Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

taxis - sitting in the passenger seat

98 replies

morningtoncrescent62 · 31/05/2017 18:12

I don't drive, I live in a city with excellent public transport, but on some (fairly rare) occasions I travel by taxi - usually booked in advance, so in ordinary cars rather than black taxicabs. It's always been my habit to get in the passenger seat if I'm on my own, and chat to the driver if they're so inclined. If I'm with someone else I'd normally get in the back with them. Today I ordered a taxi, and did my normal thing of smiling at the driver and getting in the front when it arrived. The driver looked very surprised, and said (in a pleased way, not a horrible way) that it's very unusual for people to do this, and when I got out she said she'd appreciated the chat as if it were an unusual thing. So HIBU all this time in thinking it's normal to get in the passenger seat if you're on your own - and are taxi drivers privately thinking I'm odd or presumptuous or something, and just not wanting to tell me? I sometimes think there are unwritten rules in life known to everyone except me...

OP posts:
GrapesAreMyJam · 31/05/2017 18:13

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

donajimena · 31/05/2017 18:13

I always get into the back. I still chat away if the driver is up for it!

Joinourclub · 31/05/2017 18:14

I always get in the back. I still chat though if they seem up for it.

harderandharder2breathe · 31/05/2017 18:15

I always sit in the back but then I don't enjoy making small talk (I'm still polite)

My mum sits in the front as she feels travel sick in the back

MerlinEmrys · 31/05/2017 18:22

I always sit in the front for a chat!

Met some interesting people doing this.

Sionella · 31/05/2017 18:24

Back seat, iPod on. It's the only break I get from people!! I secretly dread a chatty driver, even though I will always chat back.

#verybritishproblems

leccybill · 31/05/2017 18:25

I always sit on the back. I do always chat though.

DH always sits beside the driver if he's on his own.

CaptainHammer · 31/05/2017 18:28

Always sit in the back but do chat if they seem to want to.
Their car is their 'office' so sitting in the front feels like I'm getting in their space IYSWIM.

Original poster
morningtoncrescent62 · 31/05/2017 18:29

Glad it's not just me. I'd feel very uncomfortable getting in the back. MerlinEmrys I've met some great people that way too and had lots of interesting chats about all sorts of things I'd never have known about.

OP posts:
LorLorr2 · 31/05/2017 18:31

I get in the back because I assume the front is just not what people do- and I don't want to seem too forward! Not that it harms anyone to sit anywhere in particular!

pasturesgreen · 31/05/2017 18:33

It's never entered my head to sit in the passenger seat, it'd seem odd to me.

That said, I'm polite but certainly don't encourage small talk.

Seenoevil · 31/05/2017 18:33

I always sit in the back if I'm on my own, it's never even crossed my mind to sit in the front with them, if only sit in the front of it was a group booking and the Back was fall in which case I'm always the one to sit in the front as none of my friends want to normally

Seenoevil · 31/05/2017 18:34

Awful typos in the above .. sorry!

Quimby · 31/05/2017 18:35

Very rarely get in the front

Mostly just jump in the back with my headphones on

emochild · 31/05/2017 18:36

I always sit in the back if I'm alone because I feel safer

Unfortunately there have been several instances in my city of taxi drivers not being who they are supposed to be

Kokusai · 31/05/2017 18:36

I often sit in the passenger seat - I can sometimes feel a bit sick in the back. I usually talk to them too, have had some ace discussions with some v interesting people.

lalalalyra · 31/05/2017 18:39

I sit in the back behind the passenger seat, but I always chat to the driver. The cabbies here are always chatty.

ClashCityRocker · 31/05/2017 18:40

I sit in the back. I do usually chat to the driver though.

Unless it's my 5am station run. Then they'll just get grunts from me.

TheFlis12345 · 31/05/2017 18:42

I always sit in the back. As a previous poster said, I feel safer that way if I am on my own.

hiimmumma · 31/05/2017 18:42

I sit in the back and hope the drives dosent want to talk!
But I do have misanthropic tendencies...

sparechange · 31/05/2017 18:44

I have only ever known people to sit in the front if the back seats are already full

And even then, I find it weird!

CorporalNobbyNobbs · 31/05/2017 18:45

I always sit in the back. Used to sit in the front when I was young but then heard it was safer in the back so changed. Now wouldn't dream of getting in the front! My bf gets in the front if he's on his own though.

Electrolens · 31/05/2017 18:45

I always sit in the back - prefer to spread out with coat and back and have some personal space to watch the world go by if I don't feel like starting a conversation.

Would feel as if I was encroaching on their space to jump in the front, and it's also a habit from black cabs I guess.

Mu123 · 31/05/2017 18:45

I would never have sat in the front when I lived in a city but it's the norm where I live now.

MrsMozart · 31/05/2017 18:51

Front passenger seat, so can natter if driver wants (and because I get car sick).