It sounds like you already know what to consider for you're transportation costs as would any experienced visitor. My best guess would be that the typical casual visitor isn't hopping taxi's all day.Originally Posted by SweetSue
It sounds like you already know what to consider for you're transportation costs as would any experienced visitor. My best guess would be that the typical casual visitor isn't hopping taxi's all day.
Blue Cave Castle '12, '13 '14 '15 '16 Catcha Falling Star '13 Boardwalk Village '14 '15
This is sheer economic nonsense. How can more riders, local or tourist, on a 'route' taxi not "cover" it? Is your argument that the incremental weight of a north american tourist is so great as to upset the fuel mileage so much that the 100J fare won't cover the additional fuel used for this fare? For a 'route taxi' to maximize his profit potential per 'route' run, his goal is to keep his taxi as full as possible for as long as possible. Empty space = lost fare/lost profit opportunity. Therefore, the taxi would want to fill itself and is not concerned with whom it fills its capacity with, as long as they pay!
And, as to the argument that a worker returning home after a hard day at work having to wait for the next route taxi because the last one was full up with pasty white faces is somehow harmed by the pasty faced tourists using the route taxis......my thoughts are that the worker is glad to see that there are enough tourists in town that the route taxis are full of them. That means that economy is doing better and that worker's job is that much more secure. If I was a worker coming off this summer's economic hell in JA, I'd be well pleased to see route taxis crammed with tourists.
"Enjoy Every Sandwich"-Warren Zevon
Has anyone ever taking a route taxi/bus from the MoBay parking lot as well as the one in Sav and Falmouth ??? They will NOT leave until the vehicle is filled to capacity and then some...They could care less if your a local, tourists, etc..they're just glad another body to fill it up and fill it up Now...
" Ones destination is never a place, but rather a new way of looking at things." (Henry Miller)
Why dont the charters have a set rate?? (which of course could be open to negotiation depending on the trip you request) Ie, charters have a set rate for set routes..Mid-beach to mid-cliffs, etc?? maybe that would prevent some of the obvious fleecing and plain confusion that the tourists (who are suppose to use them)
have to deal with and thus keeps them away from using them in the first place( and also getting out and about and spending money in other areas of the local economy)..If their MEANT for the tourists then why not have a set rate that tourists can depend on in regards to certain and most frequently used routes that Tourists use???? Why not make them more "Tourists friendly" ???
Last edited by suzengrace; 02-04-2012 at 03:58 AM.
" Ones destination is never a place, but rather a new way of looking at things." (Henry Miller)
I know this thread has gone on for 8 pages so far, but could someone explain to me how the route taxis work for a newbie to the game....Do you just flag down a car driving on the road?....will they go where you ask or just run a "route" that you get out when you can? ...Flat rates for riding or negotiated?....very interested if someone could share
Charters don't have set rates because, by their nature, they are private carriages and can set their rates at what the market will bear. If you don't like the rate, use a route taxi, or don't whine about the fare! At least they aren't metered. Wait, you say, meters are good, they keep the cabbie honest. Feh, they charge you 2.50 for the privilege of dropping the flag, then charge you in 1/10th mile increments, and has a timer that adds fare for long stops at lights, etc...Thus, if its is raining in STL and i want a cab to go one mile, it will set me back almost 5 bucks for 8 blocks, FFS! I'd rather negotiate, I am a free market economy type of guy....for five bucks, i can go r/t from the 7mile to HalfMoonBeach, including a generous tip! Metered cabs are only good for the metered cab, not the public. Why do you think there are almost as many gypsy cabs in NYC as licensed cabs? No meters!
"Enjoy Every Sandwich"-Warren Zevon
The route taxis have a pre determined route that they take. Either the beach road to the roundabout (middle of town) or the cliff road to the round about. A route taxi says that it it a route taxi on the side of the car and gives its rates, usually about 100j. No matter where you get in on his route thats what you pay. You can flag one down but usually they slow down and honk to see if you need a ride. Always ask to make sure they are charging you the 100j per person before you get in. The route taxi will stop on its way to pick up as many fares as he can fit in so you might be riding with a few other people. Sometimes if you ask they will take you somewhere else for more money but mostly they just run their route. So basically if you are staying on the beach and want to get to the cliffs, you hop in and go to the roundabout for 100j per person, get out and hop in another and it is another 100 j per person to the cliffs. Or if you are just going to the store you get out at the round about, do your stuff and catch another route taxi back.
Thanks, Prism....that clarifies things a bit for me...I remember reading/hearing years back..."Whatever you do, don't get in the red plate cars, they aren't insured like the tour operators"....well, I figure that ANY tragic event/accident would be something one doesn't want to experience in Jamaica be it a car wreck or a cliff accident....but, we just have to be mindful of our surroundings best we can....I'm just looking to be able to continue our yearly visit to Negril w/out paying for the pricey A/I...(just can't afford it anymore)...We will have to learn as we go, and take in all the advice we can, as well as remember any teachable moments we experience.
No actually you do want to get in the red plate cars. They are insured and licenced. If it is a car with white plates it is just a guy trying to pick you up for money. So use the Red plates.
I'm a little confused by this? The problem with the free market approach to taxi rides is that the uneducated consumer likely doesn't know what the fair market value of ride is creating an environment of confusion and suspicion that is ripe for the exploitation of some. This is not nessarrily good for business. You're suggestion is to use what is essentially a metered regulated service for better rates. If you're a free market guy then why are you suggesting someone uses the more regulated route taxi system? Also, the gypsy cabs in NYC have nothing to do with the meters and everything to do with the higher overhead costs associated with operating a legal licensed cab. Gypsy cabs in NYC are the equivalent to white plate "taxis" which exists in large numbers in Negril absent any metered cabs. I would'nt suggest a tourist use a gypsy cab in NYC anymore then a white plate in Negril.
It seems to me there is a market for all of the services being discussed. Route taxi's as the cheap public transportation option. Metered cabs for short private transport and chartered rides to meet all other needs. This way the metered service is setting the fair market value rather then the public transportation option as is the case today. All 3 services can still be offered by one driver. If you ask for local fare then you're going to get dropped off at the end of the route if you didn't get off sooner. If you ask for a metered ride you're going to pay the metered fare when you reach your destination. Maybe you want to make a few stops with signifigant idle time etc. In this case you negotiate a chartered ride which would likely be cheaper then paying for metered idle time and/or easier then catching a new cab after each stop to shop, bank, eat or whatever.
Blue Cave Castle '12, '13 '14 '15 '16 Catcha Falling Star '13 Boardwalk Village '14 '15
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