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TRAVEL BLOG4.16.08
Are Cell Phones Killing the Tradition of Cabbies as Travel Guides and Cracker-Barrel Philosophers?
The best part of a taxi ride can be conversation with the driver, who I often count on for a nugget or two of insight into the city or some colorful tales, sometimes both. Alas, those kinds of experiences seem to be vanishing. Monica Hesse writes in a Washington Post story:
I wish cabbies would hang up the phone when they’re driving. Of course, they don’t have to talk to me—though after a ride and a good conversation, I tend to tip more. (I bet I’m not the only one.) But cell-phone-wielding drivers often violate local policies. Also, they do need to get passengers to their destinations in one piece, and talking on a cell phone while driving is a hazard. It’s a point Hesse brings up in her story, but only in passing. Cab drivers in D.C. are urged to pull over to talk on the phone, but they generally don’t. I’ve never seen it happen. My intent isn’t to turn this post into a cabbie-bashing session—I still come across drivers willing to talk and offer travel advice—so the last words go to Birhanu Gizaw, a driver quoted in the Washington Post story. He makes the excellent point that cell-phone intrusion goes both ways. “Sometimes passengers, they don’t even stop talking to tell me where to go,” he says. “They get annoyed that I’m not going but they don’t tell me where to go.”
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Photo by tinou bao, via Flickr (Creative Commons) Categories: Weblog • Global Village • Life of a Travel Writer • Page Turner 
Permalink • Comments (7)
COMMENTSMichael- I totally agree with you. From NYC to Mexico City, I’ve lately found myself saying “huh?” when I hear a cabbie muttering… and then, sadly, realize he wasn’t talking to me.
http://matadortravel.com/travel-blog/united-states/novoarte/washingtons-a-loser-a-perfect-loser By Julie on 4.16.08 at 08:20 PM
Great observation, Michael. First time I encountered this, my reaction was “omigod, let me outa here--the driver is talking to himself.” By on 4.17.08 at 04:45 AM
Just returned from Mexico, where I took at least a dozen taxi rides. Didn’t encounter one single cabbie on a cell. In fact, two cabbies tried to sell me coke. And another gave me the scoop on Cabo’s best whorehouses. The good old days are still out there. By on 4.17.08 at 10:14 AM
Indeed, Julie. I found myself in false conversations, too. Not one on a cell, TambourineMan? Excellent to hear. By on 4.17.08 at 02:00 PM
Glad to hear there are signs of hope, Julie and TambourineMan! I like the cabbie’s point at the end, too. During a recent stint on the 6am shift at a deli, I was surprised how many people expected me to make them breakfast without them putting their phones down to place an order. Sigh. Without wishing to sound too much like an 85-year-old, all too often technology is giving decency a serious beat-down these days. By Eva on 4.17.08 at 02:48 PM
Then there’s the other extreme, where your cabbie turns out to be a quiz-show host and you’re on tv:
By Marilyn Terrell on 4.18.08 at 01:50 AM
Michael, I have just written on taxis in Buenos Aires and Santiago from the drivers’ perspective at http://southernconeguidebooks.blogspot.com/2008/04/tale-of-two-cities-taxis.html By Wayne Bernhardson on 4.18.08 at 09:38 AM
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Sadly, I think so. During my recent travels to New Orleans, Austin and Los Angeles, I took eight cab rides. During two of them I barely said a word to the driver. Not because I didn’t want to, but because the cabbie was on his cell phone, yapping with someone else. I was annoyed by the chatter, but also deflated.
