I stepped out of a London hotel once with both hands full of heavy camera equipment and I needed a cab to an address a few miles into South Kensington. A cab was passing at that exact moment and I followed him with my eyes with a look of "damn, I missed him" written on my face. He must be the most observant cabbie ever because he stopped and beckoned me over.
Same thing happened to me! I was on the opposite side of the road and he turned round to pick me up. When I asked him how he knew I needed a cab-he said, from the dirty look I gave him!😬🤣
The "Hailing a Taxi is Illegal" might stem from jurisdictions and rules. Example: Las Vegas doesn't allow hailing a taxi on the Las Vegas Strip. That's why people who want a Taxi are advised to go to the front of a hotel and get a taxi from the rank there.
And London doesn't allow hailing a private hire vehicle, aka minicab. Visitors might not be clear on the difference. Although of course it would be the driver that would get in trouble, not the passenger.
I wonder if Americans (other people too) get confused between a taxi and a private hire cab. Hailing a taxi (black cab) is fine, but hailing a private hire cab is not, as you are not insured unless it has been pre-booked.
This is a part of the charm of London for me as a visiting tourist. I always knew there is these certain steps to follow when whishing to ride a black cab, but insecurity gets the best of me. I alwas have it somewhere in the back of my mind that the cab driver will be offended if i do it wrong and i can come off as rude customer. This video is exactly what i needed to get som hailing down-confidence 🙂
Your biggest worry is not looking both ways at the cross walk brcause you aren't used to the traffic driving on the left. In the 1930's Winston Churchill was on a speaking tour in the US. He stepped off the curb on Central Park West and was struck, nearly fatally. spent months in hospital. Being a big man he told the Police it was entirely his fault and made sure the driver was not detained or charged, and always maintained that it was "My own damned fault!"
But as you frequently mention. I think the difficulty of seeing if the hire is illuminated tends to lead to not making too big a gesture for looking foolish as it drives by
I was just watching an old video on your channel yesterday when you drove during the tube strike, and thought about how, as a tourist, I could hail a taxi as best as possible, seeing how you had to go around the block to pick someone up in a complicated location, telling him to follow you and he didn't, and today you upload a video exactly on that subject, brilliant ! And I think everybody visiting London should watch that video to know the how to's and the how not to's
Just returned from London and think I mastered the "Loud and Proud". Thanks for all of the great tips, especially telling the driver the destination through the window.
Thank you for this video! I really want to get the black cap experience when visiting London but ive never used a Taxi in my life, so this really helps!
Dropping off is an art too! Customers who want to get out and pay when I’m stuck on a red light then it turns green is super frustrating. All hail the black taxi!
Just using my other half’s account thanks for the quick chat outside The Royal Oak on Regency street SW1 Thanks for putting a smile on my face 2023 Tom must hit 100k subs this year
Thank you for this video! I'm going to London in one week with my parents. I had been to London a few times, but I'm not experienced in using a taxi. My parents are for the first time in London. I hope, after watching this video, I can impress them 😀
The bit about speaking to you through the passenger window comes naturally to me, so when I tried it in New York, the cab driver looked at me like I was some sort of alien 👽 then I had "just get in" 😆
I'm glad you done this video tom, sometimes I'm driving around you know they want a cab but look a bit shy to stick there hand up, but after 30 odd years doing the job I more or less just drag them in anyway hahaha, be lucky mate
My sister was amazed on her first visit to London that you can could get a Taxi by just sticking your hand out, as opposed to "we have to phone them up at home".
A few things I've been wondering about for a while: 1. At Camden Town station, there's what appears to be a rank in the middle of the street. Are passengers expected to dodge across traffic, hail one of those taxis down, or something else? 2. Which apps do taxi drivers prefer for app jobs? I use Free Now out of habit, but don't know if others take less commission/have more drivers/etc. 3. Is it still possible in this day and age to call a number and get a taxi (not a PHV)? Or have they been completely replaced by apps?
loving the videos dude its me The Alba Galavanter on my other RU-vid channel taking a break from doing stuff on it ordering a taxi from an app is kinda similar to ordering a takeaway from say one of the app providers they add a small charge on for delivery and the processing cost
@Tom the Taxi Driver that farewell situation is enough to slow any cab down! I like creeping up to the front of Harrods as requested by the telepathic fare, then it comes... 'no! go straight'
My first time in London, my friend (who's only been with her family a couple of times), we headed out to see Les Mis at Palace Theatre at the time. I don't know why we did so little research but we got out of the Tube at Leicester Square and doesn't have a clue where to go, so we flag down a taxi, and the taxi driver told us, to just walk up there for a few minutes and it's there. I'm pretty sure there are taxis in other part of the world, who would have just earned that fare.
tbf I've lived in London for 5 years but lived in essex the rest of the time. Anytime I hail a bus or taxi regardless I'm waving like I'm a blacksmith hitting the anvil. That way it isn't my fault.
I'm a Londoner Tom, but you might want to change what you put about cab being "free". Most know you mean available not cost-free, so you might want to differentiate from that just for the international viewers you have.
I get confused sometimes when I pass a bus stop and people are putting there arm out and I think “oh great…” only to look in the mirror as I start to pull over to see a bus behind me😊
I only recently found out after a LONG search for an available black cab that late into a Friday night, cabbies available for hire won't use their light, as they want to sus customers out before they pick them up.
@@TomtheTaxiDriver I was out for a work Christmas party in December. Took me ages to get a cab. There were plenty driving round empty with their lights off at 2am. When I finally found one with his light on, he told me that it's common for them to drive around without their light, flag them anyway, and if you're not stumbling around they'll probably pick you up. But it sounds like this isn't a common thing based on your response?
@@TomtheTaxiDriver I've seen this too - very late at night or in the small hours. If the light is on and a taxi stops they have to take you - whatever state you're in. If they have the light off then they can look out for people who look like they're looking for a taxi and choose whether to take them or not. e.g. people standing on a corner near a railway station looking up and down the street, but not looking too drunk. The taxi just stops by them and asks if they're looking for a taxi.
Great vlog. I came out of J. Sheekeys onto the Charing Cross Road side , Trying to hail a taxi to N14. One said no he's not going in that direction and the next one said yes and took me. I never experienced that before. Wonder why that was!
Once I saw a teenager stick out her hand on the opposite side of Oxford Street, the cab makes a u-turn in the street to pull right up to her, and then all she did was ask for directions or some general info and she didn't hire the cab. Wouldn't that annoy the hell out of you as the driver?
Your efficiency tips I thought was decent manners. Who gets in a cab before saying where they wanna go through the window? Guess I'm gifted in the art of ettiquette. I don't know why i've naturally done that.
Ok, but how often do you get the passenger saying lines like you see in the movies, like "Follow that cab! Hurry, run the light, I'll pay any fine!" or "Anywhere, just drive!" or "Fast as possible, I'm being followed!" or "Take me as far as I can go for £10!"? How about nonspecific instructions like "take me to Baker Street (or Croydon), I'll tell you exactly where when we get there!". Do you get these and would you do the job?
This new minicab generation have no idea how to interact with a taxi driver. The arm pointing forwards rather than straight up is virtually invisible to the driver and unfortunately customers expect to jump in the back first rather than instruct the driver at the nearside window the traditional way.
Tom, is it correct that once a taxi with light on has stopped for a fare the driver has to take the passenger and can not refuse unless the passenger is drunk or wishes to go a long distance? 2. The driver saying he is not going in the direction the passenger wants is not a reason for refusal
Hi Tom keep it up you are doing a great job 😜 in making all great videos superstar have you ever picked up to Walsall west midlands england junction 9/10 m6
Your first scene is the biggest problem. I want to support cabbies but so often when I need one I never seem to see any, its what turns many to the other forms of transport
I was on my way home from a concert, and a LEVC TXE came, had it's light on, but did not stop, obviously, that problem with the light looking illuminated when not actually had occurred, but then 2 minivan taxis rolled up, the first one came up, but another guy jumped all over that one, but the second one saw me. I was not aware the driver was stopped for me, I thought he was just stopped for the turn, but he honked us to go over to him, check he could do it through the window, and it was a success.
Hi Tom....1:12 in it says no stopping on zig zags or pink lines.....where would you find pink lines? My understanding is red lines /routes are fine. Intrigued on the pink restrictions
Hey Tom, love the vids - nothing more than sitting back and watching your working day vids driving customers around. When can we expect At Work With a London Taxi Driver - Friday (Part 5 of 5) to drop?
What is the correct way for customer to get on taxi at the rank? If there are no people waiting easy, but if there is a long queue? Do I need to go first one or can I choose?
im planning another trip to London this July im doing a few videos for my other youtube cannel The Alba Galavanter im staying at the Sara Hotel i was wondering how much a cab would cost from Victoria coach station i was also wondering how far it is?
Not from London or UK, curious how this would work for a person with little or no vision, my limited experience with cabs is with services that are call only (similarly with a bus, in NA the buses stop automatically if your at a bus stop)
Hi Tom just a quick one why would a trip from Tower of London to Haymarket was £16 but on the way back it was double from the same place and they did the same route
I've always wondered the etiquette of asking drivers 'set prices' if you're going outside of London - say to Luton Airport or if you live in a close by commuter town and miss the last train... What are rules? Do all drivers do that? Is it rude ask? How do they calculate prices etc?
Yea anything out of London is defo up for fixed pricing. Good for the cabbie because they can be paid upfront. It's just a case of "I'd like to go to Luton, I understand it might be a bit of a long job, wrong direction, would you be able to take a fixed fare? Or would you know a driver who would?". There's bound to be a driver who will be heading home who would bite your arm off for something that pays to go his way. So even if it's not the first cabbie, he will know someone who might.
I’m curious here in the states at least in Philadelphia Pennsylvania the hotels have the blue light system. The doorman or doorwoman will activate a flashing blue light to indicate they need cabs when there is nothing in the hotel taxi line. Is that used there or something similar?
Hey Tom, any tips for those travelling with a disability? I’m visually impaired and often struggled when in London as I can’t always see the hire light. I’ve also travelled with a wheelchair user before which has its own challenges. Any tips for the next time I visit from the Midlands?
@@TomtheTaxiDriver thank you so much, I have to say assistance in London can be a real mixed bag and I’ve often had to wing it on my own. Just seen another of your videos that mentioned the old rank at Euston - this was the first rank me and my friend (wheelchair user) ever used and we were like a deer in the headlights! Thankfully the cabbie at the front spotted us and shouted us over! I have some questions about some experiences I’ve had with cabs in London and elsewhere over the years, so you have an email address for people to contact you as I’d love to pick your brains :)
@@TomtheTaxiDriver thank you so much, I have to say assistance in London can be a real mixed bag and I’ve often had to wing it on my own. Just seen another of your videos that mentioned the old rank at Euston - this was the first rank me and my friend (wheelchair user) ever used and we were like a deer in the headlights! Thankfully the cabbie at the front spotted us and shouted us over! I have some questions about some experiences I’ve had with cabs in London and elsewhere over the years, so you have an email address for people to contact you as I’d love to pick your brains :)
Any advice on getting a taxi or Uber after a concert at Hyde Park? I understand the roads are closed around the area for a bit after a concert. Thanks!
I was once drunk in Covent Garden. Jumped into an unlicensed cab and stupidly paid £20 to get to Trafalgar Square. Lesson learned.... i stopped drinking and found God! 🙃 (The first part is true)
This is something your Mammy and Daddy sub-consciously teach you going up, but having watched this video, I can see why is would be problematic for visitors.
Very interesting as usual Tom. However, as I’m sure you know, London, even central London, is not full of double yellow lines, far from it. I’ve chauffeured in London since 2006 and it saddens me to say that the standards of the black cabbie have gone down quite a bit since I started. I see black cabbies do things now that they rarely did back in the day. Picking up clients and causing an obstruction like stopping on double yellows is one thing, but I’ve seen plenty of your colleagues drop off clients in the most stupid of places. Due to the fact that the client can easily take a couple of minutes to pay, that’s a couple of minutes of obstructing traffic. TFL officers aren’t on the streets as much as they used to be pre-covid and many of your colleagues are guilty of selfishness and causing an obstruction. I never let a client tell me where to drop off, unless a wheelchair is involved. I hope you agree with me.
Taxis will not pull up if it is not safe to do so, so avoid standing too close to bus stops, pedestrian crossings, level crossings, traffic lights, etc. Never shout, “TAXI!” at a black taxi while it is moving. This is against the law and taxi drivers will not stop for you unless you stick out your arm to hail them.
