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| Main Spiritual Guides Page > Main India Page> Travel > Taxis & Rickshaws | ||||||||||||||||
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Taxis and Motor
Rickshaws Taxis are about twice as expensive as auto-rickshaws, which are motorcycle-type vehicles with two passenger seats. In large cities such as Delhi, taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers are supposed to use the meter, but often they don’t. Many drivers refuse to use them and will tell you the meter is broken. When you walk away, suddenly it will work. Metered cabs are usually black with a yellow roof. To get an idea of the correct fare, ask at your hotel or ask any intelligent-looking person how much it should cost to go to your destination. Many times when I ask someone how much an auto-rickshaw costs, they will tell me they are not sure. I then suggest a number, “Do you think it will cost Rs 50?” They may still have a blank look on their face, at which point I give up. But they often answer, “no, it should not cost more than Rs 25.” I then know I should pay Rs 30 or Rs 35, being a tourist. It is usually best to arrange a taxi yourself. If a hotel books a taxi for you, it will usually cost more, sometimes double. If you are taking an early morning flight to the airport, it is usually best to have the hotel arrange the taxi, because they will hire a dependable driver. Often it is impossible to find a taxi after 1 am. Sometimes when you use the meter, the taxi driver will drive you all over town. I had it happen to me a couple of times that I know about. I personally like to have a city map so I know where I am going. Many times your driver will pull out a fare adjustment chart or tell you that the meter is not up to date and that the actual price is 25% higher than what the meter reads. In Mumbai, the taxi rate is actually nine times the meter price. The price increase reflects increases in fuel costs. If you do not know the correct fare adjustment, do not argue with the driver. First confirm with the person you are going to see if this is true, or ask someone walking by. If a policeman is around, ask him. They are usually helpful, but are not usually available. In many places the cabs are not metered. The fare is supposed to be calculated either on a distance or a time basis. In actuality, it is whatever price you can work out with the driver. If you do not know an exact price, you can assume that at a railway station, the price will be at least double the actual fare, especially if you have the tourist look. Some of the worst places for overcharging are Delhi (the sky’s the limit), Varanasi (as much as ten times the price), and Puri (three times the price). In many cities, it is difficult to get a taxi or auto-rickshaw driver to use the meter, even if they are required by law to do so. Several times I have gotten into an auto-rickshaw and the driver turned on the meter without my asking, but that’s not common. Of course, in some of these cases, the meter did not work. In Mumbai, they routinely use the meter, even without you asking. If possible, it is a good idea not to get an auto-rickshaw or taxi at a tourist place or in front of an expensive hotel. There is a class of drivers who prey on tourists by asking outrageous prices. Best to walk a block or two away. If a taxi driver tries to charge you a higher price than the one you arranged, do not become angry. Anger won’t help. The best thing is to put the money on the seat of the rickshaw or taxi and walk away without looking back. The main times I have seen a problem is when you ask the driver to make an unarranged stop and then you do not work out a price for waiting time. If a taxi driver is totally unreasonable, it is a good idea to take his license plate number and threaten to complain to the police. Taxi drivers usually become much more reasonable if they believe you will complain about them to the police. Taxi drivers can lose their license for mistreating tourists. In
some cities you pay a 15% to 50% extra surcharge at night. Taxi
from Railway Station or Airport
Unless you definitely know the price, your best bet is to get out of the station and to approach a taxi driver that looks laid-back, or to get a local person to negotiate the price for you. For instance, a taxi driver quotes you a price. You can then turn to an intelligent-looking person standing nearby and ask him how much it should be to go to that place. Usually he will then ask the taxi driver how much he wants to take you there. The driver will then quote the same price he has already told you, and the person who is negotiating will be astonished and tell him his price is outrageous. He will insist that he gives you a decent price and you will most likely get it. Many times people will come up and help you, even without your asking. When
you get into the taxi or rickshaw, the driver may start to suggest places
or hotels other than the one you have requested. He may even say that
the hotel you have chosen is closed or full. I do not even listen to
them. I just tell them to take me to where I first requested. Drivers
often receive commissions from certain hotel and will try to take you
there. I am usually polite with rickshaw or taxi drivers, because several
times I actually had to accept their suggestions since all the hotels
I tried were full. In theory, it is a good system, but the problem is that many times the price you are charged at a prepaid taxi stand is higher than the meter price or price you could negotiate yourself. When there is a prepaid taxi and rickshaw stand, you can ask what price they charge and then try to negotiate a cheaper price yourself. At least you know the maximum price you should pay. Also, at some railway stations the prepaid rate is so low that no driver will want to take you at that rate. They will insist that you ride with another passenger going in the same direction. If you go up to the Tourist Taxi Stand at the airport to get a taxi from Delhi to Vrindavan (about 150km away) they will tell you Rs 2000; when you negotiate yourself you may pay Rs 1500. For long distances, your best bet is to find out the correct price and negotiate yourself. At the Calcutta Airport the fare charged at the prepaid Taxi Stand to downtown is cheaper than what most people can negotiate themselves, but to go to Mayapur (130km away), you can usually negotiate for a cheaper fare than the prepaid taxi-stand. Usually, for a taxi into the city it is cheaper, and for a long distance-taxi they are more expensive. At least you will not be totally cheated when using a prepaid taxi. Tip
If you are driving to some place in the middle of nowhere and the driver
realizes that he is taking you further than he thought, he may tell
you he wants another Rs 200 or more for the trip. Just nod your head
as if you understand that he should get the extra fare. The last thing
you need is to get into a fight with a taxi driver in the middle of
a field in West Bengal at 9 o’clock at night. When you arrive
at your destination, take your bags from his car and into your hotel.
Then ask the driver to come inside so you can pay him. Pay him the amount
upon which you originally agreed. You may then pay him another 50 rupees
to satisfy him. Walk up to a group of rickshaw drivers and ask how much they want, as if you know exactly what the price is (hopefully you do). If someone quotes you an outrageous price, do not waste time negotiating with him. Go to the next driver. You will almost always be quoted a higher price than the actual price, say Rs 7 rupees if the actual price is Rs 5. You then offer Rs 5. Usually they say no. At this point turn to the next rickshaw driver and ask him if he will take you for five rupees. If he says no, then ask the next driver. Usually, one of the drivers you have already asked will agree on the Rs 5. I then confirm the price by showing my hand with five fingers up and say five rupees and ask him to confirm that he understands by shaking his head yes. Once you agree to a price, if another rickshaw driver then offers you a lower price, you should not accept it. This might not be the best way to bargain with rickshaw drivers, but it works. A problem comes up if you see something you want on the way and you ask the rickshaw driver to stop. It is best to work out something extra with the driver before you get out. Ask him how much extra it will cost for a ten-minute stop. When you stop like this and do not work out a price, there is a good chance you will get into an argument with the driver. Sometimes they will ask double the negotiated price. Try
not to argue with a driver. The angrier you get, the more determined
he becomes. He is used to seeing people becoming angry with him. Just
act as if you know the price and that there is not a problem in the
world. If you are going to a shop, the local shopkeeper will often help
you with any dispute. When I get a rickshaw, I first tell them where I want to go and make them repeat the name of the place. Many times no one can understand what I am saying. I then stop a man who speaks English and ask him to tell the driver where I want to go. Usually when this man tells the driver, he immediately understands. Sometimes I have to write down my destination and show it to the driver or to someone passing by. It is important to speak as slowly as possible.
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