On the Subject of Taxis....

[brasi]

After talking to a few Jamaican friends about this, now I can certainly testify to the fact that getting a ride to work is difficult for some Jamaicans. Many of them rely heavily on taking taxis (two or three legs) from as far as Sav to Negril, or MoBay to Lucea.

In some cases, late at night, or early in the morning. Being late definitely impacts their job security.

I know some of the airport shuttle services have agreements (I am not sure of the exact nature of these agreements) to pick up workers from the big resorts on their normal runs. This helps to cut down on the demand for inexpensive rides to and from work along the major artery between Mobay and Negril. This is a great idea in my opinion and fills empty seats...

(I ask a lot of questions...and on one of my recent reaches I shared a ride with two young uniformed workers at a large hotel...two stops before Lucea, let them both out at same super AI in Lucea. This struck me funny as I was in a PRIVATE charter...so I asked the driver...he told me...said he hopes it is ok...I said no problem mon).

What we tourists tend to forget is that for us, $300J savings for a ride to the beach is nice. For some Jamaicans, especially someone just starting in the workforce...these rides are critical to being employed.

I'm not saying I won;t ever take a route taxi. If they pull up and are empty maybe I am helping them make a living. But I am definitely more aware of this issue now. And I still think they should standardize fares.

The only reason not to standardize fares is because some/many people overpay...that's using the same deductive reasoning as Rob used above. It's the only logical conclusion why there are not meters in Jamaican cabs.

[smith744]

Getting Around Negril 101 [[ continued ]]

.
.

Route Taxi at Night (after sundown)
.

At dusk or dark I can't see if it is a red or white plate until it comes near. I don't recall if you've ever experienced not wanting to get in a particular red plate vehicle that pulls up after you have flagged them down.

I'm very familiar with
travel-ing via route-taxis at dusk/sundown, because I sleep in Lucea,
and commute regularly ---almost daily--- back & forth to Negril,

The approaching route-taxis will flash their headlights,
as a signal to potential passengers (standing roadside)
that they are available --with empty seat(s).

i like catching route-taxis at night/dusk,
because i don't need to raise my hand until i see the flicker-ing headlights

not a problem

if/when the route-taxi stops,
it's not unusual for the potential new-passenger
to peep inside the taxi,
and look-inside & eyeball the driver (and other passengers)
and decide to ride or not-ride

[smith744]

the public transportation bus stop is OUTSIDE the airport on the main road

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

that's not 100% accurate, mi fren

there IS a public transportation route-taxi pick-up point(s) inside the airport area

i've caught route route-taxis from the airport, *INSIDE* on a few occasions

[smith744]

tourists trying to save pocket change on a ride.

lol
lol
lol
lol

i so-love-love-LOVE your choice of words

lol
lol
lol

pocket-change for one person
might be real-money for another

for mi-personally,
like to apply that Jamaican-proverb/saying:::>>> "..every mickle, makes a muckle.."

i look-for and have NO problem picking-up a Jamaican $1.00 coin, or a USofA 1-cent piece
in fact, i'm a VERY-happy vacation-er whenever i find a Ja $1 coin

i'm not a '.big-man.' with long-pockets

so,
it's route-taxis all the time
everytime

[smith744]

Yesterday I was at the Corner Bar in order to count the number of taxis moving by there on the West End. In less than 8 minutes, I counted 13 route taxis and 5 charter taxis pass by

that's GREAT..!!...

*sounds*-like you-all doing REALLY good down-there, right-now
'cause yesterday was a Sunday,
and usually Sunday's are dead dead dead in Negril,
..with businesses closed, and less-workers in-town,
....and less route-taxis operating on Sunday's

i'm glad you-all are making a lot of money this high-season

[Rob]

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

that's not 100% accurate, mi fren

there IS a public transportation route-taxi pick-up point(s) inside the airport area

i've caught route route-taxis from the airport, *INSIDE* on a few occasions

There are no public transportation pick up locations near the arrival area for visitors coming to the island. There are some in the worker drop off areas as well as the shipping areas - but none where the arriving passengers exit the terminal. The previous government's plan was announced in October of 2011, but nothing came of this plan:

http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=32625

[smith744]

The current route taxi system in Jamaica was NOT DESIGNED WITH VISITORS TO THE ISLAND IN MIND
.

I don't know why,
but everytime i read this statement
the following flashes through my little feeble pea-brain::::>>> "...The United States Constitution was not designed with Colored-people in mind..."

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm
maybe 'cause it's BlackHistoryMonth eh

[smith744]

There are no public transportation pick up locations near the arrival area for visitors coming to the island.

not to split hairs,
but it depends on how you define *near*

for me,
it ain't *far*

'bout 1/2-block from the arrival-door

sometimes,
the route-taxi man will drive-pass the arrival-door
and will gladly stop
so passenger can hop in

ummmmmmmmmmmmmm
but that *drive-by* is *probably* "..not designed for the tourist/visitor/foreigner..."

he's probably driving-by,
to pick-up returning residents eh

[BrenJaLee]

I'm trying to remember the last time I got into a full taxi. If it is close to full, I will wave them on so as to not take a space away from a local. Most times, I'm the first or second in. And I can't remember the last time one was full before I got to my stop either. Never thought twice about being the first one in before. If I'm the first in, they almost always end up pitching me additional services - either taxi, tour or "personal". But once they know it's not my first time at the rodeo we usually just end up having fun conversation.

When I mentioned before about the angry reactions from the white plates, it was when I was on the road clearly flagging down a taxi but if it's after sunset, it's hard to tell if the plate is white or red until they are right there stopping. Then when I said no, a few have gotten a little hostile. This isn't late night, usually just after dinner going back to my hotel (maybe 7 p.m. or so).

[Rob]

lol
lol
lol
lol

i so-love-love-LOVE your choice of words

lol
lol
lol

pocket-change for one person
might be real-money for another

for mi-personally,
like to apply that Jamaican-proverb/saying:::>>> "..every mickle, makes a muckle.."

i look-for and have NO problem picking-up a Jamaican $1.00 coin, or a USofA 1-cent piece
in fact, i'm a VERY-happy vacation-er whenever i find a Ja $1 coin

i'm not a '.big-man.' with long-pockets

so,
it's route-taxis all the time
everytime

You can laugh and feign all you want regarding not being a "big man", but remember, in the eyes of the vast majority of Jamaicans - you are a big man. Many have seen you have multiple opportunities to fly to Jamaica. Those that havent know you have been able to fly there at least once. In comparison, the majority of Jamaicans will never be able to afford to fly anywhere in their life. Personally, I dont find this anything to laugh about...