The Advantages of Southern California Taxis

Traditionally, people are used to taxis as an indispensable way of negotiating the congested city streets. In large and crowded urban sprawls, such as NY and LA, life would simply grind to a halt without fleets of taxis, the lifeblood of urban transport. Taxis are the easiest way to travel from door to door without the stress of driving through traffic snarls, or risking the perils of public transportsystem.

Conversely, taxis suffer from this particular image, and they are commonly regarded as a useful commodity for city dwellers only. The inhabitants of small towns and the suburbs prefer the freedom of their own car, enjoying the liberty of traveling where and when they want to. Many people are so used to their car that they hardly ever use a cab, wrongly perceiving them to be dirty and expensive. In reality, this gritty image is unfair, and cabs have adapted to the modern world. Modern cabs are clean and new, the drivers professional and skilled.

The love affair with the automobile is drawing to a close, and people are starting to see cars as a burden, placing an unnecessary drain on stretched financial resources. In these turbulent economic times, families have to cut back on their expenditure, and attempt to make the paycheck stretch a little bit farther. Cars are not cheap, and the cost of paying off the loan, insurance, fuel, tax and maintenance adds up to a hefty monthly sum. Even the car-loving inhabitants of Long Beach and the SouthBay are feeling the financial pinch, and have started looking for alternatives. For a family with more than one vehicle, the extra cars have to go.

Few people wish to jettison the car completely, but owning only one vehicle can create its own problems. The kids want to drive and meet their friends whilst mom and dad want to go out. With only one vehicle, the potential for bitter family arguments and tantrums is huge. Naturally, people assume that getting rid of the auto means sacrificing some personal freedom, and becoming tied to a public transport timetable.

In reality, the opposite is true, and taxis can fill the gap. People are starting to realize that they can jettison the financial burden of owning a car without throwing away any freedom. A taxi fulfills all of the requirements of car ownership, but brings a few extra fringe benefits, creating a genuine win/win situation. Calling a cab provides freedom of movement without the burden of large payments.

The average cost of owning and running a car has risen, and an increase in the price of oil can seriously impact the family finances. Gasoline prices go up when the cost of oil increases, but never seem to fall, and running two or three cars has become too expensive for the average American family. Calling a cab is much cheaper, and provides transport anywhere in LA at a reasonable rate.

Matching the Demand

Taxis always suffered from a negative image, and too many people had tales of taxis being late, or not turning up at all. When they did finally arrive, the drivers were surly and uncooperative. This is a very old-fashioned image, belonging to 1980’s sitcoms, and modern taxi fleets are extremely efficient and professional.

As part of a policy encouraging drivers to leave the car at home, Southern Californian cities are implementing robust licensing schemes. These ensure that there are enough drivers to handle the peak demand, but not too many taxis overall, allowing the cabbies to make a living. Whatever time of day or night, you will not have to wait too long for a taxi and, if you book in advance, there is no worry about being late for a meeting or appointment.

The Environmental Benefits

Californian natives are all too aware of the harsh auto-emissions laws entering the statute books, which threaten to make driving a car more costly than ever before. If your car does not make the grade, then you have an expensive problem on your hands. Using Southern California taxis neatly circumnavigates this particular issue, and offers a few environmental benefits. Whilst the increased use of car-pooling is helping to keep traffic off the roads, and clear the notorious LA smog, it is not having enough impact. Sharing a taxi with friends or colleagues not only keeps cars off the road, but is also cheaper than you think. If four of you are going to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, instead of taking four vehicles, take one cab.

Public Transport in Southern California – Not for Everybody.

You may be lucky enough to live next to a bus stop, with another one outside your workplace at the other end. This is rare and, for anybody else, catching the bus means changing buses or walking. Although walking provides free exercise, it is not a great choice at night, or if you need to cross a bad neighborhood. If you need to go to the supermarket, or pick the kids up from football, the bus really is not an option. A taxi is a much safer bet.

Southern California Taxis – Supporting the Disabled Community

For some people, age, infirmity and disability mean that they cannot drive at all. Most taxi companies now provide specially modified vehicles, fitted with a ramp and high ceiling, allowing wheelchairs to be locked in place. The ramp also makes life easier for those with unsure footing.

Most Southern California taxi companies offer discounts for seniors and the disabled, and give special deals to frequent users. Many regular customers build up such a rapport with a particular driver that they insist upon booking that one every time. Professional cab drivers are happy to provide a personalized service, and they will help you carry your shopping to the door.

Enjoying a Night Out - Catch a Cab

Even for those amongst you who insist upon using a car for almost everything, there are some occasions where booking a taxi is the only sensible choice. This may seem to be a strange statement, but the taxi promises ultimate freedom, whereas a car can tie you down. For example, if you want to go out for a meal, or to watch the game, you want to savor a couple of glasses of Californian Zinfandel or sink a beer or three.

In these cases, you have only three choices.

The first is to take a chance and drive home but, apart from being the height of insanity and putting yourself and other innocent road users at risk, you will find eventually yourself in trouble with police. However many times you evade the law, the law will eventually catch up with you. Alternatively, you could injure or kill somebody, all because you insisted upon driving whilst under the influence. Drinking and driving does not seem to be such a good idea when the highway patrol take your license and give you a fine. If you need to drive as part of your profession, then the cost of a driving ban is even higher.

The second option is to try a designated driver scheme, where everybody takes their turn at driving everybody home. It sounds great, in theory, but there are a few problems with this. The designated driver cannot drink, which is a drag if everybody else is having a great time, and is consigned to a dull night. If there are a few of you, the driver will have to cover many miles, which is not a great end to a night out. That applies, of course, if you are enjoying a night out with a group of friends. If you and your partner are going out, and one of you has to remain sober, that is an argument waiting to happen.

Finally, you could just call a cab. You will be picked up from your home, chauffeured to your destination and then be driven home, with no hassle or risk. A taxi costs less money than you think and, if a group of you lives fairly close to each other, the cab driver will be happy to make a multi-drop, splitting the cost.

If you travel into LA for work and recreation, a taxi is an even better option than driving your car. You do not have to fight the traffic, and you can read a newspaper and listen to your I-Pod, letting the driver concentrate on his or her job. Driving in the city can be an extremely stressful experience, so let a professional get on with it.

Driving into the city has another downside, and that is the parking. Either you drive around looking for a spot to park, usually a long way from your destination, or you pay extortionate fees in a car park. The cost of this mounts up and, added to the gas wasted sitting in gridlock, means that the taxi will save you money.

Until last year, Los Angeles was not as cab friendly as New York, and it was very difficult to hail a cab in certain parts of the city. A relaxation of the anti-congestion laws means that cabbies can pick up fares in red zones or double park. These new rules will also ensure that cabbies are more prepared to pick up short journeys, without having to worry about joining the back of the queue at the taxi rank.

Whilst LA is not as well served with taxis as NY, this is slowly changing as travelers realize the benefits of taking a cab. As the number of fares increases, the price will drop and will soon be as cheap as the in the cab-savvy Big Apple.

For those just visiting LA, renting a car at the airport is an option, but the main problem is negotiating the traffic and the tangle of roads. When you do not know the city, it is all too easy to get lost whilst trying to read a map and look out for road signs. An LA Taxi from the airport is flat rate, about $40, and will take you to the door of your hotel, with no stress.