Florida Taxi Driver Option Trader: Tampa

Showing posts with label Tampa. Show all posts

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Are you talking to ME?!- What Taxi Drivers Don't Like about Passengers

Are you talking to ME ?!!!

10 Clients Taxi Drivers Hate
By DA

Driving a taxi in Tampa Bay is different than in Manhattan or Chicago, where clients just flag a taxi down on the street. That gives drivers the chance to ignore people they can tell will be trouble.
Here in Tampa Bay, we mostly rely on dispatching systems to get us calls, either old fashioned radio dispatching or computer system based on GPS. Some companies are toying right now with taxi booking applications for smart phones which supposed to connect potential passenger to nearest cab. The point being, most taxi drivers in Tampa Bay don’t get to choose their customers, which allows Manhattan drivers to avoid some particularly high maintenance customers.
At some point between calling a cab and getting in, many people seem to lose common sense and generally forget how to act like a human being. While many clients are polite and tip, there are a few that we all hate picking up. Here are the top 10 clients taxi drivers hate.

The “Executive”
This person is convinced their time is more valuable than anyone else’s. I get a call and get to the address in five minutes and blow the horn. The “Executive” shows up at the door and says “Give me a sec! I’ll be right there!” After another 5 minutes, I blow the horn again. They stick their head out the door “Give me another minute!” A full 10 minutes later they finally get in the cab with an attitude like I ruined their freaking day. WTF?!

Mother Knows “Best”
I pull up in front of a house and a lady with a baby in her arms tries to get in the cab. I ask, politely, if she has a car seat. She replies “I don't use car sit for my baby and nobody in your company ever ask me to have a car seat!” I say “Ma’am, I cannot take you and your baby without a car seat”. I hear slur of insults followed by "What is your cab number and what is your name? I am going to report you to your company! I am never using your company again!!" She doesn't realize, or doesn't care, that not using a car seat is not just unsafe for a baby, but also illegal!

The “High Roller”
Sorry ass loser comes out of Derby Lane Poker Room and

Life after being a Taxi Driver

Notes From A Retired Cab Driver

By Dmitry Samarov

I quit driving a cab in Chicago a couple months ago after nine years on the job. Do something 12 to 14 hours a day, six or seven days a week for that length of time and there's no way it won't shape your relationship with the world. I've spent these recent weeks recalibrating because I no longer wanted my life to be led from behind the wheel. Closing that driver's-side door has been eye opening.

A cab driver's life is unlike most others'. He spends hours and hours randomly looping around the city, punctuated by the lucky short spurts when he's got a fare. Then the meter goes on and he's operating at the passenger's pace. Of course there are drivers who subject people to their own itinerary and rhythm, but those guys rarely last, burning out from running too hot or being asked by the city to seek alternate employment for any number of possible transgressions – from crashes to badly-thought-out scams. The alternating aimlessness and concentrated activity over the daily 12 hours or more makes for an often-chaotic personal life. You end up fitting all other chores and pleasures around time in the taxi. You pay to rent these vehicles so when they sit idle it weighs on the conscience. In a certain way it never feels like you're truly off-duty because at any hour of day or night you can walk out to the cab and be back on the clock.

During most of my nine years, I worked from the afternoon until late into the night. The only time I saw the sunrise was at the end of my shift, just before my head hit the pillow. Now I wake a little after my girlfriend has gone out to give the dog his morning walk, typically between 7 and 8 a.m. For all those years, I was on a diametrically opposite schedule from much of the world; now I'm trying to run along with the rest of the pack. It's novel to wake in the morning and go to sleep at night the way most other people do.

In the cab I dealt with the public all the time. Dozens of small social interactions every day would pass without a second thought. Now I rarely see anyone.........

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Sunday, April 14, 2013

Taxi and Limo Insurance for Saint Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater, Sarasota

White Hoskins Cook Insurance Agency is an independent Insurance Agency, founded in 1956. With over 55 years of experience, we are committed to finding the best insurance solutions for you, your family, and your business. White Hoskins Cook Agency is located in St Petersburg, Florida and services Florida's Sun Coast.....

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Thursday, April 11, 2013

24/7 TAXI To Tampa Airport, Fares, Flat Rates Information, St Petersburg FL and Pinellas

There are at least dozen cab companies operating in Pinellas County.
Some of them are small with only 1 to 5 cabs, others are well established outfits with 40-50 or even 100 cars.
Taxi rates varies between them and usually run between $2.10 and $2.50 a mile on top of $2.00-$3.25 charge for meter drop.
Most of Taxi companies offer flat rates to go to Tampa airport from certain areas and usually "flat rates" are somewhat discounted from metered rates.
It pays to call different companies and inquire about their rates to go to airport, it could save you 10 to 20 % on your trip.

Below are examples of airport taxi fares to Tampa Airport from Pinellas County.
Please note, these rates don't include tips.

from Downtown Saint Pete to Tampa Airport $35- $50
from Shore Acres to Tampa Airport $35- $45
from Gandy St Petersburg to Tampa Airport   $30 - $40
from Disston St Petersburg $35- $45
from Gulfport     $45 - $60
from Saint Pete Beach    $45- $65
from Pinellas Park     $35 -$45
from Treasure Island $45- $65
from Madeira Beach, Fl     $45 - $65
from Indian Shores $45 -$60
from Redington Beach    $45--$65
from Seminole       $40 - $55
from Indian Rocks Beach $40 - $55
from Clearwater Beach $30 -$50
from Largo     $35 - $50
from Clearwater     $25 - $45
etc.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Ready to go to Tampa Airport?

Who said that Toyota Prius is too small to be used as a taxi?
Three Large suitcases packed orderly in "small" trunk of Toyota Prius are ready to be taken with 3 passengers to Tampa International airport.

7 Tips to Save Money on your Next Florida Vacation

Picture by Discount Taxi

by Danielle Antosz

Planning a trip to the Sunshine state may seem like the trip of a lifetime…until you start adding up the costs. Plane tickets, hotels, amusement park passes, and food for an entire family. It adds up quickly! As it turns out, you don’t need to break the bank to have an awesome Florida vacation. Here are 7 easy tips that can add up to huge savings on your next Florida vacation.

1. Consider booking a vacation home for a week instead of renting a hotel room. Besides saving money on board, a house will give you access to a kitchen so you can cook instead of eating out every meal. Or spend the day enjoying family by grilling out and soaking in the beautiful weather. Vacations shouldn’t be about cramming in as many attractions as possible. Take some time to relax and enjoy yourself without all the pressure.

2. Buy amusement park package deals. If you are heading to any of the many amusement parks in Florida, look for hotel/park ticket deals. Some parks also offer meal plans that can save you a bunch. Just make sure you consider how much you will actually use the “extras”. If you aren’t careful you could end up spending more for features you will never use.

3. Look for free attractions. There is more to Florida than our awesome malls and amusement parks. Spend a day at the beach, or find parks are in the area. There is a lot of free natural resources to enjoy in the Sunshine State.

4. Pay attention to when you book your vacation. You may think you want to visit in the summer, but you are more likely to enjoy yourself in the spring or fall seasons. Hotels and park passes cost far less during off season. Plus, you get to skip the huge crowds, the heat, and the humidity. Florida in the summer might sound fun, but it’s not. It’s hot, humid, and

Destination Saint Pete

By Sasha Brown

St. Petersburg: Old World Charm and New Spaces St Petersburg isn’t your grandmother’s sleepy little beach town anymore. There’s still plenty of sand here, but there’s also an established art community, a diverse restaurant scene and a newly gentrified downtown filled with park-side cafes. It’s now the cool sister to the neighboring city of Tampa. During the daytime, visitors dawdle between pristine beaches, art museums, farmers markets and waterfront parks. At night, locals and tourists alike flock to the city’s potpourri of restaurants for elegant seafood dishes orhamburgers in tiki bars dotted along the beach. St. Petersburg has grown up, but remnants of its Old World charm still remain. Graceful art deco buildings line St. Pete’s wide boulevards—a refreshing change from the urban sprawl and mega strip malls that dot Florida’s coast. For those who like a little culture with their sunshine, the impressive Dali Museum has an extensive collection of Salvador Dali works, representing every stage of his career. Considered a jewel on St. Petersburg’s downtown waterfront is the Museum of Fine Arts which houses a wide range of world art from antiquity to modern times. Art buffs will also appreciate the permanent collection of Dale Chihully's unique glass artwork at the beautiful Morean Arts Center. There are a wide range of museums and galleries along the downtown waterfront parks, including the Children’s Museum and the Museum of History. Nature lovers will appreciate the Boyd Hill Nature Park which boasts walking trails, live exhibits and sneak peaks at alligators who call the park their home. The Weedon Island Preserve is a wonderful place to kayak, find a quiet path to walk or look for birds. For those who insist on spying an alligator, Sawgrass Lake Park delivers on the wildlife. Boardwalks bring you through scenes of swamps and woods, where gators and turtles and other wildlife are camera ready. A nice place to relax sprawled beneath the palm trees is the Gizella Kopsick Arboretum. It’s a quiet place to enjoy a bagged lunch and a book. And whatever you do, don’t miss out on Sunken Garden---a botanical paradise in the midst of the city and a cherished St. Pete icon. And what would a trip to St. Pete’s be without a little sand between your toes? Fort Desoto Park offers picturesque views of the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay and clean, pristine beaches. There’s a snack shop there and tours of Fort Desoto are available for those seeking a break from the sun. There are two public beaches in the heart of the bustling downtown area, along with Maximo Beach and Park in South St. Petersburg. St. Pete’s boasts 361 days of sunshine every year with an average temperature of 73 degrees. These statistics, along with an array of activities for every taste and age group makes this lovely Gulf city the perfect destination for families, lovers and snowbirds. You might also be glad to know that Central Florida’s theme parks are a short drive away. Or you might be tempted to stay right where you are.

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Taxi Drivers: Easy Targets

Taxi Drivers: Easy Targets
by Sasha Brown

Taxi cab driver Annuel Delicieux shot during robbery speaks to 10 News

For cab drivers, there is always this one unforgettable ride at least in a day’s work; but for Annuel Delicieux, it was the unforgettable ride of his lifetime. At around 3 am on Dec 18, 2012 in Tampa Florida, two assailants aimed a gun at a cab driver, took his money and shot him. The two shooters, although now sitting in jail have changed his life significantly because the father of three who was just trying to make a living, who fortunately survived the shooting, now has to undergo therapy and could not work for at least a year because of the incident.

According to other cab drivers, Tampa is considered a safe place for taxi drivers. In fact, the city’s crime rate has gone down 46% for the past 6 years. Nevertheless, it does not make it any safer for cabbies working late nights to the wee hours of the morning from robberies or senseless shootings. They may have safety procedures to follow in such circumstances but readings from articles show that most of the taxi related crimes are not solely based on the intent to rob. More than half of taxi driver killings are showing an act of senseless murders due to the assailant acting out for his/her self-esteem. In the case of Mr. Delicieux for example, he already gave the robbers the money they demanded but they still shot him brutally. For wanting to create chaos from the situation, the suspects in this case still killed him even when he followed orders quickly and without a fight.

These taxi drivers working round the clock face risk factors everyday such as being defenseless working alone, late at night with cash in public and high-risk areas.

Training Taxi Drivers in Tampa

Hospitality 101: Tampa Bay & Co. training taxi drivers

TAMPA — Polite or gruff, informed or oblivious, a taxi driver can make a big difference in a visitor’s first impression of a city.
Recognizing the value of this interaction, and its larger impact on tourism, Tampa Bay & Company will jump start its new guest services training program with training for drivers of vehicles for-hire, such as taxis, limousines and vans.

"I think it’s a good idea and it’s long overdue,” said Brook Negusei, president of Cab Plus Inc. in Tampa. “The first thing you see, coming into Tampa, is the cab driver, and when you leave, you see a cab driver.”

The initial training is slated for mid-August, in time for the Republican National Convention and the 50,000 visitors it will bring. Further ahead, the program will expand to include other types of tourism industry employees.

The program will provide an “enhancement of the total guest experience that the delegates, media and other attendees will witness first hand,” as opposed to being a traditional economic development tool, said Kelly Miller, president and CEO of Tampa Bay & Company.

Being Cab driver in Dublin

Perils of being taxi driver in Ireland are not much different than perils of being cab driver in Tampa Bay.... are they? Local St. Petersburg Insiders would say:-, depend who you are and what taxi company you taking calls from.or who you are paying your lease to? ......

Tampa Taxi Drivers real life

For Hillsborough taxi drivers, long hours — and a dream of independence

TAMPA — For hours under the sun in a lot near Tampa International Airport, a harsh course in economics plays out.

Dozens of taxicabs snake into a queue. Men shout and engines start. The line barely budges.

Rene Jeune is up front now, having waited two hours for one customer. Farther back, Jean Bourdeau watches birds fight. He has just $25 in his pocket for five hours of work.....................

Saint Petersburg Attractions

50 Fascinating Things to do in Saint Petersburg Florida!

ST PETERSBURG, FL (Spring 2013) – Score a home run with the Tampa Bay Rays, hit the beach, browse through world class museums, or stroll along streets lined with graceful Mediterranean-style architecture. Whatever your taste, St. Petersburg offers you everything under the sun. With an average temperature of 73.7 degrees and 361 days a year of recorded sunshine, it’s no wonder St Petersburg’s moniker is the Sunshine City. Make sure to include a few of our fascinating things to do and see when you’re in St. Pete:

Florida Taxi Driver Option Trader