Beijing Taxis

[cheekygal]

So, they finally did what they promised:
little 1,20 taxis disappeared and now there are more and more 2,00 taxis. So watch out for a blue sticker: first 3km its 10 rmb. After that, it adds 3RMB per each km. Imagine if you are in traffic: time counts too!
1,60 are still more tolerable: first 3 km are 10rmb and each km after - 2rmb. But I do miss those *cheap* 1,20 - the deal was much better!

More over: it seems with the price going up, the attitude of taxi drivers and people around worsened. Yesterday I took a cab to go to school in the morning and in a side street one bike rider didnt want to move, so my driver told him something like: "Can't you move? Such traffic!" That guy went swearing on and on! And at the next traffic light he caught up with us, started hitting on a taxi because there was a policemen and LIED to the policeman that my driver hit him! Policeman looked, turned away and went on his business. My driver quickly drove away and at the next traffic light said SORRY and let me out of taxi in the middle of nowhere. It took me another 20 mins to find another one.

Later same day, I took another cab, similar situation, but this driver started yelling like crazy at some old man who was caught up in between stupid bus and a car on his bike: wasnt oldie's fault - the bus stopped in the middle letting passengers in!!! I swear, yesterday I almost had a heart attack both in the morning and evening.: my heart kept pumping up and down and I felt totally helpless. It was a 2,00 taxi by the way.

[Ruth]

Cheeky, I'm sorry to hear of your commute difficulties.

Makes me really glad I live in a small city. Okay, you get lots of perks such as cheese, Pizza Hut, and other foreigners to talk to, but taxis in my city are plentiful and cheap - 5 yuan almost anywhere in town.

Worst taxi fuss is at the train station - then they want 10 kuai to take you anywhere, even if you just paid 5 kuai to get there.

[Non-Dave]

Taxis in Hailun are the best deal in China! 1 yuan for a straight line (no turning corners), 2 yuan for the first corner and the rest are free. Most people just go for the straight line option and walk from the main roads (there are 2 of them) to their destination. I often splurge and have the driver turn a corner, hey for 2 yuan, what the hell!

The taxis in Harbin aren't too bad either - except at the railway station! What little Chinese I can speak has come in handy to politely tell them they are not getting 50 yuan for an 8 yuan fare - or maybe they think I am offering them 250.

[Lotus Eater]

or maybe they think I am offering them 250.

[OZgronk]

Yes Ruth, what is it with the cabs once they get to the station?
At any other time and place the same cabs pick you up, flick on the meter and take you to your destination without fuss, but at the station they go into some sort of frenzy, refusing to use the meter and offering instead grossly inflated prices.

[Raoul Duke]

Yeah. I stayed away from Taxis at the Beijing train stations as much as I could. Often I would lug my baggage onto the Metro train and have it take me somewhere where something like sanity still prevailed.

I always use taxi queues at all the stations. I'd much rather stand in line a while than get gouged by some idiot taxi driver.

[Ruth]

Almost everywhere in our city is 5 yuan. Taxi drivers know it and customers know it. They don't use their meters once you tell them a destination that's in town. Just accepted that you'll hand them a 5 kuai bill when you get there. EXCEPT leaving the train station. Second last time I was there was purchasing tickets. Had a Chinese friend with me. Three cabs told us 10 kuai. She was arguing with one and I was arguing with another when a guy called us over. Turns out we've used him before for day-long trips. He took us home for free

Lasts time was when my hubby and I returned from Dandong (late at night and the only people off the train) we got the same 10 kuai quotes from one or two cab drivers. To heck with that we said and started walking away from the station (it's the principal of the thing). Fine, sit there all night and make no money rather than take us home for the 5 kuai it should be. We'll walk until we find a cheaper cab or get home. A driver chased us down and agreed to the 5 kuai. Roger M tipped him (it's the principal of the thing.)

[Raoul Duke]

Well, actually, it's the principle.
Unless The Thing is a High School...

But good on ya for walking away!

[Ruth]

Ohhh! I HATE it when I make a mistake like that. Thanks for catching it, Raoul. The only thing I can plead is being tired (check the time of the post). Surely it can't be ignorance...

[Lotus Eater]

Me - I am happy to blame alcohol for my mistakes. Take that option Ruth; it means that one day - when you are sober - you won't make mistakes. Ignorance is much harder to overcome.

[Raoul Duke]

I just assumed it was all Roger M's fault.

[Ruth]

Nothing is EVER my fault in this household. Roger M knows that.

I'd blame it on the alcohol, but I wasn't drinking. I like that option, though.

[Decurso]

Principal,principle..I agree with you Ruth.When a train station cabbie tries to charge me 10 kwai to get home I don't look at as paying 5 yuan more..I look at as is being charged double.

My biggest problem with big city cabbies is their total lack of knowledge of the cities they work in.Many of them come from the country and are totally cluesless about their surroundings.Others can't be bothered to take a fare less than 4 km.

One thing I really like about Handan is that cabbies constantly slow down and honk in desperate need of a fare.This why I've gained 35 poinds in the last year.I've taken cabs to save a 5 minute walk.Beer runs naturally.

[cheekygal]

Ok another Beijing taxi story.
I was coming back home around 9pm 2 weeks ago and I had 100RMB which I handed the driver. He looked around his little booth (damn, I despise those little cages!) and gave me the money back (which is he supposedly put on his lap) saying he had no change. Then I asked him to turn around and (stupid me!) walked out of the taxi to exchange the money at the cigarette shop on the other side of the road without even taking the receipt. While at it, the shop keeper said the 100 was fake, I turned around and... the taxi was gone! HE GAVE ME A FAKE INSTEAD OF A REAL ONE.
Later that night I gave that fake to another taxi driver which he accepted. So I got my money back. Now I ALWAYS keep an eye on the money and ALWAYS take a receipt in case of such incident. In fact before I hand the money, I say that I need a receipt.