Tuesday 9 June 2009

Never more than a couple of minutes away



Five years ago, there was never one around when you wanted one. Maybe it is just that I live on the airport corridor. The drivers are more knowledgeable and friendlier and the vehicles are cleaner and more comfortable.

Yesterday, a driver (with a young family) was saying that the GFC has decimated his takings over the last two months - mainly because CabCharge is not being taken up by businesses.

This is taken along George Street near the intersection of Park Street - the premier block of the city, adjacent to the Town Hall.

8 comments:

lavenderlady said...

I'm not sure what cabcharge is, but I like your photos.

That is the chicken said...

I always talk to cab drivers. They are often immigrants with an interesting take on the state of the country.
I love cab rides in the dark...usually to or from airports...somehow they are the punctuation round my journeys...adventure or home, beginning or end. Cool shots!

AB said...

I like the first shot with the blurred lights in the background. But I cannot help wondering what the dark square thing is on the left next to the T in Taxi. It looks like another red light that is not turned on. It must have some significance to the cab-riding citizens of Sydney.

Julie said...

uummm ... I actually have no idea!
It isn't on all of them either.

But I must admit to not fully understanding how taxi lights work, even though I probably take a taxi ride twice a week. The sign is lit, dully lit or off. Off generally means there is already a passenger in the taxi. But what distinguishes the other two states eludes me.

Let's see if anyone else knows ... if not, I will ask my children who are the font of all wisdom!

Shaun said...

Aaaahhhh, the warmth and silence of the cab after being out on the town. Legs aching, tiredness starting to set in, slightly stale smell of hundereds of people sitting there before you... something unpleasant and comforting at the same time...

Joan Elizabeth said...

I have only ever noticed as light on or off. 'Light on' means vacant in Sydney but the opposite in Melbourne. At least that is what I think having tried to flag down occupied taxis in Melbourne.

In general I find taxis in Sydney available when I need one. In Canberra it can be a different story.

Julie said...

As I crawled through the city traffic this evening, I looked at the light on as many taxis as possible. I think that maybe that little black box thing is some form of transformer that enables the light on the roof to work from the battery of the car. Dunno ...

brattcat said...

What an interesting discussion of taxis. And what great shots, Julie. We have only a handful of taxis here in Brattleboro . Their wacky looking...nothing like these. I've taken many of this sort of taxi in NY city and to and from airports and I agree about talking with taxi drivers...you learn so much. I also agree about that unpleasant/comforting sensation of sitting back in a taxi.