Tampa Taxi Shots

Tampa Bay Economy Recovering

The economy in Tampa seems to be making a comeback, at least the tourist economy. There has been an improvement that is noticeable. Events and conventions seemed to be lined up well into the spring. These are all good signals. In 2008 when the economy collapsed there was no hope. There were no good days; all days were bad. Hope was gone; the suffering was on. I mean that. The tourist economy reached a flat line and it was going to take years to recover. 

Weekends are now rocking and rolling. The expansion of the cruise industry has been a benefit for us. Tourist are now calling United Cab from many hotels for rides to the port. This is something they were not doing in the last three years. Multiple trips on Saturday and Sunday can be expected. 

Now that our GPS dispatch system is working well, we are getting our regular riders back. The business people that use us to go to the airport in the early mornings are coming back. They had left us last year. Now, when they call for a cab, one shows up. 

I talk to people that work in the hotels and they say advance bookings are way up and they are full through March. Major conventions are booking now through the Republican National Convention in August 2012. 

I am knocking on wood becasue I may now get my life back and stop living like life was on hold.

A Drunk and a Bad Tampa Cop

The alley where it happened

I got what we call a 'TPD' call this morning around 4:45 am. called in by operator 49. I hate these calls; they are mostly trouble. What a TPD call is when the police decide they are not going to arrest someone and they turn their problem over to the taxi driver. Things can go downhill quick. Often, the fare has no money. That is why you must get the money up front with the cop watching.  It is not unusual for them to go to an ATM, so make sure to go to the nearest one. 

The guy this morning was driving an SUV and had been pulled over behind the AT&T store at Dale Mabry and Henderson. The guy was very drunk but for some reason the cop was not going to arrest him. That really pissed me off. I have  often received tickets because my tire was two inches in the wrong direction or I was going ten MPH over the speed limit as I tried to keep a drunk from throwing up in the back seat. These cops HAD NO PROBLEM in giving me a ticket. They cost me money, time and inconvenienced me. I resent what they have done to me. 

I believe this guy was somebody of power and the blond haired, muscular cop was cutting him a break. That is just wrong. I have no real idea, however, how they decide to give anyone a break. 

I took the guy to the bank and he got forty bucks (which he gave me as a tip). I then, took him back to his car, as he requested. The cop was gone. He said he was going to call his girlfriend to come and get him. I doubt that. I left him there. 

I should not, and will not do work for the Tampa Police Department. If this guy subsequently killed someone, it would be the blond cops ass not mine.

Taxi Medallions Outperform Stocks, Oil and Gold In New York

Taxi medallions are now being traded on the stock exchange

A taxi medallion recently sold for over one million dollars in New York City. There is a reason for that and it underscores how the dynamics are so different in New York that to try and bring that to Tampa would be foolish, for the drivers. There is a year round demand for thousands of cabs in New York. Taxicabs are a vital part of the city's infrastructure. They are not in Tampa. Read this article from Bloomberg and you will see how investors will eventually own every damn medallion there is. The hack will still remain poor.

The surging price of New York’s taxi medallions and their promise of steady cash flows have sparked investor interest in the licenses and bolstered shares of a company that finances their purchase to a four-year high.

Investors are pooling funds to buy the six-inch-wide aluminum disks affixed to the hoods of cabs after two of them sold for a record $1 million each last month, said Andrew Murstein, president of Medallion Financial Corp. (TAXI) Shares of the New York-based firm have climbed 17 percent since the Oct. 19 sale, compared with a 6.4 percent gain for the Russell 2000 Financial Services Index.

“A lot of people have been loading up recently on medallions because they think it’s a safe asset,” Murstein said in an interview last month. The New York-based company owns about 300 medallions and plans to buy “several hundred more” in New York and other cities, he said. “These are little cash cows, constantly taking in fares and spitting out money to the owners.”

A regulated supply has helped taxi permits outgain equities, oil and gold for the past two decades. With New York City unemployment at about 9 percent for over a year, more drivers will fill shifts and pay garages to drive cabs, giving medallion owners a profit of about $2,500 a month, said Simon Greenbaum, a broker at NYC Medallion Brokers Inc. That’s about a 3 percent return for a $1 million medallion.

via www.bloomberg.com

The video states that taxi cabs are a vital part of the New York city infrastructure. Taxis are not that vital in the Tampa Bay area. They seem to be the transportation of last resort. The culture is very different down here. That is why having a medallion system in Tampa is madness. Eventually, the rich people will own them and have even more power over the little hack.

Taxi Business Picking Up for United Cab Of Tampa

The Westshore Marriott Tampa

For the first time in years I have spent a weekend without the wheels of my taxi stopping (I have been able to get my internet back up). There are some reasons for this.

I think the tourism that has been lacking since the economic collapse in 2008 is now coming back. I also believe that the new computer dispatch system we use makes us more efficient then any other cab company in Tampa. I have told people to call 911 and then call us, and we will get there first. That is good.

If things continue like this, I should be able to get my life back in order. I am so far behind. I hope it is not just a good weekend. Hell, like I said, I have not seen one of them in years. The Super Bowl was good in 2009, but you would expect that.

I am also working the hotels more because that is where the people who have money and credit cards are staying. You can work the old ladies at the grocery stores, or work people who may really be going somewhere.

Tampa Bay Bucs Football May Sell out for A Monday Night Game?

The best situation for a Tampa taxi driver is a sold out stadium. You simply get more action. More people go to the games and more people go to the sports bars to watch on television because the games are not blacked out. Cab drivers can make more money. That is what it is all about. 

I also believe the more any product is put in front of a possible customer base, the more tickets they will sell in the future. Success feeds on itself. The best thing about the Buccaneers going to London this season, is that game counts as a home game and it will be telecast. The things you have to do to avoid a blackout. 

Personally, I think the blackout rule is arcane and was invented in a time when most televisions were in black and white and people used rabbit ears to see only three channels. Today, with alternative media and internet, people can pick up streaming video of the blacked out game, and any other game they want to watch. There is just to much competition now for the NFL. They need to reconsider what they are doing and become more creative and developing fan bases.

 "Might the Tampa Bay community stain of blacked out Bucs games come to an end in 10 days when the Colts come here to face the Bucs on Monday Night Football?

Rick Stroud, of the St. Pete Times, apparently is hearing that good things are on the horizon, so he Twittered this morning.

@NFL Stroud - With a good week of ticket sales, Bucs Oct. 3 Monday Night Football game vs. the Colts will most likely be a sellout and televised locally

 

As Joe has written, there’s something dreadfully wrong if a “football town” with a good team can’t sell out a Monday Night Football game early in the NFL season. That might happen here, and Joe expects this will come down to 11th-hour sales. But Team Glazer really would be missing the boat if it didn’t do whatever needs to be done to make sure Monday Night Football is available for the many hundreds of thousands of locals who will sit home and watch it.

 

Joe’s desperately hoping it gets done by any means."

via www.joebucsfan.com

I was wondering how long this blackout would last. That would be nice on a national televised game, that we could sell out so the announcers will stop talking about how poor Tampa Bay sports fans are.

Paying The Man

I had to go to the Downtown Tampa courthouse today. I really did not want to but I was in a little bit of trouble, and could not allow this to go much further. I had an outstanding ticket that needed to be paid. I drive for living so I needed to take care of this fast.  None of this was my fault because I was a victim of circmstances, and a ticket hungry cop.

Last February I picked up a fare at Memorial Hospital in south Tampa.It was around sunrise on a Sunday morning. The fare came out and he had a black eye. It really looked like someong had beat his ass. He said a cop did it to him . I did not beleive his story.                                                                                                      

In a situation in which a police officer would have to use such force, the guy probably would have been arrested. Moreover, they don’t send Baker Acts to Memorial Hospital. There is an intake center on the east side of town for that. Another thing that made me nervous was he was paying cash. A rule of thumb about Emergency rooms in the early mornings is the fare, for whatever reason, never has any money.

He was not going very far, so I decided to take the risk. I started heading down Henderson boulevard toward Gandy. The guy was sitting behind me and starting to act a little weird. There are many things the cab driver must focus on while driving to ensure safety. Unfortuanlty, looking over our shoulder at a stranger sitting behind us can cause a distraction and I was distracted.

I saw the blue lights in my rearview mirror and thought they must be for someone else. I was wrong.

The cop pulled up right behind me and I put on my turn signal while I pulled over.
I wanted to tell the police officer that I had a weirdo in the back seat and plead mitigation under these circumstances but I saved my breath. When cops stake out certain intersections on a quite Sunday morning - The Are Going to Write a Ticket. That is the only reason they are there. They are reviewed like any other employer on any other job. He has a quota to meet and there is no better way to get cheap tickets then lay in wait when nobody is on the roads, and by definition, nobody is in danger. 

He gave me a ticket for going 50 in a 35 zone. The cop was wrong. The speed limit on Henderson is 40. The cop lied on the ticket and I was not going to let him get away with it. I decided to take it to court, and I did. 
The judge agreed with me because he lives in south Tampa and was familiar with that stretch of road.

He did, however, lower it to going ten miles an hour over the speed limit instead of fifteen. That meant a $240 ticket was reduced to $120. The judge even cut that in half, withheld adjudication, withheld points, and gave me sixty days to pay the fee and court cost. This is the kicker. Court Cost are $93...wow! I still won, sort of. 

You can see in the photo that I had until August 12, to pay the fine. I hate August. Nothing good happens in August. That is the slow time of year down here for the service industry and August puts the slow in slow season. Bottom line was I could not come up with the money. 

I finally made some good money today because of the Special Forces convention that is town this week, and got down to the courthouse to pay the fine. 

They told me my driver’s license would have been suspended on September 13 if I had not paid it today. I forked over the 173 bucks. That hurt.

I hope you are happy Mr. Police Officer. Is that all you have to do is screw with law-abiding people. Was it that important to do this to me? There is a recession gong on and I really needed to use that money for other things. 

Go shake down a real bad guy you punk.

 

United Cab Has A New Gas Policy

This notice is posted on the front door to United Cab: "All drivers be aware you will need to bring money for gas.Due to the fact that 95% of all cabs come back empty. We are changing our policy of FULL TO FULL when leasing a cab to a EMPTY TO EMPTY GAS POLICY. All drivers should bring money for gas when changing a cab and when leasing one."

Wow! I can tell you what is going on here. The economy sucks, and drivers come in to work a tweleve hour shift, and at the end, they have $40 left. They realize it will take $40 to fill the tank but they need the money; so they turn it in empty (They are also dirty...they guys don't have the 75 cents to use a vac). 

Take a look at the photo of the United Cab lot and it is full of cabs. I don't think they can get another one on it. Just remember, none of them have any gas in them and they are dirty as hell. I think the general public expects and should get better then a cab on empty and dirt all over the floor, and a driver wearing dirty clothes. 

This is clearly a sign of the times we live in. It has never been this bad. The stimulas plan has failed to stimulate anythiing down here. I am glad the Republican Convention will be down here next year. I will like to ask those Republicans what they plan to do to get things moving again. No matter what you think, the economy is stuck on empty, just like the gas tanks at United Cab.

To Post Or To C-Post - The Driver Is Now In Control

The final features of the United Cab GPS computer system seem to have come online. The Post and C-Post functions are now up and this is good for many reasons. This should eliminate some of the major problems that have plagued the taxi industry since it started which are hood stretching and microphone holding. These problems are now eliminated with the new GPS system. A bidding system by voice was good, but the new technologies will upgrade our level of service. I’m glad this has arrived. 

Hood stretching was when a driver would lie about his location and be sent on a call only because the dispatcher thought the driver was closer to the call. This hurt our business because it often took too long to get to the customer because the lying driver would be coming from across town. Holding the microphone would block any driver from getting through to the dispatcher. As a result, none of the taxi drivers could get bid on a call and our customers would not be picked up. In addition, it would prevent drivers from making money because this idiot was pissed off at the dispatcher for some reason. 

Now, when a driver tries to check into Zone 24 from downtown - he can’t. The computer will block his post and check him into the zone he is ACTUALLY IN. In fact, it will check him into downtown! Jack has got to hate this!! LOL. Now you can just go about your business and not have to wait for the dispatcher to come back from a cigarette break. This should make us money in the long run. 

UPDATE: Larry has told me has had some trouble with comments showing up. That is because I had selected to moderate comments. I have changed that to just signing in with your Facebook or Twitter account. I am trying to eliminate the trolls. 

Borders Books Is Closing...I Take My Coffee Black

The meter is running and the taxi is in park. Normally I’d be outside of a strip club or message parlor, this time it’s a book store. I’m waiting for my passenger to return. 

The large poster declaring 20% - 40% off looms over my cab parked outside of Borders Books on N Dale Mabry which is closing as soon as they sell all their stuff. This well publicized sale has brought customers to this store in record amounts. The idling of my engine cuts through the conversations of happy patrons leaving with newly prized possessions. 

It’s just after sunset. I’d normally be home drinking beer at this hour - a well ingrained habit since the economy fell apart like a two dollar watch.  Habits are hard to change as you get older. 
I turn the radio down as a motorist asks if I can move up a bit. In over fifteen years of coming to this store I’ve never seen it this busy. I guess I’m not the only one that read the newspaper article about the store closing.

Then it hits me - Why does Tampa (whose economy is supposedly tied to tourism) have so many people that read books. We are not supposed to be Boston? 

I think back over the last decade or so. I have spent a lot of time in Borders. Coffee, reading, chess, browsing, music, liberal lap toppers, this place had it all, a great way to kill a Sunday afternoon and relax. You could have a bit of a repose from the ‘real world’ as books took you to other places and experiences that you one day planed to get around too, one of these days. 

The Seattle’s Best Café. Yes, that was the first thing you saw as you walked in the door. Get your espresso and stare at twenty thousand square feet of wonder, knowledge and entertainment. In the next couple of hours, you would walk out smarter and more at peace with yourself then when you walked in. All of this augmented by a fresh cup of Joe (I take my mine black). 

Coffee in a book store is Popcorn at the movies. Would in not be a shame if one day all things are by Amazon or Kindle? To me it would be like going to a prostitute for love or eating steak with a balloon on your tongue. You would still get the same knowledge and nutrition - so what’s your problem? 

I do think it is a problem.

In the future they say you will just take a pill for everything you need or pick you kids out of a test tube (I prefer the old fashion way).

I once met Jack Harris at a book signing here. I once saw happy kids at Harry Potter night with expressions on their faces not seen since the family trip to Disney World. Do we really want all this to just go away?  It is just all about the discount? What ever happened to smelling the roses? 

Anyway, my fare comes back to the taxi and tells me there were at least eighty people in line with all the cash registers ringing. You hear that Borders….You finally figured out how to get Amazons money.  Perhaps there is hope for Western Civilization. 

Rob Searcy Addresses The Striking United Cab Drivers

Rob Searcy is one tough customer. He is the nicest guy you would want to meet, but when it comes to business he is as tough as nails. He told the 'angry mob' that he would not deal with United Cab drivers as a group.  We are independent contractors and he would talk to us individually. He is flanked by Justin and Paul as he states his position to the the crowd in front on the News Channel 10 and 8 cameras.

Nancy Castellano Has Left United Cab

"Nancy Castellano is no longer associated with Untied Cab and Gulf Coast Transportation."  read the laconic note taped to the front door of United Cab Tuesday afternoon. Rumors are swirling that she was fired but nothing has been confirmed. The drivers know nothing. It is of no real concern to the drivers, but humans are curious. I imagine one day we will know. Ft. Lauderdale has taken over and things seem to be running better then ever. Life moves on. 

Watch Your Speed On Sundays

Check This OUT!

The Tampa police know that the only day of the week that you can speed on Dale Mabry is on Sunday. That is why they set up a speed trap north of Mlk Just south of Hillsborough. Now this poor guy just because he was up early Sunday will now have to hire Ty Trayner or pay the fine or go to school. In short, his life is inconvenienced because of the Tampa Police Department being involved in revenue generation for the city of Tampa


This message was sent using picture-talk messaging service from MetroPCS.

St Pete Pandhandlers Flood Into Tampa - Are They Begging, Or 'Flying A Sign?'

 St. Petersburg, in my opinion, has illegally outlawed free speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, in short, civil liberties by banning guys from standing on street corners 'flying a sign.' This is a great country we live in.  At least it used to be. St. Pete does not think so. There is, however, a real danger to doing this.  Let me explain.

In this great country a person with ambition and skill can rise as far as his dreams will take him. But what if his dreams are not to be an astronaut or a CEO or a doctor, or whatever people think you should be. Hell, what if he wants to be A TAXI DRIVER. What if he just wants to 'hang out' and drink beer with his buddies and go no further than that.  In this country that should be his God given right. Sadly, people don't think so. 

The problem with banning anything is that you move just a little closer to the banning of political expressing, and that is where the danger lies. That is why we uphold the rights of Larry Flint and Joe Redner.  That's right - porn is free expression.  If you ban it someone will come along and say they find a cable channel or a political party to be objectionable. Do we ban this stuff as well? 

Hell, we live in a country now where you can't even go into a bar and light up a smoke....WTF?

So when you see the guy on the side of the road and you give him a couple of bucks, you better believe it will go to fast food, a cheap motel, a quart bottle of beer (several) and a pack of cigs. 

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Free Green Cabs In Tampa Are Scabs

 If you go downtown on the weekends to party, you may have run into the guy above. His name is Tim Ireland. He runs a "free Cab" in Tampa Florida. The only question is - Why?

I don't know what you do for a living but if someone came along and told your boss they would do it for free, you might have a problem with that. If this person was just willing to work for tips when you have a mortgage and a family and responsibilities, you would actually be pissed. Many cab drivers in Tampa are.

The Hillsborough County Transportation Commission believes these free taxi cabs need to be taken off the streets. They really have never heard of such a thing. Who has? Working for free. Who is this Tim Ireland?

"The Green Go vehicles don't fit the legal definition of taxicabs, because they don't have meters. The closest definition they fit is limousines, but the commission has denied limo permits for vehicles that weren't considered sufficiently luxurious."  -St. Pete Times

Tim Ireland of the Green free taxi is a scab. In this time of economic downturn, there is not enough business to support the taxi drivers that have been doing this for years, if not, decades. When somebody comes along and finds bums like Ireland to undercut taxi cabs (by law we must charge $2.25 a mile) He can give them a free ride. Why? Is he that desperate? How much can he make doing this? Most grown men would not do what this little, little, boy does. I guess he lives with his mommy and daddy. How else could he do this. He needs to go back to HCC with the rest of his nerdy friends and leave men alone who take the transportation business seriously.

If you want to be a taxi cab driver in Tampa Florida, United Cab is the finest cab company in Tampa.  It is very good for new drivers because of the training program, scaled leases, voice radio dispatch which can help a new driver, and a stand system that puts you in social contact with other drivers who can offer advice. Be a real cab driver.  You just need to get a 'hack' permit from the HCPTC and be cleared thru insurance, and you are on your way. Just don't let the free guys take your business from you. 

A Strong Cup Of Coffee

Sometimes you just need a strong cup of black coffee. Taxi drivers keep the hours of pimps and we need the extra pick me up that only diner coffee seems to provide.  

This was at POT BELLIES in south Tampa just as they opened.  You can tell I am tired and have been working a lot of hours. 

Get the skillet with eggs over medium.  Add tobasco sauce and its a winner. 

The girls are great, with nice service.  They actually smile and seem to like their jobs. 

Photos Posted Live On Taxi Shots!

Tampa Taxi Shots will now be posting lmages live from the field. Typepad has a new feature that will allow email mobile posting of my cell phone pictures. Now how cool is that?

Bob Hite Gets DUI In Hyde Park

Bob Hite of Newschannelchannel 8 was arrested this morning before the bars closed in Tampa. He is a venerated news man in this area and I guess was treated like anyone. No special treatment. This is a shame, but it can happen to anyone and I see it all the time.

Every morning in Tampa, cab drivers hang out at bars watching drunk people come out and get in their cars. Some of them end up at Orient road jail. All they had to do was call us. A cab ride is cheaper than a DUI. We could use the business and you need to stay out of jail and not harm someone.

I drove by Willow and Cleveland around the time it happened - 1:45am. And thought nothing of it. The sad thing is that people being arrested at that hour is a common site for us cab drivers. I can't tell you how many times I have seen someone trying to walk a straight line or touch the tip of their nose. They often lose their balance and stumble over all for the dash cam video in the police cruiser.

The holidays are coming up. Don't drink and drive folks....it is not worth it.

Broken AC, Mothers Day, And The Short List

My AC went out this morning. Bad for two reasons..its starting to get hot and there is smoke in the air from wild fires burning in northern Florida. I found out there was no freon in my system and they had to repair a leak. Normally I would mind, but today was real slow like it is for whatever reason the weekend of Mothers Day. We had a dispatcher named Pirate who always believed that the three slowest days of the year were Easter, Mothers Days and Xmas. I disagree with Xmas. Lately we have been getting a lot of airport rides on that day in the early morning.

While I was waiting, "Shoe" are weekend dispatcher came out to smoke a cig and told me that he had just seen the "short list." That is a list of drivers who pay on a 24 hour basis and actually dropped short on Friday and promised to make it up over the weekend. That is the clearest indicator that the business has dropped off. I really wish they would stop hiring all these foreign drivers. The job really doesn't pay anymore and I'll be damed if I understand why men will travel halfway around the world to do this for a living. Why? Does it really suck that bad where you come from that you find it necessary to take the bread out of the mouth of guys like me? It really makes no since.

Road Rage, US News And World Report, And a Tampa Taxi Driver

US News And World Report sent me an email today and said they want to interview me about the traffic congestion in Tampa on a story they are doing about the national problem. I almost phoned him back immediately, which is my style, catch people off guard, but I held back. I wanted to get my thoughts together before I did that.

I can think of some real problems on the roads. 1) LACK OF CIVILITY. If you were in a restaurant and got up to go to the rest room and crossed paths with another patron, you would say "excuse me" and allow the other person to pass. However, when you are in your car, you will scream and curse at them. Why?

2) SELFISHNESS - Most people who tailgate are in a hurry and not concerned about your safety. I consider them a threat to my and my families safety. I will hit my brakes and swerve trying to force you into a cement medium of a ditch. Since you have already presented yourself as a threat to my life,,,I will try to end yours before you end mine. Got that. Don't tailgate me.

3) CELL PHONES - You are not Gorden Gecko of the movie WALL STREET  putting in a buy order. You are really not that important. Get off the damn phone and pay attention to what you are doing.

I will try to think of other things before I call them. If you can think of anything please comment.

Just kidding about the tail gating thing. But not kidding folks that behavior makes me very, very nervous. Please keep 1 second for every 10 miles an hour behind me.

More Cabs And Vans Killing This Business

On the back lot at United Cab you can see the overflow of the Bay Shuttle vans that take people to Tampa International Airport and also pick up at the Airport to points unknown. That is a direct threat to our business. Don't get me wrong, I believe in free market capitalism but Bay Shuttle is owned by United Cab. What do they care?

As long as the cab drivers pay the lease every week, day or shift($25,000 a year) they are doing just fine. The only thing that happens is I have to work harder and longer to make the same amount of money that I have been used to. Even these efforts no a days don't really help. I know what you are thinking, get another job. But I sort of feel like the bank robber character played by Robert Dinero in the movie HEAT. He said "I have been doing this for so long, I don't know if I could do anything else." After 12 years it becomes a part of you. It is your daily routine. I give order and stability to your life. Like any addict, it would be hard to just walk away.

In Tampa just today I saw AFFORDABLE TAXI, ADDIS TAXI, AMERICAB, ABC TAXI, A-1 CAB, OLDSMAR TAXI, NORTHWEST ZONE TAXI. Does Tampa really need all of these taxi companies. They must all be a bunch of paupers. There is not enough business out there to support what is going on. I guess these idiots are willing to work 16 hours a day 7 days a week. Just today in the business office I saw to immigrants filling out the forms to become new drivers. One of the guys said he used to drive in Boston where you have to own the medallion...it cost $750,000! That sounds insane. You cannot earn that driving a cab. Do I sound burned out?

Traffic Jams, Old Flames And Old Cab Drivers

On News Year day I-275 was backed up in all directions because of the Outback Bowl and because of an accident going into the airport. Some guy lost control of his car on the slick road and crashed into the guard rail...Happy New Year!!!

While I was waiting...I had just got there right after it happened and could not avoid the delay, my fare missed his flight. As I was letting the ambulance in to get to the wreck, this yellow cab pulls in behind the meat wagon thinking this was his ticket around this mess...right. Check out this videoDownload Video008.wmv  that shows the traffic stopped in both directions and just how messed up our roadways are with the increased population.

New Years was great and when I got home, I received a call from "Kate." She was my girlfriend for 5 years until her life fell apart in 2004 and she had to split for reasons that go beyond anyones ability to help or even comprehend. Apparently she has inherited a giant sum of money and has now moved back to Florida and owns a condo near Bayonet Point close to Hudson. Don't worry if you have never heard of it, I did not know where Bayonet point was until yesterday. I went to see her and had a wonderful time. We ate pizza, watched movies(including Spartacus....Charles Laughton and his nemesis Laurence Olivier are phenomenal as a Roman General and Senator at odds with each other. Great writing...Peter Ustinov says: "Since parsimony and temperance are your new found virtues, perhaps courage should be included" ), hung out and I was able to relax for the first time in a long time. It was hard to believe I had not seen her for such a long time. The reason I came back today was by this morning she was knee walking drunk and on a roll and beginning to get very angry....I left. It was very sad and hard to just split. I had every intention of staying for an indefinite period to "get caught up." I wish it could be.

What was cool was 3 of my cab driver friends called me on my cell because I had disappeared and they wanted to know if I was alright. One of them was Paul the drunk guy. Paul used to drive for United Cab but since he inherited about a million bucks all he is doing is drinking himself to death. To the people that remember Paul from "back in the day" look at all the weight he has lost. This image was taken off of a video cam where you can just watch a man drink all day. LEAVING TAMPA BAY I guess.

Speaking of old cab drivers. Here is an actual video of Larry who is one of the most prolific posters on this blog. This is him sitting on our Dale Mabry "The Strip" stand waiting for a call. Download Video005.wmv

See what the TAXI CAB MAN SEES FROM THE FRONT SEAT

;written by a DISPATCHER. How cool is that!

A Day At The Shop

I am sick and so is my taxi. This flu bug is back and every joint in my body hurts. It seems my car was scheduled for service today, as well as, a new heater installed so I can have heat. It is getting cold now, and my customers would like the heat.

I brought the car in at 8 in the morning for what was going to be a 3 hour job. They offered me a loaner cab but as bad as I felt, I just wanted to go home. So I decided to wait. Bad call.

Somehow Steve messed up the fuel line and and car began spilling fuel all over the place. What concerned me was they did not have a clue as to what was going on.

I stayed there all day until they closed! I was sleeping on the bench. Nancy (our manager) came in and I thought she was going to say no sleeping on the bench you bum. Instead, she wanted to play "Duck, Duck, Goose.." I was too sick to chase after her because I was now the goose and had to return the tag. He boyfriend Mike came by with the Christmas trees for the office and asked me to help him unload them. When he saw what rough shape I was in, he said go back to sleep. I really feel like shit.

After being there all day, nothing was fixed. I should of just gone home. It did not get any better this morning. They called me and said the cab was ready. I went and got it and when I was on my way to an airport call smoke started billowing from under the hood and the vents. I thought the thing was on fire. I took it back to the shop.

What gets me is all the money I lost because of this. I still don't have  my car back. I am going to go to bed and just try again tomorrow.

Demolition Derby In K-Mart Parking Lot!

I don't have a category for weird. If I did, this would be under it. Yesterday these people yellow taped off the parking lot of the K-Mart at the intersection of Columbus and Dale Mabry. They said they were holding a "Car Show."

Not much was going on until this tow truck showed up and delivered this little red car. After they unloaded it people began hitting it with baseball bats, sledge hammers and cinder blocks. What did that little red car ever do to them to make them so angry? They did manage to bust out the windows and put some dents in it. If you have ever tried to do this type of thing, you know how hard it is to demolish a car.

Larry and I were sitting there watching all of this because this is our #23 stand. We really did not think much of it. The people involved said they would clean up their own mess.

This morning the little red car was still there. If you look at it, however, they must of used a Monster truck to roll over it. How else could it of sustained that kind of damage. Notice they did just left their mess in the parking lot. Where were the police when this was going  on?

Check out this new Taxi Blog that I have just added: A night in the life of a Fredericton cabby...Further evidence that cab drivers are cool and have it going on!!!

Late Night And Love Bugs

I had a run last night to Wesley Chapel and back to Tampa. By the time I got back, the windshield was covered with these stupid little bugs.

I have seen them nowhere in Tampa or even on my way to Disney. Why just north of Tampa? I did not even think it was season.

Scientist did a study of these things once and they called the female "K" and the male "F". They concluded that when you see "F" you see "K"!

The Night Cab And Lost Souls

This is the night cab baby! We see it all. We See the lonely, the desperate, the drug-ed out, the stoned, the confused, DBC's(drunk broads in crisis), the bullshit and the left behind. And Evey other assortment of rejects from the communicable disease ward

Their lives are a metaphor for every back road, blind ally, dead end and detour we take. We take them somewhere but they really going nowhere. They're only creating the illusion of movement and accomplishment.

They tell the cabbie everything. I mean everything. Taxi Drivers are better then Prozac. Fares will tell the hack things they won't tell their own shrink. Only I can't bill it out at $300 an hour. What I can do is look after myself. After seeing the downside of mankind that is no where I want to be.

At first I thought driving a cab would be cool. I only wanted to put the street beneath my feet so I don't have to think about her. But I found out these are lonely roads instead and more than anyone could bargain for. Yeah, there are lights and signs out here, but none that will lead you home. There was a recent song called cab driver. Some of the words where "Cab driver take me home I get to get back to my baby, gotta get back to her." What the fare doesn't realize is by the time he gets in my cab, it's to late. Like an episode of the "Twilight Zone" I become your only hope for salvation. Your in my hands now. As if I really could warn someone of the logical consequences of their own behavior.

Many people become creatures of the night. It dosn't start out that way. It's a gradual slip. If you do consider becoming a "night stalker" just remember this - the night air can become intoxicating.

And if you ever think your losing your grip and circumstances prevail and a black and white cab rolls up in the middle of the night, look and see if it's me. If it is, its either the beginning or it's the end of the line

Don't Drink And Drive!

People should absolutely not drink and drive! Orient road will probably be full tomorrow night; not a place to start the new  year....CALL A CAB DRIVER...WE NEED THE BUSINESS!
 
As far as my plans are concerned. I  keep my ears  on and go with the flow. Unfortunately, finding someone specifically in Ybor is almost impossible. As the night wears on, even on approach off the 22nd street ramp, people mob the cab like 3rd world
refuges trying to get the last plane out before a communist takeover. It is, in a word:  Chaos!
 
My suggestion for anyone in Ybor, Channelside or So Ho, would  be to leave the club their in, head for the road and do an old fashion flag  down.  If you have a female in your party make her visible as you flag  the taxi down. I'm not being sexist, but unless your Bonnie and  Clyde the driver will feel safer  about getting robbed or just plane jerked  around.

Normally in Ybor 8th Ave is a good  spot because cabs can cruise unabated up  and down
 
Normally in So HO Howard Ave is where  cabs cruise down   

Normally in Channelside In front of  HOOTERS is ideal

If you are anywhere else, you may have to call. And may God be  with you. It  is impossible to describe how busy it is when New Years Eve falls on a  Saturday! Wow!
The one night I make more than a dancer at Mons Venus.

Unfortunately, people do get left behind. There was an  incident 5 years ago when New Years Eve  was on a rainy Sunday night. The Bucs where playing a playoff game in Philadelphia and it was bitter cold here in Tampa. I even stayed home and  watched the game. Bucs lost.
 
However, the TAMPA TRIBUNE ran a story about  how ineffective the taxi  service was here because there were numerous complaints  to the mayors office  about  people having to sleep in the Ybor  Hilton lobbybecause they could not get a  cab. That can happen. So be  prepared for it.That is why. On New Year's Eve and Guava Mama Ileave my cell  phone off.  Couldn't get to you if I tried.
 
Please remember: Early in the night when you call United  Cab WE DO NOT DO TIME CALLS ON NEWYEARS  EVE.     Sorry. Be ready to go when you  call.
 
For what it's worth. My cab number is United Cab  #497. People could call if
it's late and if your stranded ask for my  number. Iwill at least know they  read Sticks Of Fire. So I'll try my best to get to  them.

Just another night

The man I was taking to the Marriott Westshore wanted to take a look at my camera. I told him it was particularly sensitive to light, unlike film. I had no idea he was going to blast a photo of me driving. Oh well. I had just left the house and my hair was wet. Bad hair day I guess?

Notice those rear and side deltoids.  No, those are not shoulderpads. It took many a year to build them up.

By the way. Here is the Pelican I promised:

The Waiting Room

I am always amazed at the people that are willing to pay a cab driver to wait as they go into a strip club. That is why I bring my camera with me. I have to have something to do.

I took this guy to the 2001 Odyssey on the Dale Mabry strip. After a $50 tip to stay put and wait for him to come out I was able to frame this shot. He thought he was being original when he said "she liked me, she really liked me."