I live in North Africa. Sometimes foreigners and expats assume that only they are getting taken advantage of by taxi drivers. It’s always reassuring when we find out that the locals get ripped-off, too. (Misery loves company!)
My local-country citizen, North African friend, who lives in another part of our country, recently arrived in my city by train. He asked me, “How much does it cost to get a taxi from the new train station to the main square?”
I told him he had to be careful of the taxis which park right next to the train station, as they wait there to charge rip-off fares to everyone. I told him if he could walk about two blocks, he could find taxis at the normal fare. Unfortunately, he had too much luggage to do that.
Being a local North African citizen in his own country, he was able to get a taxi at only double the normal fare, although the taxis do get away with charging five times the normal fare to foreigners. Instead of driving around looking for fares, those taxis find it easier to sit in a line all day, and just make up for the lack of fares by charging only one very expensive fare! It’s a bit like prostitutes who are unwilling to work for normal wages at a normal job, and charge a high price for a few hours of work.
My friend replied, “Taxi whores! hahaha”
So I’m afraid I can’t take credit for this clever name…..
–Lynne Diligent
N.B — There are many honest taxi drivers; it’s just sometimes hard to find them when you need them!
