Be kind to your cabbie

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

A common challenge in the taxi business is the "bar rush".  At 2 am the bars begin emptying out and everyone wants to get a cab at once.  It's a situation that isn't likely to go away.  Doug Paton is the owner of Pincher Creek Taxi and Crowsnest Taxi.   "We appreciate all our customers, and we're trying our best to accommodate everybody," he said.  "I know we could use more cabs at night when the bars empty out but the reality of it is nobody can afford to bring more cars out for an hour and a half.  There is nobody you can find to drive that cab for an hour and a half, and it cost too much money to insure the cabs.  The business can't support it."

In an attempt to alleviate the problem Paton's company provides multi-person vans as cabs, which allows his drivers to pick up double fares, separate customers that do not have to wait if they travelling in the same direction.

"The cab is around all night, but people have to have patience too.  When the bar empties out at night, you're sending 40 to 50 people out to us for two hours.  In that two hours, things get pretty hectic.  Everybody wants to get home, and that's why we take full carloads."


He said that policy is being endangered by the behaviour of a few customers that make it unsafe.

"If you have demonstrated that you cannot be civil to others that will be in the cab with you, you will have to wait till the other fares have been picked up first.  Other people who are willing to ride together and be civil will get the first rides home."

"We can do it, if everybody plays along. If there is someone in the cab you cannot get along with, wait for the next cab," Paton urged.

"The drivers are out there, trying to do the best they can on night shift," Paton explained.  "90% of them, better than 90%, are good passengers, but there are a few out there that aren't so good."

"It only takes one guy to make your life miserable."

Drivers have been assaulted, ripped off, and threatened.  Paton said that makes it hard to find drivers willing to work the night shift.  Patrons with open liquor in the cab are another problem.  "The yellow light on the roof doesn't mean it's a safe spot to open your beer here in the car."

"It's our licence that's on the line.  It's our responsibility to make sure that when you're in the car that we don't smash up the car."

"When something does break out, it ties the car up for an hour and a half, because by the time the police come and everything is done that car is not doing anything for an hour and a half.  There's people standing and waiting at the bar, and the bar will kick them out at three o'clock.  The bar has to have them out, it's their licence on the line too."

"A lot of people like the cab, and like to have the opportunity to not drink and drive, because the service is there."

Overly friendly customers can be a problem for the cab driver as well. "The driver's got lots on his mind," explained Paton.  "He's got yelling, screaming, hooting partying people having a good time, and he still has to concentrate on that road.  If he's worried about somebody reaching over the seat and grabbing him, it doesn't matter if they are reaching over to say 'hey buddy how's it going', it doesn't matter."

"The cab is there to give you a ride home. The driver has to concentrate on his driving.  We appreciate the attention, and the good intentions, but sometimes it goes a little bit too far."

Be a good passenger:

• No open liquor in the cab.
• Take your seat, put on your seatbelt.
• Treat the other passengers with respect.
• Let the driver drive.
• Patience.
• Cool it.
• Give the driver a tip instead of a hug.