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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

msgrinch · 31/05/2017 23:02

If alone I will always sit in the front, bloody rude not to. If with my DS(8) I will sit in the back with him.

GloveBug · 31/05/2017 23:03

I always sit on the front if I'm on my own, back if I'm with someone else

Trills · 31/05/2017 23:03

I have always believed that the "correct" thing to do is to sit in the back.

msgrinch · 31/05/2017 23:05

No it is not "where you're supposed to sit". It's a car, sit in a seat, if alone the nearest free seat is the front passenger. People are really weird, or up themselves.

Trills · 31/05/2017 23:05

Those of you who sit in the front - do you also pile your plates up in a restaurant before the waiter has a chance to collect them?

Stop it. You are not in your house or the house of a friend or relative.

When you are in someone's workplace, the best way to treat them with respect and make their life easier is to fulfil your role in the unspoken social contract and do what they expect you to do.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 31/05/2017 23:07

I think it's weird sitting in the passenger seat of a taxi. I think it's a bit too personal and encroaching on their space.

I also try to avoid any sort of conversation with the driver whatsoever.

ScarlettFreestone · 31/05/2017 23:09

msgrinch how on earth is it "bloodyrude"?

Do you get in the front seat if a black cab?

msgrinch · 31/05/2017 23:11

No our local taxi firm would prefer you treat them like humans and sit next to them, they aren't your chauffeur. They like to hear how things are, how you're doing etc. Maybe we're just a nice friendly community here who talk to and remember eachother. Respect is treating someone like you're equal and thank god i live in my world and not Trills or whatever his/her name is. And yes i help pile plates (used to be a waitress, it's appreciated), I also help pack shopping, lift my tesco delivery up the stairs to my door as well, it may be their job but I'm not a twat.

msgrinch · 31/05/2017 23:12

We don't have black cabs here in Surrey, sweet Not everyone lives in London.

CountryCaterpillar · 31/05/2017 23:12

Wow. I thought it was the correct thing to do to sit in the front and a bit off not to! I've only taken taxis a few times a year when coming back from train journey but I've been doing it for 15 years and thought that's what people did. (Apart from those London big taxis with grills, but here it's just normal cars.)
Id get in the back if I was with someone.

Honestly thought that was the polite and proper way to do it and often had a chat too. Noones ever said you weren't supposed to!!!

gobbymare · 31/05/2017 23:13

As a female taxi driver I find most of my female customers get in the front with me but the males tend to get in the back.

I have discussed this with the taxi lads and it's the opposite way for them.

CountryCaterpillar · 31/05/2017 23:13

Msgrinch I'm glad that's the case I was beginning my to doubt myself!!

msgrinch · 31/05/2017 23:14

Don't doubt yourself at all.

SynysterGates · 31/05/2017 23:21

the times i have got in on y own
i get in the back, i still chat though

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 31/05/2017 23:24

No our local taxi firm would prefer you treat them like humans and sit next to them, they aren't your chauffeur.

So you're saying chauffeurs aren't humans?

treaclesoda · 31/05/2017 23:25

I usually use a taxi firm where I know a couple of the drivers very well (old school friends) and in that case I sit in the front seat with them.

When the taxi driver is a stranger, I tend to get into the back.

Trills · 31/05/2017 23:26

treat them like humans and sit next to them, they aren't your chauffeur.

What do you think a chauffeur is, if not a human being who is paid to drive you somewhere?

60sname · 31/05/2017 23:26

No our local taxi firm would prefer you treat them like humans and sit next to them, they aren't your chauffeur.

But they kind of are, for that journey; it is a transaction. That doesn't stop me being polite, but not everyone I encounter is my mate (nor do I think they want to be)

ScarlettFreestone · 31/05/2017 23:31

msgrinch I quite agree that not everyone lives in London. I live elsewhere myself. Many other cities have black cabs though, they aren't unique to London...

I respect taxi drivers. I treat them like they are human. I usually enjoy a nice chat with them.

However while respecting them I also maintain my own safety. It is considerably safer for a lone woman to sit in the back of a taxi.

Sitting in the back isn't rude. It's sensible.

SomeOtherFuckers · 31/05/2017 23:47

I sit in the passenger of alone and it is daytime , in the back of with people or it's night x

steff13 · 31/05/2017 23:55

I always sit in the back - I had two instances of being groped by taxi drivers when I was younger and so am not willing to take the risk of that happening again. Happy to chat though!

Oh my gosh, this reminded me; I was on a grand jury a couple of years ago, and one of the cases we heard was a taxi driver who had forced two women (separate occasions) to give him oral sex. They had each sat in the front seat, and he pulled over and forced their heads down into his lap. We indicted him, I'm not sure what happened after that.

SugarnetMum · 01/06/2017 00:24

I always hop in the back, still chat though if it happens.

If it was a group of us and I was paying I'd hop in the front.

SugarnetMum · 01/06/2017 00:25

My grandad was a taxi man for over 20 years and he'd tell you; they couldn't give a hoot where you sit. As long as you're not a d*head and pay the fare!

PainCanBeBeautiful · 01/06/2017 00:30

I sit in the front if I'm on my own. I always seem to get the racist guy. Complaining about foreigners. I very much don't mind him having his opinion but it's awkward trying to be polite but also not wanting to join in the foreigner bashing.

steff13 · 01/06/2017 00:33

Maybe they feel obligated to converse with you because you're sitting next to them. If you say in the back, they'd be easier to ignore.

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