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AIBU?

Is it unreasonable to take taxis very short distances?

33 replies

CesareBorgiasUnicornMask · 09/04/2017 12:40

I was running very late the other morning and got a taxi for what would normally be a brisk ten minute walk. I'm currently pregnant with pelvic girdle pain and it would have been double that for me, and I had approximately 3 minutes to get there due to a very delayed train. When I said where I wanted to go the taxi driver huffed and puffed, asked if I realised it was 'just round the corner', and then muttered darkly about lazy people with more money than sense all the way there. I realise it must be annoying to wait in a queue at a station only to pick up a very short fare, but surely it's an occupational hazard? He made me feel like a right twat and I've been dwelling on it...

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Aeroflotgirl · 09/04/2017 16:23

I take taxis regularly, some 10 mins walk journey (Dr with I'll kids) No driver has ever been rude, that's what their paid to do however short the journey.

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Bagel88 · 09/04/2017 16:31

didn't you know the taxi drivers own the road, and will only accept the longest account job fares; but will be the first to complain when the lift sharing services take "their" work?

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aintnothinbutagstring · 09/04/2017 16:36

Pregnant with SPD? Do whatever the hell you want. Round here they start the meter at about £4.50 so they get that before they've even gone anywhere. The cabs you just pick up normally charge by the minute not mile so they end up getting more. I normally tip too but I wouldn't for that kind of attitude.

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Jaxhog · 09/04/2017 18:11

Using a taxi under the circumstances seems perfectly reasonable to me.

He's only moaning because you're a small fare.

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Jaxhog · 09/04/2017 18:13

You didn't ask him to go 'sarf of the river' did you? ;))

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BagittoGo · 09/04/2017 18:17

In central London taxi drivers will often refuse a short fare or a very long one i.e. South of the river....unless they're on their way home anyway 🙄

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karalime · 09/04/2017 18:32

I've had black cabbies in London huff and tell me they can't take me home because 'they don't know where it is', no they don't know how much it will be and can I direct them.

Hence I have not taken a cab since 2009. Instead I use Uber which is bloody fantastic. Drivers are there in 2 minutes, they know where they are going because they are not too proud for a satnav, they don't mind if you are only spending a fiver and I know how much it will cost.

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SpaghettiMeatballs · 09/04/2017 18:37

YANBU. I always walk the 15 minutes to the station from my office but last week I was called to come and collect sick DS from nursery.

The cab I took meant not waiting another 30 minutes for the train when I needed to be with DS.

Luckily the cab driver didn't moan, dropped me right at the door rather than the rank when he heard how rushed I was and why and as a result got a decent tip.