February 4, 2008
Taxicabs Ruining Suppertime All Over SF
Over on KQED's food blog, Stephanie Lucianovic writes about her spoiled fine-dining engagements due to San Francisco's crippling taxicab companies, which fail to pickup/deliver in a timely fashion. This tardiness, you see, can cancel a reservation. Also, according to her:
For us, the worst cab offenders have been Luxor and Yellow Cab. They're both equally horrible, and by the time we finally weaned ourselves off of both companies, we had lost count how many times we had called for cabs that never showed up. We lost count of how many times we paced around the sidewalk outside our building, straining through the dark to find the muted light on top of a car roof. We lost count of how many times we called the cab company back to ask where the HELL our promised cab was only to be met with a busy signal over and over and over and OVER again!
Yes, we go back and forth about which cab company sucks it harder: Luxor or Yellow Cab. Don't get us wrong, the drivers playing for either team are sheer delight; often very high, making for a delightful cab ride filled with heavy banter on a myriad of subjects. But the distribution center themselves are what Lucianovic, or anyone who has had the pleasure of waiting endlessly for a reserved cab, a problem with here.
And a few commenters claim that Citywide is the best. True?
That said, will you, dear readers, tell us which cab company is the best for calling? We're debating spending a good chunk of money to start taking more cabs from now on, so we could use some advice. And whichever company gets the most response today, they will be mentioned in "Day Around the Bay" -- oohhhhhh! Such an honor, really.
(Note: your taxicab company pick should lean more toward efficiency, not environmental sustainability.)
|
If only just plain hailing a cab, as opposed to having to call for one, were an option here, like it is in NYC, DC, Boston, and Chicago.
Isn't SF supposed to be the 2nd-densest city after NYC?
try walking or riding a bike, you lazy douchehammers.
I know my comment isn't being productive but they all suck. Too expensive and never around when you need one.
Yeah, I don't understand why any local would use Yellow Cab. God only knows the number of times I've been sitting in a bar and a regular asks the bartender to call them a cab and adds, "anyone but Yellow."
you need to pick one and train them on the fact that you won't flake and that you are a good customer. i've done that with desoto but it took about a year.
Nothing beats walking in the rain for two miles in heels for a dinner appointment in heels, rageahol!!!
rageahol, if everyone started riding a bike, how then would cyclists know that they're so much better than everyone else?
The only solution is more cabs. These bad habits are as entrenched in the taxi business as they are in the MUNI union. More cabs, more medallions (without any corporate ownership proviso, keep the rules the same as they've been), more competition. Raw battle in economic terms is the only thing that can wake these lazy surls.
Luxor is better, but that's not saying much. In the old days I had a friend who was a cabbie at Luxor and he was awesome, so I've stuck to them, but on a busy day it's better to go out on the street and take your chances.
Greencab at least have been honest to me on the phone about being unable to provide a cab.
David Letterman during a monologue last year said "Did you ever try to find a cab in San Francisco? They only have 5 you know."
that's good pearl. nyc knows how to run a taxi cab and limo commission. of course we have to re-invent the wheel here and ignore anyone else that already solved these problems.
Arrow Cab has helped me after being ditched by Luxor more than once before and still gotten me to my destination on time... even when I lived in the SUNSET.
Arrow Cab
Arrow Cab
Arrow Cab
We've had better luck (which is not to say, 100% luck) with DeSoto. Mostly, they all suck. All of the cab phone numbers in my phone do not work. I should delete them, but I still hold out an unrealistic hope that the numbers will miraculously work the next time I am trying to get to the airport.
My experience with getting a cab from the Sunset has been dismal. They either show very late or don't show at all. Even Muni is more reliable than a cab out here, that's how truly bad it is.
However, if you have a group of 6, call SuperShuttle ahead of time instead of a cab. Supershuttle is always on time and very reasonable.
dont give them your airport business. they do not deserve it. call this guy when you have to get to a plane on time, sfo or oakland.
christian:
415-264-9135
he lives in burlingame so he can be at the airport in 10 minutes, before you make it to the curb:
he has 2 towncars so far. i think the other guys is his cousin. i've used them for 7 years and he's never been late.
i don't have his email handy but you can normally just forward him your itinerary and he confirms with the extra time to pick you up and make sure you are at the gate in time.
from my place it's only an extra 5 bucks more than a cab. i'd much rather pay it than deal with the russian roulette of making my plane on time with the hacks in this town.
We only use cabs when absolutely necessary, because I'm cheap. But when I need a cab, I go with DeSoto. When we need a van, we tell them and they send a van. We've used their van to haul stuff home from Crate & Barrell on a Friday evening, we've used them to take Xmas trees home.
When my dog needed to get to a vet appointment, and the bus driver decided to suddenly take a break, DeSoto picked us up and got us there quickly.
Their drivers are always friendly and prompt. The only problem with them usually is just getting through to dispatch when it's busy, but that seems to be the case for all cab companies.
Plus, DeSoto was the cab the hippies got out of in "Play it Again, Sam" which is cool.
i prefer MUNI unless i'm running really late. really, i can get anywhere in under an hour (25 min. to downtown) on the bus, especially if i use nextmuni.com to plan a little.
but on the subject of taxis, if you're calling when it's raining (like this past weekend), be prepared to wait, because everyone else is calling, too.
The only problem with them usually is just getting through to dispatch when it's busy, but that seems to be the case for all cab companies.
Such a minor quibble!
I gave up on DeSoto, after 3 no-shows in a row (on different nights).
On Friday or Saturday I'll just go out and find one, because the phone will do nothing. On weekdays, maybe I'll start giving Arrow or Luxor a chance.
And yeah-- more cabs. Please.
I gave up on DeSoto, after 3 no-shows in a row (on different nights).
On Friday or Saturday I'll just go out and find one, because the phone will do nothing. On weekdays, maybe I'll start giving Arrow or Luxor a chance.
And yeah-- more cabs. Please.
Citywide all the way. After a lifetime of putting up with Yellow and Luxor, Citywide is the ONLY cab company I'll call. You get an actual human being on the phone (who remembers your name if you become a regular) and they show up fast. Citywide has saved my ass on many a rainy morning when running late for work, or when the thought of dealing with a packed 30 Stockton is just too much to bear.
Here's their number...put it in your phone. Trust me, it'll come in handy. (415) 920.0700
Also, a few years back while in the back of a Citywide dispatched cab, upon seeing a completely nude man at the corner of Francisco & Van Ness attempting to flag down a cab, my driver quipped, "I'd call it in to dispatch, but where does he keep his wallet?"
I was sold on Citywide from that moment on.
Simply put: more cabs when demand is higher, fewer cabs when demand is lower.
There are always 1500 cabs looking for passengers around the city.
Tuesday at 4am: 1500 cabs
Friday at 9pm: 1500 cabs
It is obvious that there is a much higher demand at 9pm on a Friday night then there is at 4am on Tuesday morning. This huge delta between supply and demand is ignored by the taxi cab commission.
The number of cabs on the street should fluctuate to meet demand.
Every cab must have a medallion to operate legally in SF. They are issued to drivers who were on a waiting list (which takes about 15-20 years) and continue to drive at least 800 hours a year. The drivers lease the medallions to the cab companies for about $1,500 a month. (I need to double check those three figures, but they're close).
If the taxi commission issues another, say, 500 medallions that are only valid during peak times, such as 5pm-2am Thursday-Saturday nights, the people in this city would be able to get a cab. The numbers of cabs roaming the city looking for match the number of people needing a ride.
Remember, it is the duty of the taxi commission to serve the needs of the people of San Francisco, not the taxi drivers or the companies they drive for.
For more on Peak Medallions check out K. Farr's Blog Post on the issue. He also did an excellent piece for KQED Perspective
citywide first, call the backline number
desoto second, ask for mc mars
luxor third
yellow licks my taint
I use Citywide all the time (more than my lazy ass cares to admit). Second choice is DeSoto.
I've been hit by three different DeSoto vehicles in the last two years while walking through crosswalks. The last one I manged to break off a windshield wiper which I proudly display on a wall in my home. I would only suggest DeSoto if you like being in a car that runs pedestrians over. They're great to play the point game with.
Otherwise, go with Citywide.
A couple of years ago on Thanksgiving, I called DeSoto. The guy showed up promptly in the pouring rain, held out an umbrella over us as we got to into the cab.
Then he got in the car, started it up, and informed us that he "wouldn't be able to stop very much" because something was wrong with his engine, it kept overheating or something.
What happened next was like something out of Bullitt. Flying over hills airborne, screeching through red lights and around corners.
It was great fun, and cemented my loyalty.
I flagged a DeSoto cab in the rain on California. He was very personable the whole ride and made me love DeSoto. Unfortunately, the next time I called them to order a cab, I couldn't get through. It wasn't busy, just that no one answered.
I have had huge success with CityWide. Even had a great jazz discussion with a hippie cabbie who told me about his time playing at The Fillmore with Charlie Mingus. Don't know if it was true, but it's pretty to think so.
I'll always call Greencab first. They don't have many cars, but if I can get one, they're my favorite. The drivers are nice and seem to really be into the philosophy of the company www.sfgreencab.com. And as Ciaran said, they'll tell you if they don't have the bandwidth.
National is my second choice.
My job requires that I occaisionally call cabs for people - judging from this and my own experiences, Yellow and Luxor are about the same, with DeSoto being slightly more reliable.
I have not tried CitiWide or Green, maybe I'll give one of them a go the next time I need to call one for myself.
-----------
"If only just plain hailing a cab, as opposed to having to call for one, were an option here, like it is in NYC, DC, Boston, and Chicago."
----------------
I probably hail cabs 20 times more often than I call for them. I don't see what is hard about it, unless you live in sunset/richmond/super residential area.
1. Arrow
2. CityWide
3. Haul myself down to Union & Stockton and start hailing.