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San Francisco isn't one of those cities where you can flag a cab on just any intersection. On Friday and Saturday nights at prime dinner / clubbing time, or on nearly any holiday, it's really tough to get through to dispatchers and many are unreliable about actually sending a cab your way. What's your winning strategy for getting where you're going? Or do you usually fall to a particular backup plan when you can't find one?
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Yellow Cab SF! - 415-333-3333I call them every time I need a cab, and most of the time it takes only about 5 min on the phone, although if you call @ peak times, then wait times are worse. They have one line for all of SF, so im sure it can get backed up. It's a great option, as hailing a cab is tuff, just as Sharon mentions. If you're on the streets, be aggressive, forward :)
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It's not as tough to hail a cab after last call, since I know exactly where they'll all be. But I call Luxor and Yellow to go out to a nice dinner some weekend nights, and they'll keep me on the phone for 10+ minutes before allegedly dispatching a cab that doesn't show up after 30. My experience with dispatchers has not been good. Their computers won't allow them to input a street intersection so you have to come up with a street address, and if you get the number wrong, they probably won't find you. They are also almost universally rude. I much prefer walking or taking Muni to a larger thoroughfare -- from where I live, I'll take a train to Market, and hail a cab there. Cuts a few dollars off my bill and saves me time and stress.
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I find the opposite to be true. I am a white-ish looking woman and I would say that for me (granted I am a woman so there is some bias toward that) it's best to be bold and look put together. (If I'm running errands in my yoga pants and with my hair not done, then cabs won't want to pick you up). If you look vulnerable then I think psychologically it may deter cabs because if there's a problem, the typical bystander doesn't want to get involved. (Just like when people tell you if you're being attacked yell 'fire' or 'fight' to get attention rather than 'help' because most won't want to risk their own safety, but they will be rubber-neckers).
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Excellent point about fight or flight, and human reactions. Reminds me of Kitty Genevese ...
(01 Mar '10, 23:35)
Mr. W ♦♦
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The trick is to find a decent hotel and get in the queue. Beyond that, if you really need a cab, have a bar call one for you. If you must hail a cab on the street, there are some unwritten rules to follow. First, don't be black. Sorry if this offends anyone, but most black people will agree with me that cabbies will zip on by them. We may have a black President, but racism still exists. (And yes, I understand that being black isn't a rule one can "follow", it's called irony, people.) Second, if you are a woman, try to look vulnerable and in need. This is tough, since you don't want to get mugged before the cab gets there, but when you see the cab work the female angst. Lastly, try to stick to main thoroughfares. Back alleys are not a cab's usual haunts.
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I am visibly female but the jury's out on whether I look black, and I have an incredibly tough time hailing a cab here in SF. I guess I need to look sadder.
(01 Mar '10, 18:04)
Sharon ♦
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I've had several people accuse me of being a racist. Here's some articles to support my contention that being black and hailing a cab is difficult: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-629192.html http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/features/21492/why-cant-a-black-man-get-a-cab-in-this-town http://london-taxi.taxiblog.co.uk/65/yeah-a-black-man-cant-get-a-cab-in-london-either/
(02 Mar '10, 00:29)
Mr. W ♦♦
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