safety and bogota taxis??

[typher]

I will be in Bogota next week and was told to always call ahead for a taxi and have it wait for you. How safe is it to flag down a taxi on the street? I will be in the North part and would like to move around without being charged to hold a taxi for a few hours. Any help would be appreciated.

Typher

[LatinIntro]

... in response to safety and bogota taxis??, posted by typher on May 22, 2005

Always try to call for a cab. Please dont run a chance of grabbing one on the street. The odds are probably 1 in 100,000, but who needs to take a risk?
These are some taxi numbers in Bogota
Tele-cooper: 2-222-111
Radio-Taxi: 3-111-111
Tax-Express: 4-111-111

[papi]

... in response to safety and bogota taxis??, posted by typher on May 22, 2005

I felt safe hailing taxis in the north part but do be careful with the airport, that is dangerous. I believe the airport stories below and know a Tico who was robbed at gunpoint at the airport. Better to have the hotel send someone for you. Also, it does make sense to have the hotel call a taxi but again i never had a problem in the north

[jediknight]

... in response to safety and bogota taxis??, posted by typher on May 22, 2005

a few things you should always keep in mind, know where you are going,if you are not sure then ask someone who knows before you get into a cab about the best route, let someone know of your where abouts, carry a cell phone with you in hand with the destination number of the person you are meeting if you need directions or need to call them right away. cab drivers will almost always ask you how to get to your destination, not because they don't know, they do, but to see if YOU know. if they see you are clueless they'll take the longest route to jack up the price. also remember that nights and weekends they tack on a service fee, i forget how much but it's something around 1,400 pesos, give or take a 100.
JK

[pablo]

... in response to Re: safety and bogota taxis??, posted by jediknight on May 22, 2005


All good points Jedi.  One other comment about that service fee, it should be added to the meter on, not have the driver leave it off merely because it's evening/early AM hours.  Think of it as a propina.
 
When traveling with a Latina and that meter is broken (as some can be) let her do the negotiating before you take off.  She will know what a fair price is.

[Jamie]

... in response to safety and bogota taxis??, posted by typher on May 22, 2005

My wife’s sisters friend a Colombian visiting from Spain is believed to have taken a taxi from the Bogota airpot and was never seen again. I have had many women tell me or tell me of friends that have been robbed in taxis. I had one gringo who only bought addresses from me tell me he and his friend were robbed by an aiport taxi in BAQ. I believe all these incidences happened at night. If you don’t or your company does not have knowledge of your surroundings to be on the safest side it would be best to call or use taxi’s that have been approved by the hotel or the establishment. In some places the establishment will record where you are going and who is taking you there. For the most part flagging a cab in good condition during the day should not be a problem but there certainly have been incidences of problems.

Engage the Exotic – Latin Women
http://International-Introductions.com

[wizard]

... in response to safety and bogota taxis??, posted by typher on May 22, 2005

Never had a problem hailing a taxi anywhere in Bogota... I've had to give them directions before though... lol... Just keep your eyes & ears open, stay out of south Bogota and you'll be Ok...

[Avispa]

... in response to safety and bogota taxis??, posted by typher on May 22, 2005

I've hailed them off the street during daylight, wouldn't do it at night though.
I've also walked extensively in the North, day and night, without problems. Your mileage may vary.

[pablo]

... in response to safety and bogota taxis??, posted by typher on May 22, 2005


Calling ahead is certainly the safer method but I never had a problem hailing a taxi off the street in Bogota and the north end is relatively safe.  

I would actually pick and choose a little before deciding which taxi to flag.  I'd go for the newer looking cars and the drivers without that caffeine crazed look in their eyes or the drunken stupor look.

The taxi drivers without any passengers won't pick you up if they have a little red light on in the front window, shotgun side as they are responding to a call.  BTW, the way the locals hail a taxi is arm extended, palm extended to ground, flap fingers in unison, pretending to be Tweety-Bird.  Make sure he turns on the meter after picking you up to avoid the gringo tax.

Have a great time in Colombia.

[Gringo Loco]

... in response to Re: safety and bogota taxis??, posted by pablo on May 22, 2005

If you are going to travel on a regular basis. I suggest you find someone you like and can trust. Then get their number for when you return. Only 2 people ever know when I come to Colombia and one of them is my Taxi Driver the night before and well the other I would rather not say.

I am not saying be paranoid, I am just saying take precations because you never know what could happen.

I was with my buddy of mine and we took money out of an ATM while a cabby waited for us. When we got back in the car he asked us where we wanted to go agin for a second time. And said he would have to see our money. We ended up having to get out of the car at the next red light having no idea where he was taking us.

Was he going to rob us? I can't really say. We made sure that wasn't going to happen.

I always say that Colombia is a safe place if you want it to be.

Regards,

Michael Hurles
www.yourlatinwife.com
The new era of International Relationships!

[Jamie]

... in response to Re: Re: safety and bogota taxis??, posted by Gringo Loco on May 23, 2005

I never use the same taxi to take and return me from the bank.
Michael get in touch with me when you are in town.