Passenger Rights and Responsibilities when Hiring Taxi Service in Richmond, VA

In order to experience a hassle-free taxi service in Richmond,VA, passengers should be aware of their rights and responsibilities regarding the services they are about to avail. Actually, knowing this information should be mandatory in order for passengers to acknowledge that they fully agree with the terms and conditions of the taxi service company. In addition, passengers would also know what to do or who should be contacted if they have complaints. With the intention to help you get started, provided below are the responsibilities and rights of passengers when hiring taxi services in the city.

Passenger Responsibilities

When traveling in a taxi, it is your responsibility to wear a seatbelt at all times for your safety. Failure to do so might nix your claims for insurance in the occurrence of an accident. If you book a taxi service prior to a trip, it is also your responsibility to pay the taxi service company upfront with the agreed down payment. Once you’re in the cab, you should also pay the fare displayed at the meter. In addition, pay the driver appropriately if there are surcharges for waiting time and extra passengers.

It is also the obligation of passengers to not consume alcohol and other illegal substances while traveling in a taxi. Also, passengers should not do anything to endanger the safety of other passengers, the driver, the vehicle, as well as other person outside the vehicle. It is not also advisable to do any form of distractions to the driver during the ride. Furthermore, passengers are not allowed to ask the driver for anything illegal such as running red lights and over speeding. By committing these freewheeling actions, the driver has the right to ask passengers to get out of their vehicle. 

Passenger Rights

By availing a taxi service in Richmond, VA, passengers have the right to issue orders regarding the route of their destination as long as the driver and the taxi company agreed that this route is legal and safe to traverse. In case you did not specify a route, the driver will take the most direct route to your destination. In case you left something in the taxi, you are entitled to claim it within seven days. If the item is still unclaimed beyond this time period, the taxi service company will then forward your lost item to the police station. 

Filing Complaints

If your complaint is about any of the following, you should forward it to Department of Transportation or to the Better Business Bureau.

1.    Taking incorrect route

2.    Being denied a hiring just because you are in a wheelchair

3.    Overcharging

4.    Being rejected a hiring from a taxi zone

5.    Serious unfitting behaviors such as verbal/physical harassment

However if you have minor complaints only such as dissatisfied with the service, it is highly advisable to directly contact the operator or the taxi service company. They will investigate your complaint and the people involved will be notified about it. After filing complaints, it’s simply commonsense to keep an eye for the particular taxi service company so you can avoid hiring their services in the future. Most of the minor complaints about the taxi service in Richmond, VA include the driver being late, bad-mannered, doesn’t help passengers with their luggage, and drives poorly. Once you experience these unprofessional services, move on and try other service providers.   

Conclusion

As taxi service companies and their drivers have their own duties and responsibilities in catering professional and ethical taxi service in Richmond, VA, so do the passengers. Be cognizant of the above-mentioned passenger rights and responsibilities so you will have a smooth and trouble-free taxi ride at all times. 

Essential Information about Taxi Service in Richmond, VA

Taxi service in Richmond, VA is indeed an integral part of the city’s passenger transport system. Unlike public buses which regularly transport large number of passengers over particular routes, taxis and cabs could only take a maximum of four passengers directly to their desired destination anytime they want. In addition, hiring the services of a taxi company is more advantageous than riding buses because it assures not only the timeliness of your arrival, but more importantly, your utmost safety.

                   

How to Catch a Taxi?

Basically, you can get a cab in many ways including hailing an approaching one down the street, calling a taxi driver (if you have their contact information), calling a taxi service provider, or directly going to nearby taxi ranks. When waving down a taxi, make sure to do this in a safe and uncrowded area. Do not attempt to hail a cab in the middle of the road, instead, wave them from a sidewalk or pavement.

If you contact a taxi service company, make sure to provide the exact location where you want to be picked up, as well as the exact time. In case a “taxi zone” is close to your location, it is highly advisable to go straight to them to ensure that you will get a cab. You would easily recognize a taxi zone because it is an open section of a public street where taxis can park if they are available for hire. Taxi ranks are often lengthy especially if there are lots of taxis available. In addition, taxi ranks are regularly situated in business, shopping and nearby hotel areas of the city. However, you should know that there are temporary taxi ranks in the area which are only available during certain hours of the day.

How to Know If a Taxi is Available for Hire?

If you want to schedule a taxi service in Richmond, VA, you can directly contact the taxi service company to determine if they have available units given your specified time, date and location. If you are out on the street, you cannot hire a cab if it’s parked on a public street unless it is within a taxi rank. In addition, you cannot hire a taxi during a red light because the traffic light might change abruptly. If you persist on hiring a taxi during this time, this can cause traffic, accident, or annoyance to other motorists.

If the taxi is out on the street and is available for hire, the sign on their roof should be turned on. In case the cab is not available for hire when out in the street, a clear and visible signage should be apparent.

How Long Should You Wait For a Taxi Service?

There are instances when a lot of people are simultaneously waiting for a taxi in a single area, like after a concert or event. In this case, you need to wait a little longer until taxi drivers pass along the information to other drivers that the area needs additional taxi units. Moreover, if you are waiting outside the central business district of the city, you also need to wait longer than usual. In these instances, hiring a taxi service in Richmond, VA would surely come in handy. Apart from the fact that taxi service companies can respond to your transportation needs faster, they also offer booking requests for their returning clients. This can be really advantageous to seamlessly plan your itineraries.

Conclusion

Keeping the above-mentioned information in mind would certainly help you to have a prompt and hassle-free trip around the city and its surrounding areas. It is highly advisable to keep the pertinent information of your chosen taxi service company so whenever you need a professional and timely taxi service in Richmond, VA, you can simply dial their number. 

Tipping Etiquette when Hiring Taxi Service in Richmond, VA

Knowing how much to tip a taxi driver is not simple because they are not always easy to understand given the brief interaction you have with them during a ride. Some cab drivers are a paragon of professional service as they help you take your bags in and out of their trunk and always open your door, while some drivers might rumble as they carry out the same pieces of courteous acts. Needless to say, tipping nice drivers who provide quality and well-mannered taxi service in Richmond, VA can be easy since you will not regret giving them ample amount. However, it is always hard to tip cab drivers who are unethical or who provide mediocre services.

Some passengers might even wonder if it is really necessary to tip taxi drivers. If you are experiencing the same predicament, paint a picture in your mind of what happens when you do not tip the driver at all. Typically, they might stick to the usual job description of a “driver”; they will simply drive you to your destination. This implies that they would not open the door for you, and would “conveniently” forget to help you take your belongings out of their trunk. In order to lessen the chance of going through this scenario, it is highly advisable to tip the driver upon payment.

In a busy city like Richmond, taxis are an essential part of personal, leisure and business networks. For instance, if you always go to airport for regular trips, having a regular driver who can provide you with on the dot taxi service in Richmond, VA is more of a necessity rather than option. Moreover, having a regular cab driver ensures your smooth and hassle-free transportation even if you’re too busy to book a schedule. In case you have a regular cab driver, tip him regularly and nicely. Aside from the fact that you frequently require his service, you surely want to see him happy and eager to serve you. Thus, tipping your regular driver satisfactorily will definitely compel him to take extra care of your belongings and road transportation. As much as possible, tip him about 20% of your total fare to compensate their genial, friendly and professional service. Always keep in mind that tipping your regular driver should be as natural as a handshake between parties at a business meeting.

In case you encounter a cab driver who grumbles as he condescends to take you to your destination, still, give him a tip. Needless to say, you do not want him to get any madder. The question, however, is how much the right amount is for these kinds of drivers. Let’s say for instance that your fare reaches $25. If the driver is not really courteous or friendly at all, a buck would suffice. However as a rule of thumb, the most gracious tip you can provide to these “unfriendly” cab drivers should be at least 15% of your total fare. In the example provided, tip them at least $3.75. If you have extra five bucks, give them the whole amount. Do not let the driver ask for a tip because he might require a higher amount, which they do not deserve in the first place because of their poor manners and services. The main reason for still tipping these drivers is that you might run into them again in the future. Of course, you do not want them to just pass you by especially if you urgently need a taxi service in Richmond, VA. Believe it or not, these drivers can recognize their previous passengers!

In closing, providing a tip to whoever offers you services is a great gesture. So, tip nice drivers with 20% (or more) and not-so-nice drivers with 15% (or less) of your total taxi fare. In this way, you would never bother asking yourself again how much is the appropriate tip for their respective taxi service in Richmond, VA.