4 ms·
Several times I had London cabbies stop the fare meter when I showed them (the same) short cut near where I lived. "No, don't go to the lights, turn down this
by goatforce5 12y ago
Several times I had London cabbies stop the fare meter when I showed them (the same) short cut near where I lived.
"No, don't go to the lights, turn down this lane!". All of them had their brains explode that there was a better way that saved about 200 meters and 30 seconds of travel.
I'm not sure if there's an (unwritten?) rule that you get the rest of the fare for free if they're taking you a long way, but there was no resentment from them. All of them were incredulous there was a better way to do it.
(Just looked at Streetview. There's nothing special about that lane that should make it a big secret. I guess it must have been No Entry/One Way/something and changed recently before my journeys.)
- justincormack 12y agoIt is honour. Have had free trips because they didn't know a street in eg Swiss Cottage. It encourages repeat business.
- peteretep 12y ago25% of cab drivers had no clue where Gaskin St was, and I never had any suggest they were going to knock off the fare in three years...
- rahimnathwani 12y agoDoes google maps know this route?
- goatforce5 12y agoJust checked, and yes it does. As I said, the route seemed really obvious to me. It was a quicker way to get from Kingsland Rd to Hackney Rd, so it was two major roads in central London. The short cut involved taking a narrow laneway, and i'm guessing something about that lane changed meaning it had only just become accessible. I also had cabbies turn off the meter late at night. I'd light up a cigarette (back when that was allowed), they'd ask if I cared if they lit up too, and once a guy said "Ahhh, I was heading your way anyway" and he turned off the meter. I lived in East London surrounded by cab drivers, so maybe they were being neighbourly.