexual assault in these situations.

Goodread1 · 25/03/2023 16:43

Allways sit in the back,

even though I know a few taxis drivers through ill health reasons,

Only once I sat in front on my own in a taxi cause he knew me from secondary school, and was a bit put out I wanted to sit in the back on my own...

Soontobemumof2x · 25/03/2023 16:44

a few family members are cabbies and they don’t like it when people sit in the front. Also uncomfortable for the drivers in some cases.

MyLoveIsYourLove0xO · 25/03/2023 16:47

Back!

Had a laugh to myself when dd13 sat in the front.
First time in a taxi by herself!

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 25/03/2023 16:48

In the back behind the passenger seat.

I also always, before it moves, do the “oops strap caught in the door” and open the door again to make sure child locks aren’t on. If they are I ask to be let out and get a different cab. It works as I only really get taxis from two places they are both busy so if I banged on the window it would be noticed.

I was assaulted by a driver in my teens so it’s a set routine.

purplecorkheart · 25/03/2023 16:48

The back. A friend of mine Dad was a taxi driver and he said that he much preferred it if the passenger sat in the back.

Xrays · 25/03/2023 16:57

Always in the back. I grew up in one of the roughest areas of London and I’ve had a few potentially dodgy taxi situations sadly and I was always very glad to be in the back in those times.

Gwenhwyfar · 25/03/2023 17:09

Soontobemumof2x · 25/03/2023 16:44

a few family members are cabbies and they don’t like it when people sit in the front. Also uncomfortable for the drivers in some cases.

City ones I presume.
In my small town, if you sit in the back you're given a kind of look of 'who do you think you are?' like you're going to say 'home James'.

shieldmaiden7 · 25/03/2023 17:23

In the back always. The only time I sat in the front is when I was a teen, I grew up in a tiny Cornish village that had their own taxi services. It was a husband and wife team who everyone knew and were really good friends of the family.

Trollsinmyeggbox · 25/03/2023 17:23

In the back, preferably with the screen thing shut, I don't want an awkward chat.

DeathMetalMum · 25/03/2023 17:28

In the back. If there were four of us I would still prefer to sit in the back.

To pp who said you mean cab, round here it's either a black cab or taxi for a normal car that's a taxi.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 25/03/2023 17:29

I always manage to have a perfectly good chat with the driver even when I'm sat in the back, unless its a people carrier.

earsup · 25/03/2023 17:31

Back seat, after being groped by several cab drivers in Dubai when i sat in front seat. awful trip, thankfully only 3 days to see a friend, even had to jump out of one cab as he was touching me.

SquigglePigs · 25/03/2023 17:32

Always in the back.

Blanketenvy · 25/03/2023 17:32

I always sit in the front as have severe travel sickness but I always explain why as sometimes it feels a bit uncomfortable..

LollipopViolet · 25/03/2023 17:32

Always the back, and if my group of friends go anywhere together and someone has to take the front seat, my male friend does by default.

Only exceptions have been when I was using council funded transport to college (I have a disability) where that seemed to be the norm, and once when I got a cab to a job interview at Manchester Airport. It's about an hour from my house and the driver knew me from my college days - he was lovely and kept a nice chilled conversation going to help with the interview nerves.

mrsbitaly · 25/03/2023 17:34

I never ever sit in the front always in the back

LivingDeadGirlUK · 25/03/2023 17:35

Cab is short for minicab which is what the taxi's that you have to pre book were all called 'back in my day'.

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