What I've learned from B'more cabs

I always seem to be running late.

That means my plans to catch the JHMI or the Baltimore city bus don’t usually pan out.

Friday afternoon will come around; I’ll be done with classes and ready to go home for the weekend. Then when I’m about to head to Penn Station, I discover there’s absolutely no way I’ll make my train if I take the Hopkins shuttle.

And so I have come to depend on Baltimore’s reliable cab drivers.

These guys are great. Unlike in New York City where you have to fight to get a taxi, B’more’s colorful cars often find you. I’ve had success just walking down St. Paul St. with my suitcase; a cab usually pulls over before I even have to flag it down.

There are a few choices of cars: Checker, Diamond, Red Bull, Raven and a couple more companies—some more luxurious than others.

The convenience is oh so tempting. Of course, there’s the money issue. A cab ride to Fell’s Point usually costs about $16, depending on the traffic. You can’t spend that every day, but every now and then is doable.

And I think it’s usually worth it. In fact, taxi drivers are some of the most interesting people I’ve ever met.

Last weekend I had a cab driver from Germany with advanced degrees in business and computer science; he couldn’t get a job in his field thanks to the current economy. He recommended that I see a show at the Lyric Opera House.

Taxi drivers also know the city extremely well. I’ve had cab rides inform me about B’more restaurants, shops and theaters.

They also have great stories. I asked one of them to describe a scenario where he had to pull up the barrier between him and the passenger. This prompted him to tell me about this pregnant woman who didn’t want to pay the fare. She tried to run out of the car, but the driver locked the doors. So she leapt through the open partition (pregnant belly and all) and flew out by way of the front seat.

I’ve heard discouraging stories about Loyola and Towson students. (Cab drivers are not generally fans.) One driver told me about a bunch of Towson guys who tried to pack 9 people in the back of his car, and then started yelling at him when he asked them to narrow it down to 4.

I’ve also heard regular stories of people from both schools running away without paying the fare.

Hopkins seems to have a pretty good reputation though. (Of course, I’m often heading to Homewood Campus, so the drivers might be selectively choosing their stories.)

I also enjoy listening to unknown foreign languages courtesy of drivers on the phone.

So if you’re going somewhere interesting this weekend before finals, try taking a taxi. It’s only $5 or $6 to Penn Station. And it usually turns out to be an enlightening ride.