Cabbie Confidential

Why do cabbies pick and choose passengers? Do they really need the fare hikes? Are their ghost encounters just urban legend? Some quotes from an article by the TODAY Online.

For one, he never accepts calls during Christmas time, "in case they give me a destination in Orchard Road - sure jam until die". He adds: "If we are stuck in a jam, the passenger just says, 'Sorry uncle, I'm in a hurry, can you let me alight?' He would rather walk, and I'll be stuck. And you can't quarrel with him."

This also is why Mr Chua avoids "pretty ladies" or "guys dressed nicely" on a Friday night (he switches lanes when he spots them on the roadside) because "they'll definitely be going to town".

On weekday nights, on the other hand, the places to avoid are far-flung housing estates "where there is nobody". So when Mr Chua trawls the city area, his location plate typically displays 'Pasir Ris'. "Before 9pm, you drive them to places like Jurong or Teck Whye, sure die."

"Actually, commuters are really the victims. Because taxi drivers like us, these two years, we never complain okay? The population has expanded so much, we have enough demand. I also don't know why (the company) wants to raise fares."

And then he lowers his voice a notch: "Now, Comfort takes 70 cents' commission from each call booking. Who knows, maybe in a few months' time, they will raise that. Don't even need to raise rentals."

» Cabbie Confidential | TODAY Online