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Time Magazine - no end to Vegas Taxi long hauling

Discussion in 'Getting There & Getting Around' started by Vegasstar33, Feb 27, 2014.

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  1. Vegasstar33

    Vegasstar33 Tourist

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  2. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    If it made a national news magazine, hopefully someone will take it seriously now.
     
  3. weluvvegas

    weluvvegas Casino Countess

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    Wow. 22.5%...considering the number of people coming to Vegas, that is a huge number. Stop the madness!!
     
  4. CFioren317

    CFioren317 Low-Roller

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    This line is truly a disgrace...

    "Undercover officers also took rides in taxis and were long hauled with astonishing frequency, roughly one out of every three trips."

    Really? Then WTF are they doing about it????? If 1/3 of COPS are getting long-hauled you would think somebody there would wake the hell up and do something about it. I don't want to hear about the "cab lobby". Seriously?

    I got long-hauled my last trip and it was only because I was rally tired and not paying attention and the guy took me from Venetian the longest way I have ever seen and tried to charge me almost $40 for my fare. I had $25 out, which was what I expected with a decent tip. That's all he got. When he looked funny at me, I just gave him a stare and walked away. I'm a fairly big guy so maybe he just backed off or whatever. Or maybe he realized since we were actually at the airport, he wouldn't have a leg to stand on if he tried to complain. Either way, as the article says, it really did leave a bad taste in my mouth for that trip. It likely made it so I will rent a car whenever I go from now on. My next trip in 3 weeks I am renting a full size for $100 total for 4 days. Far better deal than taxis and shuttle buses.
     
  5. pebbles

    pebbles Micro Roller.

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    Our first trip last year was the absolute worst for us.

    Got in the cab, Eastern European woman driver, told her "we are frequent visitors take A to B to our destination; No tunnel." Her reply was " you've had a long flight, I'll get you there as quickly as I can. " I repeated my instructions, she ignored them. Once I was sure she was heading for the tunnel, I repeated my instructions and snapped a mobile pic of her licence. Just for the complaint, you know.

    She had a fit! Really kicked off on us. "You think I am a criminal, you think I am cheating you, you think I don't understand your language. I can't be your driver because you hate me. Etc, etc, etc." She did a loop and took us back to the airport, jumped out and screamed blue murder at the cab line guys that we were angling for a free trip to the strip. They removed our bags, put them in the next cab (who had seen the scene) and asked him to take us to our destination. The charge on her meter when she dropped us back at the airport was $19.30. Our final tab was $14.60 before tip.

    I still don't know what she was thinking.

    Last trip, we got a shuttle. Can't cope with that shit after at +10 hour flight.
     
  6. WHIVGOYTUBE

    WHIVGOYTUBE MIA

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    I have read responses like this one, over and over again. And it makes me wonder if the Car Rental industry is ALSO... "IN ON IT" and does not want this abuse to stop.

    I think the whole Cab / Car Rental industry in Vegas is one massive racket, and nothing is ever going to change when palms are getting greased. :snore:

    Just reality speaking here.

    And how many palms are greased every time the topic of extending the monorail to the Airport (and Downtown) is brought back on the council's agenda. It ends with a quick squish! :nono:

    I have been reading this same old topic over too many years, and it appears with each new year, the cabs are getting even more aggressive about it. I get the impression they just don't care anymore what you think.

    Now they get pissed at you when you call them out on it :cuss:.... REALLY! :hmmm: Assholes!

    I believe it is a well known FACT the Monorail extension(s) would financially save the Monorail's low ridership problem. :poke: But those FEW PALMS getting greased, end up with the MASSES getting SCREWED!

    Just like the way Big Government works! :stir:

    Nothing is ever going to change when money this BIG is involved, so just get over it, period!

    Just have your game on, before you step in or place luggage in the cab!

    Sure is a nice way to start (or end) your Vacation. :banana: Welcome to Las Vegas! This is Vegas Baby! Disgusting... :vomit:
     
  7. RiddickBull

    RiddickBull VIP Whale

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    Know your routes and don't tip the driver if they take longer routes.
     
  8. AndyAkeko

    AndyAkeko Time magazine's 2006 Person of the Year

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    You'd hope so, but Time isn't the giant it once was. The only thing I could I possibly see moving the needle would be an 60 Minutes exposé, and they probably have bigger fish to fry. (Dateline NBC could be all over this though. Is Dateline NBC still a thing?)
     
  9. merlin

    merlin MIA

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    Quite frankly, no one is going to come to the rescue and save us from those cheating cabbies. If you're gonna take a cab, be prepared to stand up for yourself, tell em exactly what you want and if they dont do it then you dont pay them anything. Too many people are afraid of a scene, afraid of "ruining" their trip, you're not going to ruin anything, you're gonna feel great about your trip, knowing you started out strong and confident.
     
  10. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    This article does what the local press always fails to do: Point out the control the cab companies have over the Taxi Authority. Any cabbie could tell you that but the LVRJ won't. It's fair to also call out the cab companies influence for slowing down progress on public transit options that would compete but the reality is that no one is going to support that because they would actually have to pay some sort of tax to get it done. It's not something you can just raise tourist taxes to get built.

    However, I haven't seen any evidence that the cab companies have any political influence. I doubt they wanted to all get moved offsite and I would bet they aren't thrilled that projects like Smith Center are being funded though taxes on car rentals. They are just benefiting from the market segment that know about the cab company shenanigans and who won't make time for it. And honestly, if the monorail was extended to the airport, I wouldn't use it. People who rent cars are doing it to get all over quickly. There would have to be an really nice and extensive light rail system all over the city to get me to consider not renting a car. And most places out West just don't get why something like that could be helpful to the population.
     
  11. merlin

    merlin MIA

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    Rail systems are generally a pipe dream and a money pit, except in areas with very high traffic in a small concentrated area,...sorta like vegas. A simple rail line of what , maybe 8 miles from the airport , up the strip and to downtown, now that would make sense as well as money.
     
  12. user3657

    user3657 VIP Whale

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    On my last trip I was getting nervous about the time and was told the shuttle had just left to go to the airport. I seen another couple hanging out so I asked them if they wanted to split a taxi, they refused saying on the way there the bill was almost 50$.

    Dont know if that was the real reason but I did have a fare from the airport one time of low 40$.

    Some of the guys are a rip off.
     
  13. user3657

    user3657 VIP Whale

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    If they were smart they should of built something before any of the shuttles existed.

    If they built something now I cant imagine it not being profitable! I wonder the costs of building a rail system vs a monorail above everything -a direct line needing less track.

    There is argument if the current monorail was worth it... If you ask me the thing is not marketed and if they build another to the airport if that is not marketed that will not be as successful as it could be.
     
  14. ChickenBone Jones

    ChickenBone Jones Low-Roller

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    I was talking to a cabbie on my last trip and he made an interesting point about the number of medallions on the road that lead to fewer trips per cab and thus pressure to long haul. He said his theory is that the cab companies ad revenue is driving the "too large" fleets. I'd never thought about that.
    Incidentally took 4 cabs that trip, airport to Monte Carlo and back, and monte Carlo to golden gate and back. All cabbies were friendly and no long hauls.
     
  15. Viva Las Vegas

    Viva Las Vegas Elvis has left the building

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    The corrupt cab industry can be summarized in 24 seconds.

    [YOUTUBE]3XGAmPRxV48[/YOUTUBE]
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2014
  16. Boogaloo

    Boogaloo Low-Roller

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    The current monorail is pretty clearly a failure, but if they could extend it to the airport I'm reasonably confident it would be a success.

    I would certainly use it every time, since it could take me directly to my home casino (MGM Grand).
     
  17. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    You're probably correct, as would be the potential for a downtown connector as well... I guess the problem is, where do you find the money to do either or both given the current financial condition of the project?
     
  18. CalifLovesVegas

    CalifLovesVegas High-Roller

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    Wasn't there a Cabbie-Blockade when they wanted to extend
    monorail service to the airport? lol

    I got fed up with cabbies, a few years ago and been exclusively
    rental cars (or my own car) ever since.
    Usually you can get a rental car for your whole stay, for what it would cost you for a few cab rides. I like the freedom too, and go exploring when I'm in town. And if I want to make a quick trip to M, or RR, or GVR? No prob.
     
  19. CalifLovesVegas

    CalifLovesVegas High-Roller

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    Wasn't there a Cabbie-Blockade when they wanted to extend
    monorail service to the airport? lol

    I got fed up with cabbies, a years ago and been exclusively
    rental cars (or my own car) ever since.
    Usually you can get a rental car for your whole stay, for what it would cost you for a few cab rides. I like the freedom too, and go exploring when I'm in town. And if I want to make a quick trip to M, or RR, or GVR? No prob.
     
  20. CalifLovesVegas

    CalifLovesVegas High-Roller

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    Wasn't there a Cabbie-Blockade when they wanted to extend
    monorail service to the airport? lol

    I got fed up with cabbies, years ago and been exclusively
    rental cars (or my own car) ever since.
    Usually you can get a rental car for your whole stay, for what it would cost you for a few cab rides. I like the freedom too, and go exploring when I'm in town. And if I want to make a quick trip to M, or RR, or GVR? No prob.
     
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