Clean, Safe And Efficient? Cabs Put To The Test

The Sunday Age

Sunday October 15, 2006

EBONNIE LORD

THE SUNDAY AGE tested eight taxis - four trips from Shiel Street in North Melbourne to the Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, and four return journeys. This is what we found:

? Difference in price: $11.40; lowest $26, highest $37.40.

? Difference in time: 17 minutes; shortest trip 22 minutes, longest 39 minutes.

? Difference in routes: Not much. Most went via the Eastern Freeway and took the Burke Road exit. One went via Brunswick Street and Bell Street.

? Number who looked in the Melway: Four of the eight needed to look up Shiel Street.

? Cleanliness of cabs and drivers: All passable, some very clean. All drivers wore uniforms, some were ironed.

? Comfort: Air-conditioning was on in three of the eight taxis. One had a radio playing loudly.

? Driver attitude: All very friendly, one slightly sleazy. All safe drivers, apart from some tailgating and a few risky U-turns.

? Ethnicity: Two Indians, one Ukrainian, one Iraqi, one Somalian, one Eritrean, two Asians.

? Overall experience: Pleasant rides, some interesting conversations, generally pretty safe.

© 2006 The Sunday Age

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