Alden Resort St Pete Beach, FL

Forget shoveling snow, shiver from the cold OR listen to your boss that you missed another day from work, plz come to St Pete Beach ASAP and enjoy Florida State of Mind at Alden Resort
....and while you here, Plz use only licensed and insured taxi cab services like Discount Taxi
We proudly service St Pete Beach, St Petersburg, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, Gulfport and surrounding areas.
.....To book Taxi to Airport, plz go to our website: Discount Taxi to Airport Reservations

Text a Taxi St Petersburg FL at Discount Taxi

Please Include your address or name of the place where you need to be picked up and time of pick up. 
To Text 4 Taxi you can also use phone number 727-490-9164

St Petersburg Discount Taxi Company Hits Hi Tech Home Run

– A breakthrough development in the taxi cab business is taking the St. Petersburg Florida area by storm! An innovative, forward thinking entrepreneur down there has come up with a unique combination of traditional taxi service and high tech dispatching; it is called Text4Taxi and its advantages are many:

·       With this new service, there are none of the pitfalls of traditional over-the-phone dispatching.

·       There are never any annoying, time wasting busy signals.

·        There is never any need to worry about miscommunication or misunderstood directions due to spotty cell phone reception and garbled voice messages.

·        No crabby, impolite dispatchers answering the phone sounding grouchy and tired and talking to you as if they were angry with you, or sounding like they are doing you a favor by sending you a cab.

·       When special, detailed instructions for pickup, or complicated, hard to follow directions are part of the scenario, Text4Taxi really shines. There is no comparing the exact, precise details that can be obtained via text communication and the haphazard, hit-or-miss nature of verbal order taking.

·       Text4Taxi also provides the perfect method for positive verification and communication directly between the driver and the customer…"I am on my way, I should be there within 5 minutes" or "I am in front of the club in white Toyota Prius". Neither traditional phone dispatching, nor even the newly arrived taxi dispatching applications developed for smart phone users can achieve this level of accuracy and post contact verifiability.

·       Another tremendous advantage of texting vs. verbal contact is the ability can request a cab in noisy locations like concerts, sporting events or busy nightclubs without fear of your message being unintelligible or misunderstood. Additionally, Text4Taxi is also great when you need to be low key and unobtrusive such as when attending church, the symphony, at weddings and funerals. No need to whisper furtively into the phone while hoping no one hears you or notices you, and no more interrupting the proceedings and rudely exiting the room to call a cab. Text4Taxi eliminates the need for all of that.

·       Since texting provides a built in written record of all the details of the communication between driver and customer, there is never a problem for either party relying on faulty human memory to store vital information about who, when and where the taxi is going to show up.

Text4Taxi is also superior in many respects to its high tech counterpart taxi dispatching apps in that it provides a level of detail and ability for future ride booking that many apps are incapable of providing. Text4Taxi also allows the customer to pose detailed inquiries such as “how much would cost to get from downtown St Pete to south Tampa?”

Yes, there can be no argument that this clever taxi company’s ownership has hit a home run with their Text 4 Taxi concept. It is a winning combination of technology and outstanding customer service. Cab companies around the world are sure to follow suit and adopt this innovative new dispatching process.

Jacksonville to lead Florida in dealing with Uber's corporate terrorism?

picture by http://angieaway.com/

Jacksonville City Council Wants Uber and Lyft to Pony Up 

In a move that many citizens and city council members feel is long overdue, the Jacksonville city council is planning to introduce legislation that will require ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft to go through the same permit application process as do other local transportation providers such as taxi’s and limousine services. Currently the ride-share outfits are sidestepping the permit process, claiming they are software services and as such they are not subject to the same rules and regulations as conventional  taxi cab companies. The taxi companies, and many in local government, claim that the result of this quasi-legal practice is an unfair trade advantage for the ride–share organizations because they do not have to pay the significant fees required to obtain and maintain the permits. Another issues often associated with Uber and other similar companies is that they are not currently required to perform the same level of background screening that the traditional transportation providers are subject to when applying for the permit. Proponents of the new legislation  claim that this results in both an unfair business advantage for the ride-share companies but also poses a significant public safety risk because the drivers for the ride-share companies often have been found to be employing felons; burglars, rapists, child molesters and even murderers have been alleged to be in the employ of Uber. 

Jacksonville City Councilman Stephen Joost recently announced that he plans to introduce new legislation that would give the city the power to impound unregulated vehicles using the Uber or Lyft software apps. The proposed new regulations would also allow the city to seize the vehicles of repeat offenders. Joost said the more stringent  sanctions  are what is necessary to motivate the drivers of ride-share cars to follow city laws.

These companies, with “ride share” models that allow people to arrange and pay for transportation with their smart phones, have come under increasing scrutiny  in recent months for employing drivers who have not been screened for criminal backgrounds and also not permitted or regulated by the city of Jacksonville..

City Council members and citizens alike say the unregulated vehicles pose a safety risk. They’ve also accused Uber of going back on an assurance made last year to not bring its unregulated driving service to Jacksonville. There are currently well over 100 Uber drivers operating in the Jacksonville area, some sources claim as many as 500.

Lyft and Uber spokespeople insist that they provide a popular and innovative service to a willing market among the residents of Jacksonville. They say their services may differ somewhat from  traditional taxi operations but they insist that their new model can be implemented in a manner that takes all necessary safety precautions and screens and insures their drivers.

In a recent email, Taylor Bennett, an official Uber spokesperson was quoted as saying “If the council’s true concern were safety, then it would embrace Uber for being the safest ride on the road. Instead, this proposal is nothing but an attempt to stifle free market competition on behalf of special interests, which have over time increasingly failed to innovate and meet consumer demand.”

Uber  first appeared on the scene in Jacksonville in 2013, and began allowing travelers to arrange high-end rides with local transportation companies through a cell phone app and arrange for  payment with a credit card kept on file in a database maintained by Uber.

In an effort to be fair to both sides of the ride-sharing issues, the city of Jacksonville  changed its vehicle-for-hire regulations to accommodate the high end lxury ride-sharing service, which the company calls UberBlack. In return for this concession, Uber promised the city it wouldn’t introduce its lower-cost uberX service to Jacksonville. As it has done in cities across the nation, and around the world , Uber has reneged on it’s promise and thumbed it’s nose at local government.

As with UberBlack, passengers can order uberX rides through their phones and do not need to pay with cash. But the drivers typically own their vehicles and they tend to be part-time drivers who pick up passengers to earn extra money..

Local police conducted an undercover operation during an august Jaguars and issued civil citations to both uberX and Lyft drivers. A judge is expected issue a ruling on those cases next week. The city also issues citations to the companies each time a driver receives a violation. Each violation can result in a fine of  up to $500.

Both Uber and Lyft pay their drivers’ fines, companies consider the fines as a cost of doing business and this  concerns  councilmen Joost and Lumb because the policy of these companies is accepting illegal behavior as part of their operating model.

Joost said his legislation would provide increased  motivation for prospective Uber and Lyft drivers to get permits if they knew their vehicles could be impounded and the could be charged with criminal violation of misdemeanor, if they didn’t. start to comply with local laws

It is becoming increasingly clear that local governments around the country are beginning to see through Ubers “tell them what they want to hear”  policy of making promises they never intend to keep, and to routinely breaking civil ordinances and pay the resulting penalties as a normal part of doing businesses.

Uber Lies and Uber BS email

This email was accepted from one of Tampa uber drivers and in our opinion it is worth publishing
 by Independent  Uber's Driver Blog.

"Email from Uber to Uber drivers,  filled with Lies and Uber BS.........
.....hey!!!, if I was making any money with uber and able to pay my bills,  I wouldn't be complaining about some Uber's "cheerleading" , but I don't make any money with them, so, I AM REALLY PISSED OFF,

a  FORMER UBER DRIVER in Tampa Bay

p.s...........is anybody out there  willing to dig in in this pile of uber crap and share uber experience?
PLEASE GO AHEAD, this blog is YOURS



"TAMPA
PARTNER WEEKLY
Hey Karl,

We are seeing demand go off-the-charts in Tampa. We've even seen many drivers working weekend nights making literally HUNDREDS of dollars due to surge pricing! Each unfulfilled request is money being left on the table.  That's why this weekend, we brought back Hourly Guarantees, see below for details!

WEEKEND HOURLY GUARANTEES
To satisfy this sky-high demand, we're making our partners a SPECIAL HOURLY GUARANTEE!!  This weekend you can make at least $150 in Gross Fares for being on the road during peak demand times!

Guarantee Details:

$15 per hour Friday and Saturday night if you are logged-on during one of these shifts:
1:00am to 3:00am (Guarantee of Gross $30 in total fares)
12:00am to 3:00am (Guarantee of Gross $45 in total fares)
11:00pm to 3:00am (Guarantee of Gross $60 in total fares)
10:00pm to 3:00am (Guarantee of Gross $75 in total fares)
We will guarantee you the hourly guarantee in average gross fares over the time period indicated. So you will get either: the gross fares you earn or the gross $15/hour over the sessions less commission– whichever is HIGHER!

To qualify you must:

- Accept 80% of requests for the entire duration you are online during the guarantee period
- Complete at least 1 trip per hour for the duration of time you are on the road during the guarantee period
- Must be logged in and ready to accept requests for at least 90% of the period
- Be located near Downtown or St. Pete
- OPT-IN to the Hourly Guarantee HERE

The top-up guarantee will show up on your next pay statement! Please let me know if you have any questions.
GENERAL SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Both lanes of the Park Boulevard Bridge will be closed starting on September 29 for repairs.  It is expected to remain closed for the entire month of October.  Drivers will have to take the Indian Rocks Causeway or the Tom Stuart Causeway instead.
EVENTS OF THE WEEK
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 AND FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

What: Luke Bryan Concert
Where: Mid Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre (4802 N US Highway 301)
Drop Off: 6-7:30pm
Pick up: 10-11:30pm
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

What: SeptemBEERfest
Where: Southern Brewing & Winemaking (4500 N Nebraska Ave)
Drop Off: 4-6pm
Pick up: 7-9pm
HOTSPOTS
ST. PETE'S IS HEATING UP!

In addition to Downtown Tampa and Clearwater, we are seeing more requests than ever in St. Petersburg. Head to these locations to find rides!

As always, weekend evenings from 6pm-3am are the busiest, but we are expecting high demand all throughout the weekend. Below, you'll find a map of where we're seeing the most requests!

USE YOUR OWN iPHONE
Many of you have told us that you would rather use Uber on your personal iPhone instead of a separate device.  To qualify, you must:

- Have an iPhone 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, or 6
- Have iOS 7 or 8 (to check go to Settings > General > About > Version)
- Have a data plan that allows you to use at least 2GB/month of data for Uber
- Use any major phone carrier (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint)

If you are interested in seeing if you qualify, CLICK HERE and fill out the required information.  If you do qualify, we will automatically send you a return envelope so you can return the Uber iPhone.
SURGE PRICING
Surge Pricing is in Effect!

During high demand times, fares can be as high as 3 times the normal rate! Surge pricing rewards you for staying logged online during high demand times by earning higher fares on each trip you take (check out this video for more info). Check your Driver App to see if surge pricing is in effect and where it's surging!
REFERRALS

Referring a friend, family member, or colleague to Uber Tampa will get you both $100!  THAT'S RIGHT, you AND the referred partner get paid!

This incentive will be paid as soon as the referred partner completes 20 trips. The person being referred MUST sign up for Uber using the link sent to their email from the BLUE BUTTON seen above.

PLEASE NOTE: If you do not see the Blue Button on your App, press the 'Home Button' on your iPhone and then reopen the Uber Driver App.

The incentive will be in effect for LIMITED TIME ONLY. Take advantage while it lasts!...."

How much money can you make being an Uber driver?

Watch this video first, before you sign up with Uber or Lyft for unrealistic earnings promises, which will turn out to be slave wages.

How much can you make as a Lyft or Uber driver?

Is  driving for Uber or Lyft legal in Tampa Bay? Can you really make $35/hour driving for Uber in Florida? Can you really make $70,000 a year driving for Lyft in Tampa Bay? What are your weekly expenses when you drive for Uber or Lyft? Is it safer in Tampa Bay to take Uber or Lyft than Taxi? Why people hate taxis in Tampa Bay and love Uber and Lyft? Is it tip included in all Uber and Lyft fares? Who has better cars and better drivers, Lyft, Uber, Taxi? How to improve Uber, Lyft service? Why Uber drivers refuse to take my call?  

feel free to comment as a anonymous person

Uber Rates in Florida as of July 2014

Uber Rates and fares in Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Orlando , Miami. Gainesville and Tallahassee

Uber rates in Tampa Bay
Tampa, Clearwater, Largo, St Petersburg, Palm Harbour, Clearwater Beach, St Pete Beach


UberX $1.50 / mile $0.15 / minute waiting time
$5.00 minimum fare, $2.00 base fare (to start the meter)
UberXL doesn't operate in Tampa Bay
Uber Black Car doesn't operate in Tampa Bay
Uber SUV doesn't operate in Tampa Bay
Uber Taxi doesn't operate in Tampa Bay


Uber rates in Jacksonville

UberX $1.30 / mile $0.20 / minute waiting time
$5.00 minimum fare, $1.00 base fare ( to start the meter)
UberXL doesn't operate in Jacksonville
Uber Black Car $1.50 / mile $0.55 / minute waiting time with $12 minimum fare
Uber SUV doesn't operate in Jacksonville
Uber Taxi doesn't operate in Jacksonville


Uber rates in Orlando

UberX $1.50 / mile $0.15 / minute waiting time
$4.00 minimum fare, $2.00 base fare ( to start the meter)
UberXL doesn't operate in Orlando
Uber Black Car doesn't operate in Orlando
Uber SUV doesn't operate in Orlando
Uber Taxi doesn't operate in Orlando


Uber rates in Miami

UberX $1.75 / mile $0.20 / minute waiting time
$5.00 minimum fare, $1.50 base fare ( to start the meter)
UberXL, Uber Black Car, Uber SUV and Uber Taxi don't operate in Miami


Uber doesn't operate in any other major cities in Florida

* please remember, Uber rates may vary, due to demand and discounts
* all Uber rates include tips and are subject to 1099 forms
* this post is based on information available on 7/25/2014
* UberX drivers operate illegally in all of Florida, risking high fines and possible criminal charges.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

November 29th 2014  UberX rates update in Florida

Tampa Bay $1.20 a mile vs     $1.50 4 months ago

Miami $ 1.25 a mile         vs     $1.75 4 months ago

West Palm Beach $1.25   vs     $1.75  4 months ago

Orlando $1.20                vs        $1.50 4 months ago

Jacksonville $1.30 a mile  

Gainesville $1.80 a mile    vs  $1.50 2 months ago

Tallahassee $1.50 a mile

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As of Dec 19th 2014, Uber rates are no longer visible on their app in Florida.

_____________________________________________

As of Apr 24th 2015, Uber rates in Tampa Bay were lowered by %15 to about $0.95 a mile.

Uber Taxi in London and Florida?

Guess what, Uber is flinching when black cabs of London go on strike,- instead 20% of Uber preset taxi rate, they ask from black taxis for only %5 of the meter as a "taxi booking fee".

Marco Rubio (R): Screw Florida cab drivers, I Like UBER

(R) Marco Rubio: screw Florida cab and limo drivers, let the big corporations like Uber or Lyft  with heavy backing from venture capital take over personal transportation market in US, Europe, Australia, Mars, etc, and make all the transactions go through ONE company...........isn't this a corporate monopoly at birth?
.......something like all those small mom and pop hardware stores were put out of business by Home Depot few decades ago or like Walmart put out of business small manufacturing companies around US in name of "lowering customer prices"...!!?? yeah, right.

Decades later, we know results, China and Walton family are getting richer, employees at Walmart are collecting all kind of governmental support (at cost to tax payers) because they can not afford to live on $8.00 an hour and we as customers are forced to buy cheap Sh^%$ made in China, which falls apart after 2 weeks of using it..........

picture by UsNews.com

"Why Marco Rubio's Embracing Uber

The hip-hop listening, Netflix-watching Florida GOPer aligns himself with another hip, tech-driven company.

Sen. Marco Rubio was looking to score a quick ride in Miami, but when he tapped his white Uber button on his smartphone, the Florida Republican came up empty.

“I was bragging to someone about this service in Washington and I clicked onto my app … and up comes a message saying, ‘Sorry we can’t pick you up in Miami because the county commission won’t allow it,’” he recalled. 

That incident was the impetus for Rubio's Monday visit to Uber’s Washington headquarters, where he used the struggle of a growing and fashionable tech company to underscore his case concerning overburdensome regulations.

“We should never allow government power and government regulations to be used to protect an establishment incumbent industry at the expense of an innovative competitor,” he said.


Operating in 37 U.S. cities, Uber is a transportation company that allows a customer to order a taxi, town car or SUV to a specific location with just a click of a phone app. All transactions are paperless and tips are included in the fee. The service quickly gained popularity in Washington due to frustration with the lack of available cabs in certain parts of the city and the inability to pay with credit or debit cards......."

>>>Read More

Want to be a taxi driver? Read This

Safety tips for new taxi drivers in Tampa Bay, Florida and not only........

picture by wnyc.org

TAXICAB DRIVER SAFETY

by Gord Barton

Taxi Training Instructor

GOAL:

To maximize personal safety for taxicab drivers
OBJECTIVE:
To ensure that all new and veteran taxi drivers fully understand and comprehend the basic safety rules that they need to follow and embrace.
MODULES:

• Understanding the inherent dangerous nature of the industry
• Understanding the nature and personalities of people.
• Learning to "read" your customer.
• Learning and understanding the basic safety rules.
• Police relations.
• Weapons - the none use of and why.
• Prostitution - your legal guidelines
• Needles - the extreme danger of drugs/disease
• Hostility and negativism
• You and your part.

Foreword:

It is extremely important that all taxi drivers, especially those of you that are new to the business, to understand the dangerous and complex nature of the industry itself, to understand some of the dynamics, to learn how not to become a victim.

Module 1: The danger of the industry

The taxicab business is a very different one from most occupations, and there is a very real and high risk of personal danger to each driver, and it appears to be getting steadily worse each year, and the statistics bear this out.
The last report on workplace violence and homicide places TAXI DRIVERS in the unenviable spot of #1 most dangerous occupation in North America at the present time, and this danger is rising. There are 20 homicides where taxi drivers are victims to every 100,000 drivers. Convenience store clerks are #2, being out 15 homicides to each 100,000 workers. In contrast, the police ratio is only 7 homicides to each 100,000 officers. This alone should tell you something.
The reasons for this are actually very simple in nature, seemingly unrealistic, but they are true, and they are as follows:

• You work alone
• You work all types of long, 12 hour shifts
• You work in isolated areas.
• You always have ready cash
• People perceive that you have the lowliest job of all, and therefor you are of no human value.
• You are always dealing with strangers.
• The very nature of your business, service, requires you to deal with everyone.
• Very often, you have a language barrier, which is difficult to deal with.
• Your own peers often cheat the public, thus raising disrespect and contempt
• Racism plays a factor

Module 2: Understanding the nature and personalities of people

• No two people are the same, in body, or in mind.
• Some people are psychopaths with no emotions, feelings, or remorse.
• Most people you deal with are nice, but we all have our bad days
• People judge other people by their own values, with little regard for reality

Module 3: Learning how to "read" your customer

• You must read up on and become familiar with "body language". This goes hand in hand with "active listening" to what the people are really saying versus what their "body language" is telling you.
• You must never, ever, underestimate your customer and what they may be capable of doing to you.
• You must never let your guard down when you have a fare in your taxi, irregardless of who they are, or how they are dressed or appear to be.

Module 4: Learning and understanding the basic safety rules.

1) Radio and the dispatcher

• The most important piece of equipment in your taxi is your radio, as it connects you to your dispatcher. The dispatcher is "your lifeline".
• They are the ones who will get you help if you are in trouble.
• They are the ones who will give you accurate information when you need it.
• They are the ones who will "sense" when you are in trouble and assist you.
• They are the ones who will dispatch you for trips in a fair and equitable manner with all the other drivers.
• They are the ones which will keep you informed on what is happening.
• Have a good relationship with all dispatchers - you need them on your side.                                                                                                                                                                                          
• 2) Be alert and aware.

You must keep yourself very alert and aware of what is going on around you at all times, whether you are parked or driving. Take good care of yourself, be rested, eat well, and get lots of exercise. The exercise and movement around you will get by handling peoples luggage, going to doors to get your customers, opening and closing doors all contribute to the enrichment of oxygen in your blood, which is what keeps up your energy and awareness.

>>>Read More

Round trip St Petersburg - Tallahassee for $1.5 K

Picture by Tampa Bay.com

Charlie's Luck and round trip to Tallahassee

"A few weeks before Thanksgiving, staff at the Loving Care assisted living facility in St Petersburg realized something had changed in Malcolm Ramsey's life.

Relatives who had never paid much attention to Ramsey, 55 and mentally incompetent, suddenly started showing up in droves. Bulging bags from T.J. Maxx and Bealls filled his half of a tiny, shared bedroom. Boxes of new athletic shoes — Nike, New Balance, K-Swiss — towered against the wall.

Then there were the rumors that Ramsey had hit it big in the Florida Lottery.

Ramsey's legal guardian got involved. So did St Petersburg police, an adult protective services worker and, eventually, a judge. And slowly, the story came out.

Sometime in October, Ramsey had won "$500 a week for life" on a scratch-off Florida Lottery ticket. With the help of a cab driver, he had gotten an ID, a copy of his birth certificate and a ride to Tallahassee to claim the prize. He took it as a lump-sum payout — $403,288........."

>>>Read More

Travis Bickle reincarnation or nutcase taxi driver running for office........

Talking about crazy taxi drivers? How about cab driver who wants to be politician?

"Florida House candidate Joshua Black calls for hanging of President Obama

ST  PETERSBURG — As Americans honored the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, a Republican candidate for Florida House District 68 said President Barack Obama should be hanged for war crimes.

"I'm past impeachment," Joshua Black wrote on Twitter. "It's time to arrest and hang him high."

The tweet caught the attention of Chris Latvala, a Republican candidate for House District 67.

"You aren't seriously calling for the killing of Obama are you?" Latvala replied. "I know you are crazy but good heavens. U R an embarrassment."

>>>Read more

24/7 DIScount Taxi Cab Service in St Petersburg, Florida

  Please CLICK BELOW TO CALL 4 DISCOUNT TAXI 24/7 FROM YOUR MOBILE  PHONE, OR Please DIAL THE Phone NUMBER 727-490-5100

OR Pre-Book your Taxi cab Online with Diacount Taxi Reservation form.

"Discount Taxi is a division of AL's Taxi Inc. of St Petersburg, FL- We pride ourselves in being the best Taxi service in Saint Petersburg, if not in all of Pinellas County...Our very low rates are a reflection of  the tough competition in the St Petersburg transportation market these days. This competitive environment is also part of what motivates us to provide our customer with high quality service and courteous, professional drivers. Our commitment to these practices is even more important to us now than ever before.

ALL OUR TAXIS ARE FULLY INSURED AND LICENSED FOR YOUR SAFETY.
All of our Drivers have undergone extensive background checks with State authorities as well as with the FBI. These background investigations   include finger printing , screenings for felonies, DUI's, violent crimes, drug testing. Each of our drivers has also been determined by the local PD to be safe taxi drivers before issuing  them a Taxi Driver Hack License with a picture.
All our taximeters are approved by the State of Florida and our taxi rates have been acknowledged and approved by City of St Petersburg......."

For more information,  please visit our website at:

>> Discount Taxi Cab service in St Petersburg, FL

 We service these areas within Pinellas County:
St Petersburg, Downtown Saint Pete, Shore Acres, Gandy, Pinellas Park, Kenneth City, Gulfport, South Pasadena FL, Treasure Island, Tierra Verde, Madeira Beach, Bay Pines, Disston Heights, Seminole, Redington Shores, Indian Shores, Indian Rocks Beach, South Largo, Feather Sound and zip codes in St Petersburg, FL

 33703, 33707, 33708. 33710, 33712, 33705, 33711, 33713, 33716, 33701, 33702, 33714, 33704, 33705, 33706, 33709, 33781, 33782, 33777, 33772, 33776   Discount Taxi Metered Rates and Airport Taxi flat rates. $2.00 FIRST 1/7 MILE OR FRACTION THEREOF $0.30 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL 1/7 Mile OR FRACTION THEREOF = $2.10 a Mile $0.30 For Each 36 Seconds Waiting Time or Slow Traffic = 0.50 Cents a Minute  

2015 Discount Taxi Intercity Taxi flat rates, example fares, costs and rates :

Saint Petersburg to Tampa Airport $30-$45
St Petersburg to South Tampa $30-$45
St Petersburg to Downtown Tampa $45-$60
St Petersburg to North Tampa  $55-$75
St Petersburg   to Sarasota  $85-$120
                     to Orlando  $175-$210
                    to Naples, FL $275
                    to Miami Airport $495
                    to Ocala $225
                    to Jacksonville $435
                    to Tallahassee, FL $475
                    to Orlando Airport $195
                    to Ft Myers       $210
St Pete Beach to Tampa Airport   $45
St Pete Beach to Orlando Airport $185
St Pete Beach to Amtrak Tampa  $55
St Pete Beach to Busch Gardens, Tampa  $70
St Pete Beach to Port of Tampa  $60
Treasure Island to HardRock Casino in Tampa $65
St Petersburg to Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa $50-$70
Sarasota to Hard Rock Casino in Tampa $105-$125 (trip must be pre-paid with CC)

* Please feel free to negotiate above prices and you might be able to save another 5 to 10%
off your final estimate, if we are not too busy.
* We also gladly take our customers from any place in south Pinellas County to cities listed below:
Brandon, Palmetto, Ellenton.Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Venice, North Port, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Englewood, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Lehigh Acres, Arcadia, Myakka City, Sebring, Parrish, Ruskin, Apollo Beach, Riverview, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Holiday, New Port Richey, Hudson, Spring Hill, Crystal River, Seffner, Inverness, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Lakeland, Plant City, Wesley Chapel, Brandon, Kissimmee, Titusville, Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Port St Lucie, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Hialeah and many more within State of Florida.
* For intercity / long distance rates, please call our dispatch center for an estimate at : 727-490-5100
or if you are not in the hurry, you can request estimate via our online booking and reservation system at:


Discount Taxi To Tampa Airport, Booking and Reservations Online

Three Large suitcases Packed in a trunk of "tiny" Toyota Prius Taxi are ready to be taken with 3 passengers to Tampa Airport

For your convenience at Discount Taxi. we gladly accept all major credit / debit cards.

When ordering a taxi cab, please let dispatcher know about your intention of paying with credit card, 

We don't charge any fees on credit card transactions.

We service listed below hotels in Downtown area of St Petersburg, FL 
Hollander Hotel - 421 4th Ave. N,  St Petersburg, FL 33701                                                  Hollander Hotel
Hampton Inn & Suites / Downtown - 80 Beach Dr. NE, St Petersburg, FL 33701                                                               Hampton INN
Ponce De Leon Hotel - 95 Central Ave., St Petersburg, FL 33701                                                 Ponce De Leon Hotel

We also proudly serve :

Derby Lane Poker Room and Greyhound Race Track since 1925

• at 10490 Gandy Blvd N, St Petersburg, FL 33702

picture by http://commons.wikimedia.org/

picture by derbylane.com 1950

A "Winning Tradition" at Derby Lane - Click Here

Taxi Business for Sale in Florida, only $690 Ks

Picture by ridevelo.com

Taxi Business for sale in Ocala, FL

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Business Summary: E2 VISA APPLICANTS WELCOME! Largest Taxi Service in county with contracts to provide transportation for (and paid by) the probation office, state attorneys office and hospital for clients and patients. Drivers are paid commission and are independent contractors. They maintain most of their own daily cabs expenses. Taxi licenses are restricted or limited to number of companies. See Listing #4390349 for possible dual purchase. Please refer to internal listing number 4390348 and ask for Clay Bontrager when inquiring."

Florida – The Dog Friendly State for a Vacation

Picture by pinellascounty.org

Florida Vacation with your dog

By JC
Are you in the middle of planning your vacation, and have just looked across at your beloved dog only to be met with those “puppy” dog eyes that tug at your heart strings? Has it made you wish you could take your four legged friend away with you so the WHOLE family can get some much needed sun and relaxation?
If so, you should consider the State of Florida. During the winter months Florida offers plenty of warm sunshine and endless sandy beaches where not just you and the kids can play, but your dog can as well. In fact, it may surprise you to know there are many dog friendly places you can stay or visit.
So now you know you don’t have to feel guilty at the thought of putting your dog in kennels while you and the family take off to a warmer climate for a week or two, take a look below at some of the top dog friendly destinations we’ve found for you:

Key West
This is one of the most popular places for many people to vacation and if you have a dog (or two) it’s also one of the most pet friendly in the State. Why not take a look at the Sheraton Suites Hotel? It’s located on South Roosevelt Boulevard just across the street from Smather’s Beach where you and your pup can take a stroll; dig a few holes and even splash about in the water.
The Hotel doesn’t charge for pets and the only stipulation they have is that the combined weight of your dog(s) is 80lbs or under. If you have larger

How to Start Taxi Company in Florida?

Mom Owned, Mom Approved Taxi Service For Kids

Sometimes parents can feel like a taxi service, but Sharron Gay really is one. She is the founder of Mom’s Taxi Service.

Whether you don’t want your kids riding public transportation, the school bus, or you need someone to drive your kids from school to their sports practice, Mom’s Taxi Service does it all. Inspired by her own personal needs, Sharron has created a service that every mom can appreciate.

I recently spoke with Sharron about her business and the inspiration that launched it.

Tell us a little about Mom’s Taxi Service.

Mom’s Taxi Service is a child transportation shuttle service that provides safe, reliable transportation for children and other family members in Broward County, Florida. Our services are primarily for school children between the ages of 4 and 17. Mom’s Taxi is managed by three Broward County women. We understand working mothers, because we’re mothers ourselves. As we like to say, we’re Moms Helping Moms.

What inspired it?

I was inspired by my own personal difficulties in transporting my children. They were enrolled in after-school programs that were quite a distance from my place of employment. So it was a challenge to pick them up on time. I began to speak with other parents and realized that we all face the same struggles with child transportation. I saw an opportunity to start a business to solve the problem. I knew there was a real need to make life easier for parents and children in Broward County. I also knew that moms, who are generally responsible for child transportation, could be negatively impacted on the job. Since they might have to leave work early from time to time to pick up their children, their employers could misread the situation and decide they’re not dedicated or don’t deserve promotions. Mom’s Taxi Service solves the problem. So moms can perform better at their jobs.....

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Advertising on Taxi Cabs in Florida

Own a Taxi Firm in Florida? Think About Third Party Advertising

picture by flaoutdoor.com

By JC

Florida is a pretty big State so you would think there is plenty of business to go around if you own a taxi company. However, for those of you that don’t know, this is a highly competitive market! Cities like Orlando, Tampa, Miami and a host of others are all massive tourist attractions and many thousands of people pass through each year.
You might be forgiven for thinking that tourists alone will be able to sustain a cab firms business but this isn’t the case. You need to make sure you have regular custom from the locals as well. Perhaps you’ve managed to land a contract with a hotel (or two) which means you get “first go” on anyone who is staying there and doesn’t have transport of their own. They might need a friendly face to ferry them about the city so they can go to business meetings, or take in the sights. It could also be that your cab drivers are the first in line for airport runs as well.
This is just one example of how you can ensure you get regular business all year round however; if you intend to expand your taxi business there is always going to be the question of advertising. After all, you won’t get extra business if prospective clients don’t know you’re there! This is where third party advertising can really help.

What Is Third Party Advertising?

This is actually a very clever idea. We’ve all seen cabs rushing about the city with stickers on their bumpers, plastic type billboards on top of the taxi and even signs that are illuminated from inside. All of these are what’s known as third party advertising and it can really help not just your business but others as well.
For instance, you can contact various businesses in your local area like restaurants, hotels, tour operating companies and a whole host of others that will benefit from having their name on your cab. If you think this is going to need the hard sell, think again! You have a very strong argument when talking to various other business owners in the area.
Think about it? The average taxi driver across the State of Florida who operates in the major cities is passing by an ever growing population each and every day. In an average month a cab driver

Why would I visit Saint Petersburg ? dream vacation

By Angela Doherty 
If  you are like me and looking to escape the rain, winter, or find a white sand beach to stretch out on, your search might quite naturally lead you to the warm climes of Florida, the Sunshine State. I was looking for a sunny, warm slice of heaven, with a great mix of outdoor recreation, culture, dining and shopping and I think I have found it in St. Petersburg. Here’s what I've found out about this great city.

With on average 361 sunshine days per year, St. Petersburg is not called “The Sunshine City” for nothing. Situated on the west side of Tampa Bay, a trip to St Pete could not be complete without a day on the beach. And with over 240 miles of shoreline including a number of keys, islands, bayous and some of the best beaches in the country (including Fort De Soto beach, twice ranked number one in the country in 2005 and 2008) you are spoiled for choice in St. Pete.   I think a day on the beach, lazing under the palms or swimming in the crystal waters of the Gulf of Mexico on the beaches of Treasure Island is the first order of business for any visitor to the city. However, if it is action you are after, diving, snorkeling, fishing and canoeing are just some of the choices available to you in, on and around the waters of the city.

When you are sick of the beaches, it’s time to head across town and Beach Dr and the waterfront where you can find amazing dining, overlooking the marina and the gorgeous Tampa Bay. I think I’ll start with drinks at the famous Fresco’s and head down Central Ave and the surrounding streets to find some great food, live music and dance spots to enjoy the long, hot nights of St. Pete. The city is also home to over 2 dozen art galleries, and if you time your visit right, on the second Saturday of each month, the Downtown Arts Association hosts a Gallery Walk around a number of downtown galleries and studios. St. Pete also plays host to a series of festivals and cultural celebrations all year round, for everyone from the foodies at the “A Taste of Pinellas” festival in May, to the Tampa Bay Blues Festival in April and every March, downtown is transformed into an Indy Car track for the Honda Grad Prix! And of course, if you are looking for sport, Tropicana field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, is also within easy reach of downtown.

Shopping in St. Pete, like the rest of the city’s activities, is also all about choice. Check out the Saturday Morning Market, down by the Marina, for fresh local produce and goods. Or, if you are looking for something a little more up market, the BayWalk shopping complex is located downtown, along with a host of artisan shops and studios.

Now where to stay… Well. Let’s be honest, there are so many choices from the 5-star resorts of Clearwater and downtown to the hostels and camping grounds at Fort De Soto Park, there is something for every budget. And one of the best things about St Pete is that it is compact, making travel around it easy either through the public system, or by cab, where your friendly cabbie can suggest more things for you to do in the Sunshine City. I’m looking forward to my trip to St. Petersburg, time to stop dreaming about it!

Legalization of Marijuana in Florida Around the Corner ?

Medical marijuana battle coming to Florida

By STEPHEN NOHLGREN
Tampa Bay Times

PARRISH — Sitting at the kitchen table in her wheelchair, arms useless at her sides, Cathy Jordan begins another day with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease.

She turns expectantly to her husband, Robert, who fires up a pungent joint and holds it to her lips. Smoke curls through her blond hair as she inhales, holds and exhales.

Jordan is well into her third decade with a disease that often kills within five years. She credits marijuana with slowing progression of the condition that destroys nerve cells, ultimately leading to total paralysis and death.

"This is keeping me alive,'' she says. It also eases her symptoms such as muscle stiffening, drooling and chronic lung congestion. How does she know it's working? Whenever she is hospitalized and can't have pot, the symptoms come back.

Jordan, 63, is a medical anomaly for how long she has survived with ALS.

She is also a criminal, breaking the law with every puff.

And she is a symbol of a fight unfolding this summer that could redefine Florida not only medically, but politically and culturally, too. Legalizing marijuana, even for medicinal purposes, might seem an extraordinary step in this state. But polls show support for the measure crosses political party lines. And as baby boomers who may have used pot in their youth feel the impact of age, they may add to the push for legalization.

Eighteen states and the District of Columbia allow marijuana use for medical purposes. But for the most part they are in liberal Western and Northeastern areas or in Rocky Mountain states with libertarian bents. None is in the South.

Florida is a national bellwether, says John Morgan, the Orlando attorney familiar to millions from his "For the People'' TV ads. He has stepped onto a new platform: the push to legalize medicinal marijuana..........

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Florida Sunday Concert presented by "Taxi Driver"

Introduction to Dave Matthews Band on 60 Minutes

Dave Matthews Band - Live in Central Park, NYC

Advertising Taxi Business in Florida.

Cost of Advertising to Sustain and Expand a Taxi Business in Florida USA

By JC

Miami, Tampa, and Orlando - the State of Florida has no small amount of big cities filled with interesting and engaging attractions.  Engaging attractions means tourists who come from across the globe to sample the sights and sounds.  Long distance travel means the convenience of your own vehicle won't be at hand.  All of this translates to a market for reliable and convenient travel options which, ends up creating a fertile spawning ground for any taxi company.  With the constant and steady flow of travelers, the state of Florida has enough of a market for even a fledgling company to get a solid start.

The problem comes in figuring out how a small company can get enough business to grow!  While a huge market can provide a business owner some awesome opportunities, it also makes it difficult to stand out from the crowd and gain the chance to expand.  This isn't a cheap industry; a new cab can easily cost $20,000 by itself and, a used one ends up being the same after factoring in repairs and maintenance.  Meters, insurance, cleaning, and permits can also add up quickly.  The state of Florida doesn't require a commercial license, though individual counties can have their own demands and fees.  Even if you've had some experience in the taxi cab business, it takes a lot of cash flow and delicate consideration to make sure your business not only takes root but flourishes.

Getting Your Name Out There

The best way to get the ball rolling is advertising, regardless of how small or large your business is it can only attract customers if people know about it.  No matter how you want to run your company, there are options of promoting that have a wide range of costs.  From the inexpensive to the extremely pricy, their effectiveness can vary greatly. It's more in how you use them than how much you spend.  Plenty of businesses in countless industries have lost large sums of money on poorly delivered advertising, while others have launched themselves into the spotlight on a shoestring budget.

The Internet

How people can and should advertise their services have changed drastically over the last few years and, this affects the taxi service industry just as much as it has affected everyone else.  The rise of the smart-phone has substantially diminished the power held by phone book advertisement.  If you're reading this hoping to find out why your ad in the yellow book isn't offering