To find out what to look for, please click on the link below!
http://negril.com/nt/nt100616.htm
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To find out what to look for, please click on the link below!
http://negril.com/nt/nt100616.htm
Glad to see and hear! Like stated, No more questionable car rides anymore! Thanks Jamaica government!
Rob, This is just for route Taxis, and not just red plates in general, right?
Is anything being talked about to rein in the white plates posing as taxis? Try to get them legitimized with red plates and proper insurance?4
Thanks :)
~Moose
Moose,
This is the new look for route taxis only. The transportation unions (JUTA, JCal, Maxi) are working with the Transport Authority and JTB (Jamaica Tourist Board) in developing a new look for their vehicles as well, but it is a much less critical situation due to the high number of "robot" illegal taxis.
The Transport Authority have been cracking down on illegal taxis hard, impounding vehicles and seizing the plates. Needless to say, any passengers are required to exit the vehicles and find legal transportation. The illegal taxis know what they are doing is illegal and there is no effort being made by the Transport Authority to assist the illegal taxis in "legitimizing" them as they have no desire to be legit in the first place.
Thanks for the info Rob!
What is the Westend and Beach taxi fare these days?
http://www.ta.org.jm/content/route-taxi-faresQuote:
Originally Posted by Marblehead
Since I just followed the link: The actual chart is at http://www.ta.org.jm/documents/Fares...stmoreland.pdf
It last changed in 2013, and it appears to be JA$120 along the beach road and JA$165 from the beach to the West End. The chart is pretty confusing actually, because the relevant lines are:
BEACH ROAD to NEGRIL $130.00
NEGRIL SPOT to NEGRIL $120.00
NORMAN MANLEY BOULEVARD to NEGRIL $120.00
WEST END to NEGRIL $130.00
BEACH ROAD to WEST END $165.00
NORMAN MANLEY BOULEVARD to WEST END $165.00
I assume "Negril" means the taxi stand at the roundabout.
The official Negril taxi stand is the bus park just past the police station.Quote:
Originally Posted by wrtiii
The peanut porridge guy at the transportation center has GREAT porrige.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bnewb
Cap
Can someone local shed light on the tourist authorities table? Is the price from beach road to roundabout 130? and roundabout to cliffs $130? I know, I know..... route taxis are meant for locals. Just would like to know the price for my information, and because I have been know to pay for a few (or more) peoples fares.:)
"..... route taxis are meant for locals."
I disagree that route taxis are meant for locals. Isn't it the public transportation system for Jamaica? When people travel to my city, they have access to the public bus, etc. When you go to NYC, or Europe, Asia, Africa, or anywhere, don't you have access/utililize public transportation.. Rail, bus, subway, train, ferry, rickshaw, etc? I feel it's best to know what you are doing & do what works for you & the situation 😊
Yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by pamc12345
OK, now I'm genuinely curious. I've never had a route cab actually stop there. They seem always to stop by the roundabout (either just before or just after), or pull into the parking lot by the cambio at the roundabout. Has it just been that my limited experiences were unusual?Quote:
Originally Posted by Bnewb
Some taxis drivers have set up a makeshift drop off/pickup area for taxis near the Scotia Bank...every so often the taxis are kicked out of the parking lot by authorities...but eventually make their way back there.Quote:
Originally Posted by wrtiii
Most tourists tend to go to the HiLo, Scotia Bank area or up to the West End rather than travelling the other way towards Sheffield, Little London, Sav La Mar etc. The driver may be assuming that's the direction you would choose and is offering a more convenient stop for you and for him...this reduces a bit of driving time.
Can any of the Negril experts or residents explain the confusing things in the Transport Authority's list?Quote:
Originally Posted by wrtiii
What is the difference between Norman Manley Blvd and Beach Road (there's a $10 fare difference)?
Are there route taxies that have routes between Beach Road and the West End for the stated $165 fare?
What is Negril Spot?
Thanks for sharing that bit of culinary advice, Cap. I'm not just a little nutty about peanut butter so I'll have to give it a try.Quote:
Originally Posted by captaind
--Marblehead
How much would it be middle of the beach area (White Sands) up to Half Moon Bay? And which route would that be, is that the Green Island route?
Is this the fare? GREEN ISLAND > NEGRIL $ 175.00 I imagine Negril > Green Island is the same fare as Green Island > Negril?
And anywhere along the cliffs, to anywhere else in the cliffs would be a max of $130? Same for anywhere along the beach to the traffic circle?
Thanks,
Moose
Thanks for sharing that bit of culinary advice, Cap. I'm not just a little nutty about peanut butter so I'll have to give it a try.
--Marblehead
PEANUT PORRIDGE!!!! At the Taxi Park!!
Man, I have been through that Park a million times.
Mi never knew!!
Def will try it in November.
Negril Spot is about 10 km far away form Negril on the way to Savanna-la-Mar between Sheffield and Little London. At Negril Spot you can tur off to places like Revival, Brighton, Mount Airy, Orange Hill, ...Quote:
Originally Posted by bksmm
RL,Quote:
Originally Posted by R.L.
Here is why many people suggest that the route taxis are meant for the locals and not tourists.
The tourism industry has been growing since it started in the 1890's. The first tourist association was formed in 1910 (Jamaica Tourist Association). The first government agency was founded in 1922 (Jamaica Tourist Trade Development Board). In 1954, the government reorganized the Development Board and called it the JTB (Jamaica Tourist Board) that we know today. JUTA (Jamaica Union of Travelers Association) was formed shortly thereafter to serve the increasing transportation needs of the ever growing tourist industry.
The government has known since the 50's that the Jamaica Public Transportation would not be able to handle the various and growing needs of the tourists, thus the need for JUTA to exist. There are now other unions serving tourism needs in addition to JUTA (JCal and Maxi to name two) as the needs of the tourism industry grow.
So, JUTA and the other tourism taxi associations were designed with tourists in mind, not the island route taxi system. The local taxi system was designed for the local populace, although anyone on the island is free to take it. In fact, it is illegal for a driver to discriminate against anyone wanting a ride. And please note that the US Embassy recommends that their American staff avoid public transportation.
Tourists in Jamaica who choose to use the route taxies do so because they are reasonably priced. Why would I pay a private cab US $20 for a trip from the Negril beach to the cliffs when a route taxi only costs about US $2? JUTA and the other tour companies may be designed with tourists in mind but they're also designed to make money off tourists. It's been said on this board that the average Jamaican salary is about US $60 per week, so why does a one way, 75 minute trip from the airport to Negril cost the average weekly wage or more?
Not only has that been said here, it's the truth. For the average Jamaican, there will never be a need to go to the airport as they will never have the chance to leave the island on a plane.Quote:
Originally Posted by bksmm
What you take for granted is nothing but an impossible dream for the average Jamaican.
The local route taxi system is the only way the average Jamaican can afford to get to work or go shopping. It was not designed with tourists in mind.
and he is a great guy also. i always enjoy speaking to him
Do you know if a "route taxi" runs from Negril to Little London, and vice versa? Thanks.
Hey Rocknroll Farmer,
Yes, A route Taxi does go from Negril Taxi Park to Little London.
In fact, if you stay in it, you will go all the way to Sav La Mar.
I think it is $150J
And vice versa.
There is a wonderful Fried Chicken place in the Little London Square.
Thanks Markospoon. Our Jamaican family lives there. {we have know them for nine years now}. We also have gotten to know their neighbors as well. It is a highlight of our trip to go see our Jamaican family, to see the kids grow up etc. We have used regular taxi's etc. but sometimes it does get quite spendy.
I've just received a couple of private messages and wanted to emphasize...
All (legal) route taxis now look like the picture Rob provided in the original post...no ifs, ands or buts about it! :)
The law took effect April 1st of this year and all route drivers that had procrastinated making the changes to their vehicle have now been made compliant!
Legal route taxis have a checker board pattern and clearly defined route printed on the side of the taxi and a yellow taxi light on top of the vehicle.
Hi all, thanks for all the info. Now I want to clarify something that happened on my last trip. I was heading towards the lighthouse in the cliffs and a route taxi heading the opposite way was empty and he turned around to pick me up. Is he now a chartered taxi because he broke his route, or because technically his route is in the cliffs, he is still a route taxi? Just asking because I would guess that there would be a different fee structure if he broke his route and became a chartered taxi even though I'm along the route. Thanks in advance.
~Moose
Moose,
No matter what, it can be confusing as you didn't grow up using the system.
I am assuming here that you read on the taxi that it was indeed on its West End route. Since the route taxi was still on the route it remained a route taxi.
If you negotiated the fare, then the route taxi becomes a charter taxi. Technically they need to place a charter sign in the window so other potential passengers know that they won't be picked up. On a quick run this is rarely done.
Hi Rob,Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
Yeah.... this is where I totally went wrong. I assumed since it was a route taxi driving along the west end that it would indeed stay on it's route, and I'd get charged the 'route fare' even though he turned around. Now mind you this was from BCC to Pushcart, so not too far. I get in tell him Pushcart, and off we go. We get there, I give him a US $5 and start to get out and I hear "awww mon, can't you give me a better tip?" Wow, Ok so if this was $130J fare, I just gave you like a 400% tip. ok fine, maybe I chartered it and it was a bit more, I grab my wallet from my bag, grab another dollar and give it to him. Stick the wallet back in the bag (or so I thought) and get out and go into Pushcart. I'm sitting there enjoying my Red Stripe and the view when a worker comes up and asks "is this your wallet? I found it underneath the fence near the entrance. It had no money in it when I picked it up." :( I guess I didn't put it back in my bag, and it fell out either into the cab or on the sidewalk, someone picked it up, took the money out and tossed it. Lesson learned. Hope others can learn from my lesson as well.
~Moose
Moose...if he was actually a route taxi on his correct route (West End) as defined on the side of the vehicle...you should have given the route fare of 130j and rightfully expected change back from your $5us.
As someone living here...I would have known he was a West End route taxi and laughed and asked for my change.
If I had seen that it wasn't a West End route taxi...I would have known I was chartering and negotiated before I got into the vehicle.
These are some of the things that start to happen when you're using a system designed essentially for locals. If you've grown up with this system or use it regularly as someone living here it becomes second nature...but route vs charter can get very confusing for all parties involved including the taxi driver, as most expect that a foreigner is wanting an exclusive chartered taxi ride.
And, to add to the confusion...if that driver who picked you up was actually not on his route...it is illegal for him to act as a route taxi and would assume that you were chartering, as this is the only way he would be a legal taxi driver on someone else's route.
This is one of the reasons Rob recommends chartering a taxi rather than using a route...it can seem like a simple system but there is actually a learning curve...and not everyone should spend their vacation time having to figure it out!
:o
Here's one example of a complication.
Before I had the Feroza I would ride with Linston on personal business and we'd put the "off duty" sign in the window. After getting stopped by the police several times asking how he was "off duty" with a "tourist" in the car and having to explain and prove that we're related it just became easier to put the "chartered" sign in the window.
After that no stops for any reason ;)
Cap