If you've ever walked around Osaka, you'll see taxis parked right up against the cross walks with their doors open.At first when I witnessed it I was kind of stunned, but have gotten used to seeing them.
Coming from the States, I figured that when one wanted to take a taxi, one would jump in the one farthest from the cross walk, because that taxi was first in line.
Well, in Osaka, you jump in the one closest to the cross walk.
The taxi that is in front of the taxi you jumped into would then back-up and wait for the next customer.
No stress to walk all the way to the front of the line of taxis, since in Osaka "time is money".
Only thing I don't like about taxis in general here in Japan is that they wait for customers with their engines idling.
If Japan really wants to cut down CO2 emissions, I think they may need to look here first.
How interesting!
ReplyDeleteThey haven't converted to LPG yet?
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting. I'll make sure to remember that. I still can't believe I tipped the taxi driver from Haneda Int'l to Haneda Domestic terminals almost 1000Y because I was freaking out thinking I was late for my connecting the 1st time I flew to Japan! The guy took it too! Hahaha! Oh well, time is money!
ReplyDeleteI really find it quite interesting about the way taxi drivers operate around the world-no matter where, we are always hanging on for dear life! Thanks for the info!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kirbie :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Mikuru, I have a feeling they are using LPG but with 10,000 something taxis in Osaka alone, engines running, they could still do more to cut carbon emissions.
Eep! 1000 yen is a very nice tip Rick :)
I think the scariest taxi ride we had was in NY Jann :)
Take care everyone!
Kat
I was envisioning that in my head and it was like...how cool is that! More easy for anybody crossing from one side to the side with the taxi. Jump right in and away you go. Interesting post.
ReplyDeleteanother thing Rowena, is that the door that is open, is controlled by the driver, so you don't need to close the door either :)
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
The driver controlled doors always used to throw me off there! I always tried to close them myself. ;-)
ReplyDeleteDebinhawaii,
ReplyDeleteSome drivers get testy when you try to touch the door, guess they don't you to break the mechanisms.
Take care.
Kat
Interesting.
ReplyDeletePaz ;-)
Thanks Paz!
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
Please write a skit about those guys who sit in their parked cars in a side alley, the motor running, the AC cranked up - but with the window down. They freak me out, especially since Japan pretends to be "green" all the time...
ReplyDeleteThanks Florian,
ReplyDeleteI've seen them with the AC and motor running, never with the window down though. I agree that they pretend to be "greener" than they are.
Take care.
Kat