Hamilton Ontario's Unofficial Taxi Page

November 8, 2005

Taxi Regulation in the City of Hamilton: A Salient Local Example of Government Failure.

This study attempts to explain how a posse of self congratulatory but ultimately ignorant and insensitive politicians have created a grossly unfair system. Recent regulatory reforms in the City of Hamilton benefit a few wealthy businessmen while leaving the majority of industry participants in a state of grinding poverty.

March 16, 2005

Cowardly Statists Harass the Weak

I started driving a taxi in the summer of 1977. I had just (in)completed my first year of college that April. By the time July slid around I figured I should find myself a summer job.... then I saw an ad at the student job bank. Someone was asking for people with a knowledge of Hamilton to drive cab.

"Hmmmm....", I thought. Taxi driving might be an interesting job. Go places, meet interesting people, make good money plus tips. Why not?

Subsequently, I learned a few facts of life as it relates to taxi driving in Hamilton:

1. there is no place to go
   • "take me to the Moosehead."
   • "take me to the Carleton."
   • "take me to the Balmoral."
   • "take me to the Galley Pump."
   • "take me to the Wellington House."
   • "take me to Copper John's."
   • "take me to Hawzies."
   • "take me to de-tox."
    
   
2. there are very few interesting people
   • "I'm gonna pick up a six pack and go watch the game." (lucky you)
   • "Will the groceries all fit in there?"
   • "Is it OK with you if I just puke out the window?"
   • "I've been drinking for the last 72 hours."
   • "The Leafs are winning!"
   • "Belch."
   • "They have the money at the other end."
   • "I've been drinking for the last 72 hours."
   • "That Harris is an asshole."
   • "I'm a senior"
   • "I've been drinking for the last 72 hours."
   • "Don't worry driver, it was just a fart."
   • "I just put my hand in something!"
   • "take me to de-tox."
    
   
3. Money?
   • if you want to keep on smoking and drinking resign yourself to living in some room above a tavern.
   • and if you want to eat.... you'd better quit smoking and drinking anyway.

Are you a cab driver? Do you carry a cellphone to get a little extra business directly from your passengers? If so, you may want to get some business cards printed with your cellphone number on them. Click on the banner below for a pretty good deal.

1. Taxi Rates in Hamilton
2. Taxi Experiences and Reflections
3. Hamilton Ontario's Unofficial Taxi Page
   
4. Yellow Cab Dispatch Circa 1979.
   
5. Taxi Links
   
6. Happy Cab Drivers
   
7. Not Happy Cab Drivers?
   
8. Liz
   
9. Ed Findlay.
   
10. Jaspal Gill
    
11. Amjid Malik
    
12. Harpo Marx Lives