I have been surprised by how many passengers are actually scared of riding in a cab! I know alot of it has to do with sterotypes created by movies, and the fact that you are placed in an enclosed space with a complete stranger. The truth be told most cabbies have some kind of fear everytime a new passenger is picked up. There is no guarantee that this passenger won't be the one that robs you at gun point, is a runner (doesn't pay for the cab ride), is a rapist, assaults you for whatever reason, or is impaired in judgement by alcohol or drugs causing more issues than needed. Cabbies take more risk then a passenger because they have more passengers.
A passenger told me one day that she was scared of riding in the cab and that is why she always had someone else ride with her. She had finally gotten over that fear, and my only thought was I wish I could some days. I still remember the first real fearful attack and the first crime related rider. I had already been through the intoxicated passed out rider who threw a punch when awakened, the rider who was off his medication so paranoia set in type of assault, plus the usual verbal stupidity riders, but the one that really scared me made me also more alert.
He was just another intoxicated passenger so I thought when he got in to the cab. Throughout the ride he made comments that made me on guard and uncomfortable. When we arrived at his destination that's when things went bad. I got out of the cab to help him just like I had for several drunk riders. I was more on guard than I had ever been, but wasn't really sure why. I unlocked the door to his home and turned towards the cab, but he stood in my way. He said that he heard a noise in the house and wanted me to check for robbers. I told him no and as I began to walk around he blocked my path repeating his request and stating that I had to help him. I quickly moved the other direction and got around him letting him know I would call the police to help him. That's when I heard him say "get her", and I was chased to my cab by two dogs while he yelled that "the devil is at work tonight". I went immediately to the police station and spoke with an officer to only be relieved that my intuition (gut) may have saved my life. This man had multiple counts of rape, assault, arson, and so on. I was more scared after I learned this then before, but I learned to listen to my gut that day.
The next reminder that you never really know who your picking up until it's too late was the bank robber. It was a typical call in, and nothing was out of the ordinary once the passenger was picked up. He wanted to pay the $5.00 fare with a $50.00 so I asked him to please go back into the restaurant and get change because we don't make change for that large of a bill. He was very polite and did exactly what was asked of him without any question. After he made change and returned to the cab we discussed his wish to change his destination to an out of town area, and I let him know that we currently couldn't complete that run. I took him to his original destination with a understanding that once the current runs were completed he would be picked back up to go out of town. Along the way I noticed a sheriff patrol looking into my cab as I drove by, and when I turned onto another road a different police patrol got behind me. It was then that I began to be concerned about my current passenger, and whether or not I remembered to use my blinker. The passenger and I continued to have a very polite conversation until we reached his temporary destination. As he exited the cab the patrol car pulled up, and the officer quickly stopped the passenger. I wasn't certain what was going on or if I needed to stay there. I stepped out of the cab and asked if I could leave, and was told to go on they had my number if they needed me. It wasn't until later when we received a call that I needed to speak with the FBI that I knew what my passenger had done. I counted my blessings that day knowing that if this robber had not been so polite, and/or was armed my day could of ended very differently.
If your scared of riding in a cab or know someone who is...consider for just a moment how the cabbie might feel about another stranger climbing in the cab.
A passenger told me one day that she was scared of riding in the cab and that is why she always had someone else ride with her. She had finally gotten over that fear, and my only thought was I wish I could some days. I still remember the first real fearful attack and the first crime related rider. I had already been through the intoxicated passed out rider who threw a punch when awakened, the rider who was off his medication so paranoia set in type of assault, plus the usual verbal stupidity riders, but the one that really scared me made me also more alert.
He was just another intoxicated passenger so I thought when he got in to the cab. Throughout the ride he made comments that made me on guard and uncomfortable. When we arrived at his destination that's when things went bad. I got out of the cab to help him just like I had for several drunk riders. I was more on guard than I had ever been, but wasn't really sure why. I unlocked the door to his home and turned towards the cab, but he stood in my way. He said that he heard a noise in the house and wanted me to check for robbers. I told him no and as I began to walk around he blocked my path repeating his request and stating that I had to help him. I quickly moved the other direction and got around him letting him know I would call the police to help him. That's when I heard him say "get her", and I was chased to my cab by two dogs while he yelled that "the devil is at work tonight". I went immediately to the police station and spoke with an officer to only be relieved that my intuition (gut) may have saved my life. This man had multiple counts of rape, assault, arson, and so on. I was more scared after I learned this then before, but I learned to listen to my gut that day.
The next reminder that you never really know who your picking up until it's too late was the bank robber. It was a typical call in, and nothing was out of the ordinary once the passenger was picked up. He wanted to pay the $5.00 fare with a $50.00 so I asked him to please go back into the restaurant and get change because we don't make change for that large of a bill. He was very polite and did exactly what was asked of him without any question. After he made change and returned to the cab we discussed his wish to change his destination to an out of town area, and I let him know that we currently couldn't complete that run. I took him to his original destination with a understanding that once the current runs were completed he would be picked back up to go out of town. Along the way I noticed a sheriff patrol looking into my cab as I drove by, and when I turned onto another road a different police patrol got behind me. It was then that I began to be concerned about my current passenger, and whether or not I remembered to use my blinker. The passenger and I continued to have a very polite conversation until we reached his temporary destination. As he exited the cab the patrol car pulled up, and the officer quickly stopped the passenger. I wasn't certain what was going on or if I needed to stay there. I stepped out of the cab and asked if I could leave, and was told to go on they had my number if they needed me. It wasn't until later when we received a call that I needed to speak with the FBI that I knew what my passenger had done. I counted my blessings that day knowing that if this robber had not been so polite, and/or was armed my day could of ended very differently.
If your scared of riding in a cab or know someone who is...consider for just a moment how the cabbie might feel about another stranger climbing in the cab.