Taxi Rates

[Bnewb]

FIRST...
All I did was point out the facts!
It should be quite obvious that the local route taxi fare is based on the wages here in Jamaica...read what I wrote above...$60.00us weekly average salary...I don't know anybody that makes that wage & travels.

If this is the case, why not come out with a 2-tier rate then...one for the "locals" and one for the "tourist"...that way this debating about what to pay for the taxi can be eliminated. And if the driver don't want our "tourist" butt in his route taxi then stop honking at us and move on....

As Luvjabd said...there is a 2-tier rate...route vs charter.

.....and dont worry Dana, that driver DOES want our tourist butt in his taxi! Trust me, the route taxi driver is NOT the one complaining about tourists being in his taxi - especially since tourists tip!!!!

Why would the driver complain when he gets the same amount either way & may also get a tip from the tourist.

The person that may complain is the person that doesn't get picked up...
ie. the way a Mother might feel who just got off work & has to get home to feed her children...sees a route taxi filled with tourists & not able to get a seat...

newbe, where do you get these facts? . . . are they written somewhere? . . . why should i pay more as a "tourist"? i'm supporting the jamaican economy, the local driver should be good with filling his vehicle with whomever requires the service, whether that be local of foreigner . . . just my 2 cents worth . . .

What do you mean where do I get these facts? Of course they're written! You can find when JUTA was established & why and what the average tourist based employee makes very easily on the internet...GOOGLE works wonders.


Again...it's JUST the facts/information I offered...not speculation...and not an argument from me whether you pay 100J ($1.15us) for a taxi or not!!

[rastagirl777]

"it is a misconception for anyone to think it was created for visitors & local population alike...that was never the intention. "
While I'm not familiar with the whole route taxi history - remember when I first started coming to Negril there were way fewer cars on the road in general - I always looked at like a public transportation type thing - not something that was "designed" for locals as opposed to chartered taxis for tourists. Its just that not many tourists knew about route taxis and like me, who at that time was vacationing in Negril for 2-3 weeks, was turned on to the system by a friend who was a resident of Negril.

I've never felt badly about using the route taxi system and I never will. I rather enjoy it. My first preference is always to walk as far as I can, but if I need to hit the market or go downtown, a route taxi is the most efficient and inexpensive way for me to get there.

[Dana1]

The person that may complain is the person that doesn't get picked up...
ie. the way a Mother might feel who just got off work & has to get home to feed her children...sees a route taxi filled with tourists & not able to get a seat...

Most "tourist" would have the common sense and the empathy to let the "local" take the taxi and would wait for the next one to come along wouldn't they? I know there have been several times that we have been waiting for a taxi at the same time one of our resort's staff would be waiting for her ride home to her family after a long day's work. Of course, we let her take the first ride that came along while we waited for another. That logic still does not justify a different fee for us "tourist" though.