Taxi lottery

[BillyB]

Both ComfortDelGoro and SMRT Taxi have iPhone and Android apps you can use. Pretty easy, just open and click book. The phone's GPS does most of the rest.

But, quite often when its raining and the other options aren't working, the app will tell you that no cabs are available and to try again later.

I personally go near where the local busy taxi stand is, and walk a few hundred meters up-stream and grab the taxis there, right where two or three roads converge before coming up to the stand. It works where I live at least.

So you're one of those cheeky twats who pulls that tactic!

I'm guilty as well... Hey, still fair game, as long as you don't force the cabs to pick you up from restricted sections.

That doesn't surprise me

[ecureilx]

BigSis, they didn't. It is still 5pm... and until 11.59pm.

City Surcharge kicks in at 5.00 Pm, not so attractive yet, as Peak charge kicks in at 6 pm when the driver gets the 25%

Oh, nowadays, I realised that drivers go missing just after the morning peak, since they start work earlier now, 6 AM, and once the morning hour finishes, the taxis disappear ..

Apparently to get their breakfast and take a break, as they used to do between end of midnight and morning peak before. .

[zzm9980]

as long as you don't force the cabs to pick you up from restricted sections.

Still fair game then! How does a pedestrian 'force' a 1000+ kg moving vehicle to do anything?

[the lynx]

BigSis, they didn't. It is still 5pm... and until 11.59pm.

City Surcharge kicks in at 5.00 Pm, not so attractive yet, as Peak charge kicks in at 6 pm when the driver gets the 25%

Oh, nowadays, I realised that drivers go missing just after the morning peak, since they start work earlier now, 6 AM, and once the morning hour finishes, the taxis disappear ..

Apparently to get their breakfast and take a break, as they used to do between end of midnight and morning peak before. .

Ecu ecu ecu... I was talking about the peak surcharge and it is from 5pm onwards. The city surcharge is still from 5pm.

http://www.taxisingapore.com/taxi-fare/

[ecureilx]

BigSis, they didn't. It is still 5pm... and until 11.59pm.

City Surcharge kicks in at 5.00 Pm, not so attractive yet, as Peak charge kicks in at 6 pm when the driver gets the 25%

Oh, nowadays, I realised that drivers go missing just after the morning peak, since they start work earlier now, 6 AM, and once the morning hour finishes, the taxis disappear ..

Apparently to get their breakfast and take a break, as they used to do between end of midnight and morning peak before. .

Ecu ecu ecu... I was talking about the peak surcharge and it is from 5pm onwards. The city surcharge is still from 5pm.

http://www.taxisingapore.com/taxi-fare/

Did you mean to say 'peak charge is from 6.00 pm ??

And per the taxi singapore site too it .. is ..

Mon - Sun & Public Holidays: 6.00pm to midnight 25% of metered fare

[the lynx]

Ah my bad. I realised I was looking at location surcharges then I was referring to peak hour surcharge.

I stand corrected.

[carteki]

Believe it or not, there is an easy solution. It's called booking a cab - by phone or via a phone application - pay $3.00 and save getting wet, avoid waiting, eliminate trying to flag one down, and avoid the queues, and most importantly save time and avoid stress!

Amazingly, $3.00 is a large price to pay for some people; they'd rather get soaking wet, and cause themselves a load of hassle.

Easy!

P.S. The sarcasm isn't directed at you for asking the question.

You obviously haven't tried to book a cab at these times - it is nigh impossible. Don't bother calling - you'll be on hold forever. The apps or sms method come back with "no taxi's available - try again in 10 minutes"

[BillyB]

Believe it or not, there is an easy solution. It's called booking a cab - by phone or via a phone application - pay $3.00 and save getting wet, avoid waiting, eliminate trying to flag one down, and avoid the queues, and most importantly save time and avoid stress!

Amazingly, $3.00 is a large price to pay for some people; they'd rather get soaking wet, and cause themselves a load of hassle.

Easy!

P.S. The sarcasm isn't directed at you for asking the question.

You obviously haven't tried to book a cab at these times - it is nigh impossible. Don't bother calling - you'll be on hold forever. The apps or sms method come back with "no taxi's available - try again in 10 minutes"

I live and work in the CBD, and always use cabs as I'm lazy. I've seldom had problems getting through at any time for the past 3 years. I always cancel if I don't need the cab, as I've heard your number can get 'blacklisted' if you don't show up for 2 or 3+ bookings.

Although, you're right, I'm not a 9-5er so am generally in the office for 7.30-8am to avoid the morning rush.