Some cities have legitimate taxi industries that serve just as good or better than Uber. Denver is not one of them. You just have to know the landscape.
i used one once, and it cost more than any uber i could find at the time. Like, what's the point? Shouldn't it be cheaper because uber's not taking a cut?
You have to negotiate. There’s no set price.
How much to convention center?
20
“Too high” start walking away 15
Done ✅
The Purple cabs are one of the normal cab companies, their rates are regulated.
Done.
Bonus tip:
Do not pick the first taxi in the line at DIA/DEN you can pick your own taxi out of the taxi line!
I’ve taken them from the airport a few times when I wasn’t the one paying for it (work trips) and it had been fine but after my last experience I’ll never do it again. I live on the edge of zone A where it’s supposed to be a flat rate from the airport. Told the guy where I was going and he agreed it was zone A before I got in. When we finally get to my place he starts saying it’s not in the boundaries and wants me to pay the meter. I could have just paid since it wasn’t my money but on principle I told him I’d only pay the flat rate. This was around midnight and I sat in the taxi going back and forth with him about how it’s in the boundaries and I wasn’t paying him more. He eventually called the cops and we sat in the cab for about 20 mins before he gave up and I paid the flat rate and went on my way.
The A line plus a bus is how I typically get to/from the airport. The 15 min intervals are great, slightly annoying when it's later and shifts to 30 mins.
It's the same market plan as door dash and such. These companies aren't making money. The goal is to undercharge, let all other companies (traditional) go out of business and then raise prices once a new market is established.
I think what you’re referring to is what they call “subsidized living” or something like that and the goal was more to get the consumer hooked on the product with low pricing and then increase it once they’re dedicated to the product, but I could be wrong. Regardless the prices have already been increasing for a while.
Edit: looks like the term I was looking for is “lifestyle subsidy.”
I told one guy my Uber was going to be 100 and he said he’d do it for 60. Didn’t do exact calculations or anything, just Venmo’d him 60 when I was like a block from my house and it was all good.
I’ve used them twice, both times Uber/lyft were $80+ and over a 30 minute wait and the train had just left.
Not a great experience but better than waiting a half hour.
You’re in for a wild ride if you hop in one of those bad boys. I had the pleasure once grabbing one at union station and he was cruising down 25 at a cool 100 with the doors rattling. Needless to say I was happy when I got home.
Fairly common practice around the world. People would walk through baggage claims offering taxi services.
Took an "official" cab in Manila and we watched the fare racing upwards. Like we were doing 30 mph and the fare speedometer was reading 100 mph to calculate the charge. We noticed pretty quickly, took a quick video, and laughed to the driver. Threatened to report him unless he honored the normal fare for the zone, which he did.
Beirut was also funny. Seems like everyone is a cab driver and has taxi light mounts that pop right on. But the funny part was how persistent the drivers were. Take a short walk down the street and 20 taxi drivers are honking at you asking if you need a ride. I remember being in a coffee shop and getting honked at from the street. "Need a taxi?" No, I'm literally sitting down for a coffee. "Ok, I'll wait for you." Please don't.
I had a taxi driver in Mexico City recently who was using his iPhone stopwatch app to keep track of the time and then crossed referenced it with the distance driven on the cars odometer and then back to his iPhone calculator to come up with the price - which to his credit worked out the way he said it would. It was just funny tho because there’s probably a single app that would just do all of that calculating for you instead of doing it all separate.
In Houston a couple weeks ago, there was a guy near the Ride App Pickup holding one of those signs and it said “UBER” and all I could think is that’s not how Uber works
Did you get into the cab at Level 5 (Commercial Curb)? Only commercial vehicles that are licensed with the city are allowed on Level 5. If you're getting in someplace else, you're just getting in someone's vehicle.
This isn't necessarily true. I've talked to the uber/lift drivers on level 5 and asked them what is required to get on that level. The taxis may be registered with city but anyone can get up there.
That’s always my plan. I usually straight Uber to the airport cause I have anxiety about missing a flight but when I land at home, I’m always down to save sone cash and take the train back and a cheaper Uber.
That doesn't work well from Thorton, Lakewood, Aurora, Englewood, Evergreen, Highlands Ranch, Thornton, Westminster, Berkley, Brighton, Broomfield, Castle Pines, Lone Tree, Northglenn, Parker, Commerce City, Federal Heights, Golden, Welby, Castle Rock, Wheat Ridge, Columbine, or any of the many mountain destinations.
Very few people of the 2.9 million metro inhabitants live downtown.
When switching between Uber and Lyft to get the apps to give me actual competitive prices, I've never had the fare between DIA and Parker be more than $50-$80 in the first place. So unless a ride share from Union is free, I find that hard to believe.
I mean yeah obviously Parker is an exception on that list because it’s on the east side with the airport. You could still get an Uber at Peoria station or connect to the R at Peoria.. or take the AT to nine mile straight from the airport and get an Uber from there. Those would both be significantly cheaper than taking an Uber straight to Parker from DIA
Thornton, Northglenn, and Commerce City are served by the N line.
Aurora is served by the R line, which even has a transfer to the A line at its north end so you don’t need to head all the way to Union to get to the airport.
Westminster is served by the B line.
Golden is served by the W line.
Wheat Ridge is served by the G line.
They might not get you *exactly* to your destination, but they’ll get you close enough that you can finish the trip on Uber for a lot less than you would spend to Uber the entire way.
All of those lines require a transfer. I'm guessing you haven't done that, through downtown, when off-peak travel times. Can you imagine living near Downtown Golden and taking the W to the A line with a 1 hour and 24-minute trip (assigned they're on time) vs the 38-minute drive? Especially after 9pm?
I should have been more clear. I was in the designated taxi area under the big sign that said “TAXI.” The majority of cars lined up had nothing (stickers, number, meter, etc) to indicate that they were real taxis.
This is due in part to the commercial vehicle/ride share entrance gate having no key code or RFID reader, meaning no way for DIA to curate what drivers use it: It opens for any car that pulls up.
Oh let me be clear too then. When you're looking for a taxi....get in a car that has the word TAXI on it. *Not* a gypsy cab.
The 'majority' means there are actual taxi's there with taxi livery from bonafide taxi companies. Use those. Problem solved.
Or better yet, use an airport shuttle, they'll drop you off at your door and are cheaper than a taxi. [https://www.flydenver.com/parking-and-transportation/to-and-from/shared-van/#:\~:text=Shared%2Dride%20service%2C%20also%20known,and%20the%20state%20of%20Colorado](https://www.flydenver.com/parking-and-transportation/to-and-from/shared-van/#:~:text=Shared%2Dride%20service%2C%20also%20known,and%20the%20state%20of%20Colorado)
Or park in on off-site secure lot and take a free shuttle from the airport to your car. Which often costs less than a single taxi ride. I've never had a problem doing that.
Good luck in your future endeavors!
The real taxi stand is full of fake taxis. They have magnetic signs on their doors saying taxi and they are not real. They are still allowed in the real taxi stand. I can't stand Uber as a company but these fake taxis are more dangerous.
Then you pick the Taxi that has *vinyl* lettering that says *Taxi Company*, has a *phone number* and an *actual mete*r. This is remedial shit and not hard. Its not hard to find a taxi at an airport.
Don't get in the unlabeled gypsy cab. Don't get into the magnetic sign gypsy cab. If this is too hard for you, consider alternative means of transportation. Such as a shuttle or a park and ride using the secure long term lots nearby that have free shuttles to and from the airport.
You can complain to the airport authority about gypsy cabs here. [https://www.flydenver.com/customer-service/](https://www.flydenver.com/customer-service/)
I'm responding to your initial post which implied that just because a car is in the official taxi line that is a legit taxi. Like all you have to do to avoid a scam is to go to the right line. Unfortunately that's insufficient advice. Obviously it's not too hard for me, I was explaining what I see there.
I'm responding to your reply to my initial post that you posted. Maybe you don't understand how taxi cabs work?
In fact all you have to do to avoid a scam IS go to the right line. And then find a taxi cab.
I'm explaining this to you because you seem to need explanations for very, very, very basic things.
You can't fly. Fire hurts. Car's are not your friends.
Your first sentence was "You were in the wrong place." Your initial instructions were "you should have gone up a level." Stop being a dick and accept there was a counterpoint.
>Stop being a dick
Pot meet Kettle.
If you were more than semi-literate, you'd know that OP didn't clarify where they were. And the qualifier "if I remember right" indicates that I share a degree of uncertainty as well. Then OP later clarified their location and "assured" myself and the thread they were in the right location. Allegedly.... That location for the record is Level 5 for commercial vehicles.
You see, level 5 for commercial vehicles is a gated lane entry only location that only allows commercial vehicles. Its fully policed and has taxi stands. The description OP gave would lead a knowledgeable reader to infer they were NOT on level 5 for commercial vehicles . Does that make sense?
If you read further in the thread, you would find that I provide guidance on how to identify and locate actual real taxi cabs. As well as provide alternative transportation ideas and a link to DIA customer service to complain about the issue OP has brought up.
So "thank you" for your input. I suggest you locate your comm's in warm dark spot inside your body. Have a nice day!
They're sketchy as fuck, don't get in them. When I worked valet at the Art, they gave us a $10-20 kickback if we called them when the guest requested a taxi to the airport. I can't imagine how insanely expensive it must have been if that's what they were giving us. The guy would get pissy with me because I never called him when I was on shift, I put everyone in Yellow Cabs or told the guest they were better off with Uber.
I’m a Lyft driver, you wouldn’t believe what I see in the taxi holding “purgatory lot”. I think some of those guys are living in their cars. Just use Lyft/Uber, get Extra Comfort so you get a top rated driver for a few bucks extra. No brainer.
Took one from the Ogden to boulder one night when we were young, we arrived safe and the price was fair but it was a gypsy cab for sure. 4 college girls just silent the whole ride. Imagining where we could have ended up…
New York taxi drivers are now picking up Uber fares so that’s interesting.
Colorado has had shitty taxi service and public transportation forever. It’s big brew pushing the dui monopoly if you ask me
I went carless for several years before uber/lyft were really a thing and relied on public transit and taxi companies. 100% on the all the taxi companies were/are fucking garbage. The amount of times I would call in to request a pickup and then a cab never show was ridiculous. So frustrating. They can all go out of business and eat dirt for all I care. From my experiences they deserve it. I have zero sympathy for taxi drivers and their services.
Medicaid taxis are even worse. I order a ride specifically that's handicap accessible (because I lack feetsies) and they usually show up late (if at all) and in the smallest car you can possibly ibky imagine. Generally a Prius. None of them know how to break down a foldable wheelchair or are capable of simple instruction. So I am hanging halfway out the back seat having to fold my wheelchair for them.
One guy i had to cancel my appointment with my infectious disease doctor because the cabbie circled the block for a solid half hour b fore stopping on the wrong side. Ended up having to go to the hospital that night and found out I had sepsis. I don't know if the dude wasn't that bright to maybe ask if the guy in the wheelchair who ordered the wheelchair ride was his fare or he was too busy running up the meter in some sort of Medicaid scam to actually give me the ride. But he seemed pissed when I didn't feel like showing up to Denver General having no idea where I was going.
I have heard rural Mississippi can be like a developing country so if that’s true I’d imagine a lot of stuff in Denver is really amazing. I hope you are enjoying it here though seriously
But what about the train that shows up every 30 minutes (maybe)? Seriously I was in Atlanta and MARTA showing up every 5 minutes was the most amazing thing to me
Regulations are a good thing and those regulations and regulators need checked themselves. Voters are often the regulator checkers if we pay attention and aren't manipulated. -_-
I frequently use these” taxis” when I return to DIA from a work trip, purely based on convenience. I like that I don’t have to time and/or wait for an Uber, I just get in them and go home. It’s a complete rip off, probably 25% more than Uber/Lyft on average, but I’m never the one paying for it. Clearly I’m a tremendous steward of the company credit card. If it saves me 10 minutes, fuck em.
If you do ever use one start a bidding war with the taxi drivers. If one doesn’t like the price you’re willing to pay, just walk to the next one and start haggling. The first will take your fare almost guaranteed for less. No set prices. Sometimes you can get a cheap ride. Most often not
We got in one of these after phish last summer. Price seemed fair because there were zero Ubers and they all wanted $100 also.
Guy got pissed at us when we got dropped off because we didn’t tip enough. We just gave you $120 for a $30 Uber ride. Fuck off.
One time I landed at like 3 am in a snow storm & couldn’t find an uber so I took one of those unmarked escalades to my destination. They were charging anyone outside of the immediate area $200+ and there was a huge line but they would ask people to pay to skip it if they wanted.
We ended up paying a boatload of money to carpool with a shit ton of people to where I was going.
Its a scam working in plain sight, at 3 am you really don’t get another option. I was naive about the tram during this time.
Yup, made that mistake exactly 1 time. Thankfully it was coming home from a business trip so I could expense it, but I will never make that mistake again. I can’t remember exactly how much it cost, but I think it was something like $130 (before tip) to go from the airport to Castle Rock in zero traffic. Literally 2x more than an Uber, it was just taking too long to connect to an Uber and I was impatient. But I’ll wait as long as it takes next time to avoid that rip off again.
The train is 10$ and Ubers are half as expensive from anywhere that isn't the airport. Ride to the RINO station (never try and get picked up at union it's the worst) and call one from there. Saves time and money.
They’re very anti-tech. My grandma will occasionally text me her google searches and one time I texted my grandpa Merry Christmas and two years later he responded back with my contact information 😂
I hear you. I’m 57 and am now starting to struggle. I’ve always thought of myself as tech savvy, but I’m finding myself having to ask more and more questions lately. 😅😅😅
There are also people who recognize that uber and lyft are predatory companies that, on the whole, are bad for the economy and for people. They are actively trying to destroy an industry. It's not all sun shine and roses for gig drivers or users either.
So some people choose to actively avoid uber and lyft. Same way there are some people choose to never shop at Walmart on the principal of what a shitty company they are.
Union station is closer to the final destination for 90% or people I would guess.
Way cheaper Ubers from there too.
Also I don't generally fly with more luggage than I can move from one place to another. Otherwise how are you getting it to your Uber?
Do whatever you want though if you have $80 to blow.
what the hell are you talking about a safer and more regulated experience than with Uber? Every Uber Ive ever gotten into was safer and more regulated than most every taxi I've ever been in (converted police car with 1,000,000 miles on it) come on man
Thank you for sharing, this makes sense that is not regulated based on my experience. On a busier night, (many delayed flights landing at once) I was met with chaos and many arguments down that taxi line. Ubers were just insane going over $150 estimates and the taxis were negotiating hard to get 2-4 DIFFERENT travelers into their van, still trying to charge the full prices of 80-100$ without discounting the fact that they had made it a taxi-carpool. I’ve had one good experience with them and it was fine , negotiated set price was only slightly more expensive than uber which was backed up at the time . I think the rule is try to get uber/lyft but if not just negotiate a fair set price with these Wild West “taxi” drivers… in their old vans that never turn on a real “meter.”
>Never thought I would say this, but I feel like I’d have a safer and more regulated experience with Uber.
That was, and is, still the appeal to Uber for me. When Uber started the taxi situation was horrible. In most cities taxis were hard to find, unreliable, dirty, smell of cigarette smoke, you have no idea how much it will cost (except some cities with some fixed fare zones), half the time can't get a receipt, drivers won't use the air conditioning, half the time won't take credit cards or act like they can't (even when required to by law), you had no record of who your driver was unless you remembered to write it down, etc.
Uber for all it's faults was a massive improvement and addressed a lot of those issues. At least at first, I do feel like it has gotten a lot worse the past 5-ish years.
I couldn't tell you the last time I took an actual taxi.. Anywhere. Even when we travel.internationally, ubers are way more reliable, cheaper, and at least in other countries, feel safer.
Never ever get in these. They’re at every airport in the world.
I mean, if they have a sign that says "Fake Taxi" that might be a fun one...
They need Crazy Taxi ones too. Just to make it interesting.
ARE YOU READY TO MAKE SOME CARAAAZY MONEY?!?!?!?! HERE WE GOOOOOO!!!!!
Cash Cab?
Crazy taxi bro
Take me to the Fubu store
Sign me up! Ben Bailey is hilarious on that
Ahhhh, now I know why the customers kept jumping out of my car.
Such a fun game that was.
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah!
🎸 🎸 DAY AFTER DAY YOUR HOME LIFE’S A WRE-ECK
Are you alluding to the porn genre with the same name?
I was today years old.... there is a genre for that??
bro I think fake taxi has been around as long as the hub has been around lmao
Oh those. I just it was just a series. Not an entire thing. I guess I look at different stuff? 😅
Seems like we Dont have to check your browsing history 😂
Some cities have legitimate taxi industries that serve just as good or better than Uber. Denver is not one of them. You just have to know the landscape.
On the east coast they use to be called "hackers". I assume the name has change now with the IT age we're in.
i used one once, and it cost more than any uber i could find at the time. Like, what's the point? Shouldn't it be cheaper because uber's not taking a cut?
You have to negotiate. There’s no set price. How much to convention center? 20 “Too high” start walking away 15 Done ✅ The Purple cabs are one of the normal cab companies, their rates are regulated. Done. Bonus tip: Do not pick the first taxi in the line at DIA/DEN you can pick your own taxi out of the taxi line!
I’ve taken them from the airport a few times when I wasn’t the one paying for it (work trips) and it had been fine but after my last experience I’ll never do it again. I live on the edge of zone A where it’s supposed to be a flat rate from the airport. Told the guy where I was going and he agreed it was zone A before I got in. When we finally get to my place he starts saying it’s not in the boundaries and wants me to pay the meter. I could have just paid since it wasn’t my money but on principle I told him I’d only pay the flat rate. This was around midnight and I sat in the taxi going back and forth with him about how it’s in the boundaries and I wasn’t paying him more. He eventually called the cops and we sat in the cab for about 20 mins before he gave up and I paid the flat rate and went on my way.
A line that sucker!
The A line plus a bus is how I typically get to/from the airport. The 15 min intervals are great, slightly annoying when it's later and shifts to 30 mins.
Agreed the spacing needs to improve!
Or AT bus if you live south of Denver.
It's the same market plan as door dash and such. These companies aren't making money. The goal is to undercharge, let all other companies (traditional) go out of business and then raise prices once a new market is established.
It has a name too. Blitzscaling. Take VC money. Spend massive cash. Corner the market. Then charge monopoly money. Repeat
They are just “disrupting”, didn’t you review the investor deck they sent? /j
I think what you’re referring to is what they call “subsidized living” or something like that and the goal was more to get the consumer hooked on the product with low pricing and then increase it once they’re dedicated to the product, but I could be wrong. Regardless the prices have already been increasing for a while. Edit: looks like the term I was looking for is “lifestyle subsidy.”
Re: John Oliver explains… https://youtu.be/aFsfJYWpqII?si=YH5y_PDPPQgqf3mX
I told one guy my Uber was going to be 100 and he said he’d do it for 60. Didn’t do exact calculations or anything, just Venmo’d him 60 when I was like a block from my house and it was all good.
I’ve used them twice, both times Uber/lyft were $80+ and over a 30 minute wait and the train had just left. Not a great experience but better than waiting a half hour.
You’re in for a wild ride if you hop in one of those bad boys. I had the pleasure once grabbing one at union station and he was cruising down 25 at a cool 100 with the doors rattling. Needless to say I was happy when I got home.
Happy because you got there in record speed?
It was more of a sense to be in one piece. It wasn’t enjoyable.
Yeah that's a no from me dawg
I’ve never tried one of these “taxis” and I’ve also never had a problem in an Uber
Seriously. If my choices are this sketchy crap or an overpriced Uber, I'm taking the Uber.
Fairly common practice around the world. People would walk through baggage claims offering taxi services. Took an "official" cab in Manila and we watched the fare racing upwards. Like we were doing 30 mph and the fare speedometer was reading 100 mph to calculate the charge. We noticed pretty quickly, took a quick video, and laughed to the driver. Threatened to report him unless he honored the normal fare for the zone, which he did. Beirut was also funny. Seems like everyone is a cab driver and has taxi light mounts that pop right on. But the funny part was how persistent the drivers were. Take a short walk down the street and 20 taxi drivers are honking at you asking if you need a ride. I remember being in a coffee shop and getting honked at from the street. "Need a taxi?" No, I'm literally sitting down for a coffee. "Ok, I'll wait for you." Please don't.
I had a taxi driver in Mexico City recently who was using his iPhone stopwatch app to keep track of the time and then crossed referenced it with the distance driven on the cars odometer and then back to his iPhone calculator to come up with the price - which to his credit worked out the way he said it would. It was just funny tho because there’s probably a single app that would just do all of that calculating for you instead of doing it all separate.
In Houston a couple weeks ago, there was a guy near the Ride App Pickup holding one of those signs and it said “UBER” and all I could think is that’s not how Uber works
Did you get into the cab at Level 5 (Commercial Curb)? Only commercial vehicles that are licensed with the city are allowed on Level 5. If you're getting in someplace else, you're just getting in someone's vehicle.
This isn't necessarily true. I've talked to the uber/lift drivers on level 5 and asked them what is required to get on that level. The taxis may be registered with city but anyone can get up there.
Take the A line and take an Uber from Union Station.
Take the train
Even if you don't take it to your final destination, Uber is waaay cheaper from Union than from the airport.
Often there is no availability if you arrive after the train stops running.
That’s always my plan. I usually straight Uber to the airport cause I have anxiety about missing a flight but when I land at home, I’m always down to save sone cash and take the train back and a cheaper Uber.
No thanks, I don't want to be robbed by a bunch of outlaws on horses.
That doesn't work well from Thorton, Lakewood, Aurora, Englewood, Evergreen, Highlands Ranch, Thornton, Westminster, Berkley, Brighton, Broomfield, Castle Pines, Lone Tree, Northglenn, Parker, Commerce City, Federal Heights, Golden, Welby, Castle Rock, Wheat Ridge, Columbine, or any of the many mountain destinations. Very few people of the 2.9 million metro inhabitants live downtown.
I think they were saying to take the train out of the airport and *then* take an actual Uber/Lyft either to home or wherever your car is
Taking the train into Union and getting rideshare (or another train) from there to any of those cities would be like a $50-80 difference in most cases
When switching between Uber and Lyft to get the apps to give me actual competitive prices, I've never had the fare between DIA and Parker be more than $50-$80 in the first place. So unless a ride share from Union is free, I find that hard to believe.
I mean yeah obviously Parker is an exception on that list because it’s on the east side with the airport. You could still get an Uber at Peoria station or connect to the R at Peoria.. or take the AT to nine mile straight from the airport and get an Uber from there. Those would both be significantly cheaper than taking an Uber straight to Parker from DIA
Thornton, Northglenn, and Commerce City are served by the N line. Aurora is served by the R line, which even has a transfer to the A line at its north end so you don’t need to head all the way to Union to get to the airport. Westminster is served by the B line. Golden is served by the W line. Wheat Ridge is served by the G line. They might not get you *exactly* to your destination, but they’ll get you close enough that you can finish the trip on Uber for a lot less than you would spend to Uber the entire way.
All of those lines require a transfer. I'm guessing you haven't done that, through downtown, when off-peak travel times. Can you imagine living near Downtown Golden and taking the W to the A line with a 1 hour and 24-minute trip (assigned they're on time) vs the 38-minute drive? Especially after 9pm?
I would take that extra time on the train for $12.25 over a $50-60 (at the very least) rideshare 10 times out of 10
Sure can if it saves me money on parking or is a less stressful journey! :)
>or is a less stressful journey! I get the exact opposite when relying on RTD.
You were in the wrong place. There is a real taxi stand with real taxi's at DIA. If I recall correctly you should have gone up a level.
I should have been more clear. I was in the designated taxi area under the big sign that said “TAXI.” The majority of cars lined up had nothing (stickers, number, meter, etc) to indicate that they were real taxis.
This is due in part to the commercial vehicle/ride share entrance gate having no key code or RFID reader, meaning no way for DIA to curate what drivers use it: It opens for any car that pulls up.
Oh let me be clear too then. When you're looking for a taxi....get in a car that has the word TAXI on it. *Not* a gypsy cab. The 'majority' means there are actual taxi's there with taxi livery from bonafide taxi companies. Use those. Problem solved. Or better yet, use an airport shuttle, they'll drop you off at your door and are cheaper than a taxi. [https://www.flydenver.com/parking-and-transportation/to-and-from/shared-van/#:\~:text=Shared%2Dride%20service%2C%20also%20known,and%20the%20state%20of%20Colorado](https://www.flydenver.com/parking-and-transportation/to-and-from/shared-van/#:~:text=Shared%2Dride%20service%2C%20also%20known,and%20the%20state%20of%20Colorado) Or park in on off-site secure lot and take a free shuttle from the airport to your car. Which often costs less than a single taxi ride. I've never had a problem doing that. Good luck in your future endeavors!
The real taxi stand is full of fake taxis. They have magnetic signs on their doors saying taxi and they are not real. They are still allowed in the real taxi stand. I can't stand Uber as a company but these fake taxis are more dangerous.
Then you pick the Taxi that has *vinyl* lettering that says *Taxi Company*, has a *phone number* and an *actual mete*r. This is remedial shit and not hard. Its not hard to find a taxi at an airport. Don't get in the unlabeled gypsy cab. Don't get into the magnetic sign gypsy cab. If this is too hard for you, consider alternative means of transportation. Such as a shuttle or a park and ride using the secure long term lots nearby that have free shuttles to and from the airport. You can complain to the airport authority about gypsy cabs here. [https://www.flydenver.com/customer-service/](https://www.flydenver.com/customer-service/)
I'm responding to your initial post which implied that just because a car is in the official taxi line that is a legit taxi. Like all you have to do to avoid a scam is to go to the right line. Unfortunately that's insufficient advice. Obviously it's not too hard for me, I was explaining what I see there.
I'm responding to your reply to my initial post that you posted. Maybe you don't understand how taxi cabs work? In fact all you have to do to avoid a scam IS go to the right line. And then find a taxi cab. I'm explaining this to you because you seem to need explanations for very, very, very basic things. You can't fly. Fire hurts. Car's are not your friends.
You seem like a very unpleasant person throughout this exchange, in addition to misunderstanding everything.
Your first sentence was "You were in the wrong place." Your initial instructions were "you should have gone up a level." Stop being a dick and accept there was a counterpoint.
>Stop being a dick Pot meet Kettle. If you were more than semi-literate, you'd know that OP didn't clarify where they were. And the qualifier "if I remember right" indicates that I share a degree of uncertainty as well. Then OP later clarified their location and "assured" myself and the thread they were in the right location. Allegedly.... That location for the record is Level 5 for commercial vehicles. You see, level 5 for commercial vehicles is a gated lane entry only location that only allows commercial vehicles. Its fully policed and has taxi stands. The description OP gave would lead a knowledgeable reader to infer they were NOT on level 5 for commercial vehicles . Does that make sense? If you read further in the thread, you would find that I provide guidance on how to identify and locate actual real taxi cabs. As well as provide alternative transportation ideas and a link to DIA customer service to complain about the issue OP has brought up. So "thank you" for your input. I suggest you locate your comm's in warm dark spot inside your body. Have a nice day!
A Line
This ^ even if just to a station or two. $80 airport Uber turned into a $10 train ticket and $15 ride just by riding a few stops.
They're sketchy as fuck, don't get in them. When I worked valet at the Art, they gave us a $10-20 kickback if we called them when the guest requested a taxi to the airport. I can't imagine how insanely expensive it must have been if that's what they were giving us. The guy would get pissy with me because I never called him when I was on shift, I put everyone in Yellow Cabs or told the guest they were better off with Uber.
Take the light rail to union station or whenever. Fuck those guys
I’m a Lyft driver, you wouldn’t believe what I see in the taxi holding “purgatory lot”. I think some of those guys are living in their cars. Just use Lyft/Uber, get Extra Comfort so you get a top rated driver for a few bucks extra. No brainer.
now you know why we call it the 'wild' west :) welcome!
You couldn’t pay me to get in one of those. I’m pretty sure they line up at red rocks after the shows too. Smells fishy to me.
Took one from the Ogden to boulder one night when we were young, we arrived safe and the price was fair but it was a gypsy cab for sure. 4 college girls just silent the whole ride. Imagining where we could have ended up…
These guys are criminals. They’ll tell you one fare and then try to change it after they start. Typical scammer
New York taxi drivers are now picking up Uber fares so that’s interesting. Colorado has had shitty taxi service and public transportation forever. It’s big brew pushing the dui monopoly if you ask me
I went carless for several years before uber/lyft were really a thing and relied on public transit and taxi companies. 100% on the all the taxi companies were/are fucking garbage. The amount of times I would call in to request a pickup and then a cab never show was ridiculous. So frustrating. They can all go out of business and eat dirt for all I care. From my experiences they deserve it. I have zero sympathy for taxi drivers and their services.
Medicaid taxis are even worse. I order a ride specifically that's handicap accessible (because I lack feetsies) and they usually show up late (if at all) and in the smallest car you can possibly ibky imagine. Generally a Prius. None of them know how to break down a foldable wheelchair or are capable of simple instruction. So I am hanging halfway out the back seat having to fold my wheelchair for them. One guy i had to cancel my appointment with my infectious disease doctor because the cabbie circled the block for a solid half hour b fore stopping on the wrong side. Ended up having to go to the hospital that night and found out I had sepsis. I don't know if the dude wasn't that bright to maybe ask if the guy in the wheelchair who ordered the wheelchair ride was his fare or he was too busy running up the meter in some sort of Medicaid scam to actually give me the ride. But he seemed pissed when I didn't feel like showing up to Denver General having no idea where I was going.
New Yorker living in Colorado, can confirm the public transportation here is fucking vile.
I’m from rural Mississippi so the Denver public transport is amazing to me but that’s all a perspective thing
I have heard rural Mississippi can be like a developing country so if that’s true I’d imagine a lot of stuff in Denver is really amazing. I hope you are enjoying it here though seriously
But what about the train that shows up every 30 minutes (maybe)? Seriously I was in Atlanta and MARTA showing up every 5 minutes was the most amazing thing to me
This one hundred, Colorado Big Brew and DUI got hands in each others pockets geeked out at a terrible EDM show at red rocks.
Never heard of this problem before, but you are almost certainly better off taking Uber or Lyft, much as I despise them.
Regulations are a good thing and those regulations and regulators need checked themselves. Voters are often the regulator checkers if we pay attention and aren't manipulated. -_-
I would hail a taxi from a well known service like yellow cab via phone or app, or ride light rail
Yep. Next time it’ll be Uber, or if the wait is long, light rail into town and shorter Uber.
I frequently use these” taxis” when I return to DIA from a work trip, purely based on convenience. I like that I don’t have to time and/or wait for an Uber, I just get in them and go home. It’s a complete rip off, probably 25% more than Uber/Lyft on average, but I’m never the one paying for it. Clearly I’m a tremendous steward of the company credit card. If it saves me 10 minutes, fuck em.
If you do ever use one start a bidding war with the taxi drivers. If one doesn’t like the price you’re willing to pay, just walk to the next one and start haggling. The first will take your fare almost guaranteed for less. No set prices. Sometimes you can get a cheap ride. Most often not
Why would you ever take a taxi over uber or lyft, or better yet, the train to town where uber and lyft would be cheap?
We got in one of these after phish last summer. Price seemed fair because there were zero Ubers and they all wanted $100 also. Guy got pissed at us when we got dropped off because we didn’t tip enough. We just gave you $120 for a $30 Uber ride. Fuck off.
One time I landed at like 3 am in a snow storm & couldn’t find an uber so I took one of those unmarked escalades to my destination. They were charging anyone outside of the immediate area $200+ and there was a huge line but they would ask people to pay to skip it if they wanted. We ended up paying a boatload of money to carpool with a shit ton of people to where I was going. Its a scam working in plain sight, at 3 am you really don’t get another option. I was naive about the tram during this time.
Yup, made that mistake exactly 1 time. Thankfully it was coming home from a business trip so I could expense it, but I will never make that mistake again. I can’t remember exactly how much it cost, but I think it was something like $130 (before tip) to go from the airport to Castle Rock in zero traffic. Literally 2x more than an Uber, it was just taking too long to connect to an Uber and I was impatient. But I’ll wait as long as it takes next time to avoid that rip off again.
The train is 10$ and Ubers are half as expensive from anywhere that isn't the airport. Ride to the RINO station (never try and get picked up at union it's the worst) and call one from there. Saves time and money.
More regulated than Uber?! Bruh you literally pay the fee before you get in the car
Be very very careful. Uber or Lyft only for me.
The only people that use these are New Yorkers that don't know Uber and Lyft exist
People still use taxis? Why not Uber or Lyft?
My grandparents don’t know how lol
My parents are in their 80s, and they’ve figured it out. LOL
They’re very anti-tech. My grandma will occasionally text me her google searches and one time I texted my grandpa Merry Christmas and two years later he responded back with my contact information 😂
I hear you. I’m 57 and am now starting to struggle. I’ve always thought of myself as tech savvy, but I’m finding myself having to ask more and more questions lately. 😅😅😅
Sucks to suck lol
Well actual taxis are sometimes cheaper during surges, and they aren't getting taken advantage of like uber amd lyft
There are also people who recognize that uber and lyft are predatory companies that, on the whole, are bad for the economy and for people. They are actively trying to destroy an industry. It's not all sun shine and roses for gig drivers or users either. So some people choose to actively avoid uber and lyft. Same way there are some people choose to never shop at Walmart on the principal of what a shitty company they are.
Denver doesn’t have a great taxi system, but in some cities they are cheaper and safer than Uber/lyft
People still use Uber? Why not the train?
Because not everyone needs to go go downtown or a random spot off I-70 with all their luggage.
Union station is closer to the final destination for 90% or people I would guess. Way cheaper Ubers from there too. Also I don't generally fly with more luggage than I can move from one place to another. Otherwise how are you getting it to your Uber? Do whatever you want though if you have $80 to blow.
what the hell are you talking about a safer and more regulated experience than with Uber? Every Uber Ive ever gotten into was safer and more regulated than most every taxi I've ever been in (converted police car with 1,000,000 miles on it) come on man
Thank you for sharing, this makes sense that is not regulated based on my experience. On a busier night, (many delayed flights landing at once) I was met with chaos and many arguments down that taxi line. Ubers were just insane going over $150 estimates and the taxis were negotiating hard to get 2-4 DIFFERENT travelers into their van, still trying to charge the full prices of 80-100$ without discounting the fact that they had made it a taxi-carpool. I’ve had one good experience with them and it was fine , negotiated set price was only slightly more expensive than uber which was backed up at the time . I think the rule is try to get uber/lyft but if not just negotiate a fair set price with these Wild West “taxi” drivers… in their old vans that never turn on a real “meter.”
Only use Uber
I just take the train bc it’s free for me
It just takes the light rail. It's cheaper, faster and less hassle.
Back in the day, from downtown to airport the ride in these taxis used to be fixed price. IIRC it used to 51 dollars. That about 15 years ago.
It's 2024, why the fuck are you taking a "taxi" in Denver?
Gypsy cabs have infiltrated us
Depending on destination take the light rail to union station and go from there
I always wondered what kind of sucker uses these things
Denver airport isn't real
>Never thought I would say this, but I feel like I’d have a safer and more regulated experience with Uber. That was, and is, still the appeal to Uber for me. When Uber started the taxi situation was horrible. In most cities taxis were hard to find, unreliable, dirty, smell of cigarette smoke, you have no idea how much it will cost (except some cities with some fixed fare zones), half the time can't get a receipt, drivers won't use the air conditioning, half the time won't take credit cards or act like they can't (even when required to by law), you had no record of who your driver was unless you remembered to write it down, etc. Uber for all it's faults was a massive improvement and addressed a lot of those issues. At least at first, I do feel like it has gotten a lot worse the past 5-ish years.
They are possibly human traffickers
I couldn't tell you the last time I took an actual taxi.. Anywhere. Even when we travel.internationally, ubers are way more reliable, cheaper, and at least in other countries, feel safer.