Category Archives: taxi cab

Packing method for airport carryon.

Packing Cubes vs. the Rolling Method vs. Compression Bags: What Works Best?

One of the things we have to worry about when traveling nowadays is the size of our carryon bag. Many airlines offer 1 free personal item and 1 free carryon bag included with the price of the flight, but with one caveat: the carryon bag needs to be within certain dimensions. Some airlines are stricter than others when it comes to these guidelines, but the quandary it poses to passengers remains the same: how much crap can I fit into my carryon bag? Continue reading

Advice for tipping taxi cab driver or uber driver from SFO.

7 Tips for Tipping Your Taxi Cab Driver

Ever wonder if you’re tipping your taxi driver the right way? For those of us who ride in taxi cabs regularly, we’ve developed a checklist of sorts in order to make the whole endeavor a bit easier. Was the ride smooth? Did the driver get you to your destination on time? Were they friendly? All of these things factor into how much you decide to tip your taxi driver. But what if you’re an infrequent user of taxis? Do you tip the same amount that you would a waiter in a restaurant? More? Less? Below are our 7 tips for tipping our taxi cab driver to help alleviate the anxiety, avoid embarrassment, and ensure that you’re properly rewarding excellent taxi cab service in the future. Continue reading

Pleasanton pet friendly taxi taking dog to Oakland Airport in Charity Cab

Are All Taxis Pet Friendly?

Are All Taxis Pet Friendly?

If you’re a dog or cat owner, or just an animal lover, then you’re probably the kind of person who wants to take your pet with you everywhere you go. We know that small dogs and cats are allowed on planes, as long as they are well-behaved and can fit under the seat. But how do owners go about getting their pets to the airport? This leads us to a question that we are often asked as a taxi company in the Tri-Valley: are all taxis pet friendly? While our drivers are happy to transport your four-legged friends, that’s not true for every cab company – or every driver within each company, for that matter. Continue reading

Airport Transportation: Is Uber Cheaper than a Taxi?

Airport Transportation: Is Uber Cheaper than a Taxi?

Many of our loyal clients have been asking us: is Uber putting a dent in your business? While the ever popular transportation alternative has certainly affected our business, we’re still not worried. Charity Cab is an awesome taxi in Dublin and beyond, and we don’t intend to halt our services any time soon..

So, the main question of this post:  is Uber cheaper than a taxi for airport transportation?

We’re here to tell you why a taxi is a better alternative than Uber for airport transportation in the East Bay Area and beyond.

  • Uber hikes its prices when demand is high.

Also known as surge pricing or dynamic pricing, Uber charges more per ride when demand is high. The logic is that people will be willing to pay more to secure a ride when demand is high. But it also means that, even though you might live in the East Bay suburbs, calling a taxi in Dublin is cheaper than Uber during high demand times, such as New Years.

 

Uber is more expensive during commute times.

On a similar note, Uber hikes its prices during Bay Area commute times. During 6am-10am and again from 4pm-8pm, Uber shows a 50% increase in the percentage of rides using surge pricing. This means that users are paying higher fares to use Uber to get to and from work.

 

Uber cannot take you to all major airports.

Did you know that taxi cabs actually have to negotiate certain airport privileges? If you’re caught using lanes that are marked for taxi or bus use only, you can face serious consequences – and fines – unless you’ve negotiated a contract with individual airport authorities. Licensed taxi companies, like Charity Cab, have to pay airport fees in order to gain access to curbside pickup and drop off locations. While Uber now has access to SFO, OAK, and SJC, nationwide, you’ll find plenty of airports where they’re not welcome. And in some major airports, Uber charges an additional airport fee for pickup and/or dropoff. Needless to say, the situation is less than clear-cut.

 

Price isn’t the only thing to consider.

While Uber drivers do go through a background check, they just don’t have to pass the same rigorous tests that cab drivers do in order to gain their license. Cab drivers also use company cars, so they need to keep them well-maintained and presentable. Uber drivers? They use their personal vehicles, which aren’t always kept in tip-top shape. Lastly, while cab drivers know their driving area like the palm of their hand, Uber drivers rely on technology to tell them where to go – which, let’s face it, isn’t always the most reliable.

So there you have it. While a popular option, the answer to the question, “is Uber cheaper than a taxi” is “not always” and “probably not for Bay Area airport transportation.”

The next time you’re looking for airport transportation or a taxi in Dublin and nearby areas, go with your favorite local taxi company instead.

Charity cab's taxi in san ramon drop off

A Brief History of the Taxi

We might think of the modern taxi as a commonplace occurrence, however the taxicab hasn’t been around forever. We’re here to share with you some brief information about the history of the taxi, as well as some interesting factoids you can share with your friends – or your cab driver on your next cab

So Who Invented the Taxi?

The taxi gets its name from the taximeter, which was invented by Friedrich Wilhelm Gustav Bruhn in Germany in the year 1891. In 1897, the first taxi with a fully functioning meter was invented by Gottlieb Daimler – it was called the Daimler Victoria. Gas-powered taxis came first to Germany, Paris, and London, and then to New York in the year 1907.

What’s With the Yellow Color?

The stereotypical yellow taxi color that is often depicted in movies (and in real life) came about in 1967, when New York created a law stating that all taxis should be yellow in color in order to make them more readily identifiable, This also cut down on fraudulent taxi drivers, since they either had to already own a yellow car or else pay hundreds of dollars to get their own car painted taxicab yellow.

Are Taxis a Worldwide Phenomenon?

Taxis have proliferated in all areas of the modern world and in various forms. While taxis can be either human powered or gas powered, we’ll focus on the more modern gas powered variety. In Afghanistan, soviet taxi cabs are the norm, whereas Australians prefer the classic Ford Falcon for their go-to taxicab. Other common car models used for Taxis are the Toyota Prius, Toyota Corolla, the Hyundai Elantra, the Scion xB, and the Volkswagen Type 1 (VW Bug). One thing’s for sure – the taxi comes in all shapes and sizes, with one goal in mind – to get passengers where they are going quickly and with excellent miles per gallon!

What Cities Have the Most Taxis?

It is unclear which city wins the race for the most taxis, but the following cities around the world have the most taxis:

  • Lima, Peru
  • London, England
  • New York City, New York
  • Mexico City, Mexico
  • Tokyo, Japan

Have another city in mind that you think has the most taxicabs? Leave a comment on this blog post!

Our team at Charity Cab is proud to continue the tradition of the fast, affordable, and friendly taxi cab driver in the East Bay and beyond. We hope to hear from you the next time you’re in need of efficient transportation in the Tri-Valley. Safe travels!

Charity Cab Taxi Servicing Dublin

Choosing a Taxi in Dublin, CA

Choosing a Taxi in Dublin, CA

When it comes to finding the right taxi in Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore, and the surrounding Tri-Valley area, it’s important to find a company that you can stick with. No matter what time of day or night, you need a cab company in Dublin, CA that is reliable, dependable, honest, and friendly. Taxi drivers see you in some of your best and worst moments, whether you are traveling to a special event, on your way to the airport, or needing a safe ride home after a long night of drinking. That’s why the reputation of each cab company and the reputation of its employees are focal points when it comes to determining which taxi in Dublin you decide to keep in your emergency contacts.

Charity Cab: A Tri-Valley Taxi You Can Feel Good About

With consistently high reviews on Yelp, we are proud of the taxi services we offer to Dublin and the neighboring regions. We are a great choice for your airport transportation in Dublin CA needs because our drivers are certified, friendly, and knowledgeable of the area. We offer the same standard services as our competitors, such as 24 hour availability 7 days a week, meaning we get you where you need to go while avoiding major traffic routes and unnecessary stress. But what truly allows Charity Cab to shine brightly is our eagerness to give back to the local community. A portion of every cab fare (yes, every!) is donated to a local Tri-Valley charity, allowing us to put people before profits and donate more than $16,000 dollars during our company’s lifetime. We know that number will only continue to grow as we extend our Dublin taxi services for decades to come.