I have several problems with taxi drivers.

First, it seems they are constantly muttering into their supposedly hands-free devices, holding the cord or mouthpiece, meaning it is no longer hands-free, talking in a language I don’t know (which many of us were taught is the height of rudeness) – when they should not be using it at all unless parked.

Next, even though logic tells me there might be a few decent drivers, the ones I see whip u-turns just in front of me, block the bike lanes and other traffic to let a passenger get in or out wherever she says (apparently rather than telling her, Please let me pull to the curb up ahead so I won’t be in anyone’s way), roll through stop signs and red lights, and make other unnecessary or dangerous maneuvers.  

As a Chicago Police Officer who has stopped many taxi drivers for moving violations, I found each to be carrying multiple bond cards. Most regular citizens have a lone motor club card.  This practice told me the cabbie expected to get numerous tickets and was hoping not to have to surrender his driver’s license until he played all the other cards!  If it has occurred to them that they wouldn’t need to worry about tickets if they consistently obey all the laws, it isn’t obvious in their actions.

The taxis are not as fair as they would have you think.  One woman I know said no taxi has EVER come when called to her SouthWest Side neighborhood, and, on her hailing them on Michigan Avenue and learning where she wants to go, suddenly become “too busy” or otherwise unable to take her home. 

Often the cabs are “scented” with cheap cardboard air fresheners or some other overpowering smell, meaning the drivers are oblivious to those passengers who have perfume allergies or similar sensitivities – or they don’t care about us, just our money.

Not long ago, in Chicago, they, or their companies, were apparently defrauding passengers who used credit or debit cards.

Plenty of sound reasons to arrange an Uber-X or Lyft instead!