Sunday May 27, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

In your experience, which city's taxi drivers are the worst in the world?

Have Your Say Jul. 29, 2011 - 05:09AM JST ( 25 )

Order by Time Order by Popularity

25 Comments

1

ihavegreatlegsJul. 29, 2011 - 08:05AM JST

Istanbul
-6

Pukey2Jul. 29, 2011 - 08:10AM JST

For not knowing where the hell they're going, for needing you to tell them which way to go:

Pick any city in Japan like Tokyo or Yokohama (my experience)

.

For the most expensive ride:

Pick any in Japan.

.

For giving you a heart attack in the way they drive and how fast they drive:

Pick one in China - my experience: Shanghai

.

For not understanding the local language:

I hear it's NYC. Not sure about this though.
4

KwaabishJul. 29, 2011 - 09:14AM JST

For not understanding the local language:

I hear it's NYC. Not sure about this though.

You're quite correct. You can add LA and Chicago too. All of those cities are full of cabbies that can't speak English and drive around in old hand-me-down ex-police cruiser Crown Victorias (which are falling apart) while feverishly chatting away on their cell phones.

Makes Japanese Taxis with well dressed, white gloved drivers in clean cabs seem like heaven.
1

RecklessJul. 29, 2011 - 09:30AM JST

I haven't traveled that broadly, but I say Philadelphia. Last time I was there on business and taking cabs daily all of the cab drivers were Nigerian immigrants and they floored the car at every opportunity.

After that, I would say Hong Kong was pretty bad. For some reason the wife feels super safe in JP taxi and feels no need to buckle up.
-1

FoxieJul. 29, 2011 - 09:57AM JST

Istanbul for sure. They race like hell and you always get ripped off. I only take taxis at an official taxi stand there nowadays and make a deal with the guy working in the taxi office before taking a taxi. It is a real shame because otherwise Istanbul is such a great city.
1

jianadarenJul. 29, 2011 - 10:06AM JST

Beijing.
1

KronosJul. 29, 2011 - 10:17AM JST

In Istanbul you have to take a cab with a meter. If the cab driver negotiates, just walk away. Otherwise you will get ripped off. Also the drivers in Istanbul are pretty bad overall so cabbies are no exception.

I would say Bangkok though. I was not happy with New York drivers as well.
2

ExportExpertJul. 29, 2011 - 11:11AM JST

Used taxis in a number of countrys but id have to say New Zealand/Auckland city taxis are pretty bad , often immigrant drivers who live in the cab, they stink dont understand the language are rude and keep their belongings in the trunk.

Taxis are all old clunkers too as no money in the industry now for them to afford a decent car.

Sounds unbelivable but i have experienced this more than once when returning there, used to be great once but has deteriorated badly.

Next Id say Hong Kong is pretty bad for rude drivers who provide no service and dont understand simple directions.

Taxis in the States have no leg room in the back due to the bullet proof protection between the driver and the back seat.

However I must add Japanese taxis and their drivers are amongst the best in the world, cabs are always very clean and drivers usually polite and offer great service, Ive never really had trouble with them not knowing where to go specially now they all have navi, (well unless it was stolen by the yakusa recently LOL)
1

FoxieJul. 29, 2011 - 11:28AM JST

Kronos, they even rip you off with a meter in Istanbul, that's why I negotiate the price beforehand. I only had good experiences in Japan, drivers are very friendly and always got me where I wanted to go without making detours. The cars are also very clean plus I like the little presents like tissues with coffee and Lipton fruit teabags.
1

ExportExpertJul. 29, 2011 - 11:30AM JST

And i back up my claim about New Zealand taxi drivers with this headline in the NZ news today coincidently - Taxi driver abandons blind, autistic man in wrong suburb

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10741640
1

Spidapig24Jul. 29, 2011 - 11:34AM JST

Melbourne has some shocking drivers, they take the long way around, their rude, they stink, and most of them cant speak english let alone driver worth a damn.
2

KronosJul. 29, 2011 - 11:41AM JST

Foxie, I would agree that Japan has the best cabs I have seen as well.
-4
jianadarenJul. 29, 2011 - 12:33PM JST

Kronos

Foxie, I would agree that Japan has the best cabs I have seen as well.

I disagree. The drivers are usually OK, but the cab itself is tiny. Nothing beats a London taxi.
- ModeratorJul. 29, 2011 - 12:52PM JST
  
  The question asks you which country you think has the worst taxi drivers, not the best. Please stay on topic.
0

Matthew HumphreysJul. 29, 2011 - 01:42PM JST

Simply Belfast.
2

lucabrasiJul. 29, 2011 - 01:59PM JST

Rio de Janeiro. Bunch of hypocritical thieves with their little Virgin Marys and Jesuses on the dashboard.
6

pawatanJul. 29, 2011 - 02:36PM JST

I could list many places in South America, but I think I will go with Rio de Janeiro. Tricked meters that overcharge, lethal driving habits. I had one who refused to turn on his headlights because he wanted to save gas, and forget stopping at red lights.

I think anyone who suggests Japan as the worst needs to travel a bit more.
4

PigletJul. 29, 2011 - 03:41PM JST

Taxi rides in China can indeed give you an heart attack! In Guangzhou, many drivers are immigrants from other provinces who don't know very well the city and drive like crazy on the rapid road system. Local roads in the countryside are even worse (no road signs, traffic mixing up cars and farmers carts, animals and pedestrians...)
5

timeonJul. 29, 2011 - 06:13PM JST

Since I just returned from a business trip in Shanghai, I still wonder how comes I'm still alive. Those taxi drivers are completely insane! And beware the illegal taxis. I didn't have such a bad experience in Turkey (not Istanbul though). The worst thieves are for sure the Greek taxi drivers (3 years ago, hopefully things changed). They didn't want to take us unless we could find other passenger(s) for the same route, to charge twice/trice for the same meter. The locals told us that's the custom... We almost didn't make to the airport!
3

OsakadazJul. 29, 2011 - 09:18PM JST

Beijing, Xián, Sydney..
1

BurakuminDesJul. 29, 2011 - 09:36PM JST

Sydney has got to be up there - most of them are a bunch of smelly non-english speakers with dangerous cars. Some are even unlicensed. You can be guaranteed they will NEVER take you direct to your destination.
0

wpgbhoyAug. 01, 2011 - 08:04PM JST

Columbia...
0

chuckbelloAug. 01, 2011 - 11:40PM JST

NYC.
0

AsagaoAug. 05, 2011 - 09:28AM JST

Manila.
0

prettyflyforahentaiAug. 09, 2011 - 01:06PM JST

Hong Kong was pretty bad.

But I reckon Melbourne is awful. Drivers who don't speak English or use deodorant, have no idea where they're going, drive recklessly (even by the infamous standards of taxi drivers worldwide) and refuse to let you in the cab unless you're going out to the airport!