Get Lost!

[skyring]

The GPS is a conversation piece. It sits fair and square on the centre of the dasboard, held in place by a suction cap and flexible arm arrangement on the windscreen. The display is small, but colorful and ever-changing as we move along.

Some passengers are fascinated by it - as indeed I was at first glance. I had a gentleman from Darwin the other night who couldn't take his eyes off it. "I've got a GPS on my boat, but this is just totally different," he confessed. He gave me a tip, saying, "No, keep the change, it's been fantastic just watching that thing!"

And I must admit it is a grand handie. Quite apart from giving me directions to an address, it gives me a view beyond what I can see from the cab, especially at night. If a passenger says "Go right to the end of the street", I can glance at the display and see if it's 50 metres or 500. I see the names of streets around me and I can even scroll the display by moving my finger over the touch screen.

"I'd be lost without it!" I tell my passengers. That's one of the benefits of having an ever-changing stream of customers - I can re-use the same material and get a smile every time.

The nights are all different too. I never know what a shift is going to bring me. On the surface, the past two shifts have been indistinguishable. Both have been parliamentary sitting nights, Senate Estimates Committees going full steam, staffers, lobbyists, media and senior public servants all needing rides. Tuesday was a night where I had several long fares, one down to the very southern edge of Canberra, another going up the Federal Highway over the border. But Wednesday, I barely went outside the central area. Apart from one ride into the near fringe of Belconnen, it was all North and South Canberra work.

I picked up one gentleman from Civic who wanted a ride home to a nearby suburb. He painfully eased himself into the front seat, saying "There's a few things wrong with me."

He gave me the address and then didn't say a word as I navigated us to his house. But when we pulled up, he told me that I'd gone off track a couple of times. "Blue Street is shorter - got a better angle to it - but Green Street is quicker because you miss two sets of traffic lights. I'd mark you as a fail."

Cheek of him! I immediately asked him what the lowest fare was, and charged him that instead of what was on the meter, which was a dollar or so higher. He struggled out of the seat, and went into his house, while I pulled out my street directory and checked both the routes he'd mentioned. He was spot on. He may have had a few aches and pains in his body, but there was nothing wrong with his mind!

I was grateful for the expert advice, and counted myself lucky to have only paid a dollar for such guidance. It will be a long time (if ever) before I learn every one of the ten thousand streets in Canberra, let alone the best ways of navigating between any given two, but I'm doing my best. I can feel myself improving in skill and confidence with each passing shift.

Comments

[silvanime.livejournal.com]

It's nice to hear that you've been enjoying it so much, my dear. I confess I've been fascinated by your entries!

[thescrappycat.livejournal.com]

Oh, my goodness. Well, this passenger COULD have given you this information while you were riding, could he not?! Nevertheless I'm smiling as I write this.

The GPS is indeed a wonderful invention, not that I've ever experienced it! But here in America you can buy cars with it installed. When I bought my Civic a couple of years ago, GPS was an option--a several thousand dollar option! Terribly expensive but I've often thought it must be really nice to have one.

I'm so happy you're doing well, my friend, and enjoying your job. *BIG HUGS* and lots of double-fudge Tim Tams to you! *secret smile*

timtams?

[woosang.livejournal.com]

of goodness no. Pete can't eat those! He must keep up the healthy lifestyle least he become tempted by the dark side :)

Pete I love your stories from work. I even fin myslef nodding when you describe parts of my old life with people. :) I do think the man could have told you PRIOR to arriving at his destination but at least you know now another tip. Keep up the great entires! Many hugs to you!

Re: timtams?

[thescrappycat.livejournal.com]

Well, perhaps Pete shouldn't eat them...but *I* looooooooooove those double fudge ones, and you know...Christmas is coming...{hint, hint, giggle}

KIDDING. I'm just KIDDING. Really. Honest. Juuuuuuuuuuust kidding.

*whimper, drool...*

Re: timtams?

[woosang.livejournal.com]

we have pink timtam here :D They raise money for the breast cancer association and David buys them for me as he informed me, Anything to help breasts... I can post a package of them to you :) Are food packets allowed? They aren't here :( or I would order cheese whizz

GPS

[wirigerie.livejournal.com]

What kind of GPS have you got? Carol and I were quite keen for her to get one but now she's lost her job we can't justify the expence.

She was quite keen on the navman until we went looking at a TomTom. Being a geekgirl I, of course, liked the one which will read your sms's to you. She liked the next model down.

[sirroy.livejournal.com]

Here I find that the taxi guy asks me straight up if I have a preferred route. Or when we approach an intersection where one way might be shorter or quicker than the other.

There is no way you could take it up with them at the destination.

[rubbergirl.livejournal.com]

I'll say it a million times...I want a stap on GPS!! If I had one, I'd be laughing...umm...and not gettign lost in Adelaide ;)

[lizmopuddy.livejournal.com]

I often wonder, do taxi drivers prefer short central fares, where they can get a number of small fares, or longer fares, which they can charge more for. (Seeing as I am an out of towner and feel some taximen scowl at me when I mention where I want to go)

[resqgeek]

The problem with outlying areas is the long return trip, which is likely to be made without a fare. Short trips in the center of town means the cab spends more time with paying passengers.

Re: GPS

[skyring.livejournal.com]

I've got a NavMan PIN 570, which is essentially an Ipac PocketPC with a small satellite antenna folding out of the top. It cost me $529 on special for Father's Day. So it's really two things in one.

[skyring.livejournal.com]

If I can string 'em together, I like lots of short fares. The flagfall of $3.60 is often half the cost of a short fare, making my rate per kilometre nearly twice what I get for a longer fare. A long fare is good when I can be assured of getting more work at the other end.

Oooh ... new toys :)

[goddess-mel.livejournal.com]

Glad to read you're still enjoying the cab work Pete - and don't worry about learning EVERY street; Chris has been driving hire cars/limos and buses in Canberra on and off since about 1992 and he still needs the map now and then.

Of course, after today's trip to Kenthurst (outside Sydney) accompanied by a friends TomTom (one of the more popular portable GPS units - sounds very much like yours) hard copy maps will be a thing of the past in our cars I'm sure :)

Re: timtams?

[goddess-mel.livejournal.com]

I too have done 'my bit for boobs' (as a girlfriend referred to Breast Cancer Awareness Month and my fundraising efforts) by purchasing 2 packets of the yummy pink Tim Tams. Remind me a bit of neopolitan ice cream...

Dunno about the cheese whiz idea - food in a 'spray' can just doesn't seem quite right to me (and yes, that includes that aerosol cream stuff that makes my husband giggle every time we pass the dairy case at the supermarket... men are weird).

Taxi routes

[goddess-mel.livejournal.com]

Sadly this often means they have no clue where they're going LOL

Re: timtams?

[woosang.livejournal.com]

Lets us not firget spray can mousse! Chocolate mousse in a can! :) We had is once when mother brought it home. It was put to good use but I do feel a lot was wasted....
Youare correct there is somthing wrong with spray canned food :)

[woosang.livejournal.com]

I found it handy for finding places as I have never driven in SA before. (Public transport yes my car no.)
Mine is a TomTom Mobile which I got from Germany for €125. Works with my N70, 6600 and N80 (Also David's 9300)

In Sydney

[woosang.livejournal.com]

The taxis get a return fare included in my fare. So to go to an outer suburb the taxis charge from a defined point. ie from Campbelltown to Picton it is a return from Glenlee Rd. So I pay single to Glenlee rd thence return Glenlee rd to Picton. It is around $150. It pays to make a note of the fare at Glenlee Rd. It is the same all over Sydney.

Re: Taxi routes

[skyring.livejournal.com]

All too true in my case. I discovered that they had moved the Canberra Labor Club last night.

[thescrappycat.livejournal.com]

Taxi drivers are known to take the long route with tourists here in Vegas. It's quite annoying and several of them have gotten in trouble for it. But it's easy for the cabbies to do--how are they going to know, unless they've been here before? Nasty practice, that.

Re: timtams?

[thescrappycat.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you on this! For some reason Pete's page would not load for me. Hmmm...?

Anyway, thank you for the offer but I'm really quite enamored of the double chocolate tim tams! *swoon*

And as Pete will attest, I have done my bit for breast cancer, in many many ways. Were you at the Racks for Research?

Re: timtams?

[woosang.livejournal.com]

What was that! Never heard of it.

Re: timtams?

[skyring.livejournal.com]

*swoon*

Re: timtams?

[thescrappycat.livejournal.com]

Swooning for tim tams or Racks for Research, Pete? {giggle}

Re: timtams?

[skyring.livejournal.com]

Both!