Introduction
According to the internet, this is a legitimate way to hail a cab in Reading:
Clap your arms like a bird to signal the driver that you are going to an airport. I have yet to prove the validity of this tip, but riding a cab in Reading doesn’t have to be complicated. So, in this blog, we are going to cover everything to ride the iconic vehicles that roam Reading.
You can call them taxis, or you can call them cabs, and everybody will know what you’re talking about. There’s also a green taxi in Reading, and the difference between a yellow taxi and a green taxi is that a yellow taxi can pick up passengers anywhere within Reading. A green taxi cannot be picked up in certain central areas.
Yes, I know it’s the age of shared rides like Uber, and there are some people in Reading who can’t remember the last time they took a taxi. But there are instances where it’s far more convenient and cost-effective to take Reading cab services over ride-share services, and vice versa. Usually, if you’re going short distances within Reading, I recommend taking a taxi.
How to Get a Taxi in Reading
There are three ways to get a taxi in Reading.
The first option is to raise your hand on the side of the street and hail a taxi. Nothing fancy, just this simple act to make yourself visible. If you are a tourist staying in Reading and you don’t want to hail a cab for yourself, especially when it’s raining, you can always ask the doorman of your hotel to do that for you. But if you do ask for the service, the doorman is going to expect a tip. Also, in Reading, two to three pounds is reasonable.
The second way to order a cab is to use Google search for Reading cab services. And yes, taxi services in Reading have caught up to the technology that Uber is using. They’re only a decade late, but it’s finally here. The website opens to a screen like; “Book A Car Today”. Fill up the form using your own credentials. But if you don’t find a cab near you and you want to order one, you can choose to get one ASAP or schedule one, but both of these options have fees.
The third way is to call a dispatcher. This is picking up the phone, calling a Reading cam services company, and giving them your address and the time you want a cab.
Before the age of Uber, if you needed to be at the airport, you would call the dispatcher and ask that a taxi be at your door at. Lets say, three in the morning. You would pray to God that the taxi is going to show up at your door on time. Calling a dispatcher to order a cab is old school but it still exists.
How to Give Directions to a Taxi Driver
Cab drivers in Reading know the city layout well. Having said that, though, spouting out a street address or the name of an establishment that you want to go to is not the most efficient way to let the cab driver know where you’re going. Unless it’s a very popular establishment like the Oracle Mall. No matter how popular a restaurant is on Instagram, there’s a good chance that your driver will not know where that is. Even if you give them the street address of that restaurant, they might still need to look that up on a GPS. The most effective way to tell your driver where you are going is by giving them the cross street.
Reading does not have a simple grid layout like Manhattan. So just give the cab driver the intersection nearest your destination. The convention is that you say the street name first and then the landmark. But it’s not the end of the world if you switch them up as long as you mention the landmark.
Cost and Methods of Paying
In general, as I mentioned earlier, if you are staying within Reading and travelling short distances, I recommend taking Reading taxi services over an Uber. This could potentially cost less, if not the same. Also, it’s far more convenient because the taxis are already there, whereas with an Uber, you have to somehow sync up with the driver.
If you’re coming from Heathrow or Gatwick, you might also save money by using a cab. I will discuss this in my later blog about when it is better to take a taxi versus an Uber and vice versa.
The price of a cab is best explained with the receipt for my recent taxi ride. The actual fare is based on the meter; the meter starts at £2.50 once you get in the cab. Then it’s an additional 50 pence per one-fifth of a mile or 50 pence for every minute the cab is idle or in slow traffic. Fees and surcharges are added to the fare.
In the UK, and Reading in particular, there is a tipping culture; it’s expected that you tip your cab driver 15% if the service is satisfactory. 20% if exceptional, and at the minimum, 10% is expected. Although tipping is customary and expected, it’s not obligatory. So if you just had the cab ride from hell, there is no judgment if you don’t tip.
So…
How do you pay for a cab?
There are two ways:
- You can pay with old-fashioned, cold, hard cash. If you do, make sure your largest bill is £20. It is because cabs might not have change for a £50 or £100 bill.
- The second way is to pay with a credit or debit card; there is no minimum charge or transaction fee when you use a credit or debit card.
With that, thank you so much for understanding and happy riding in Reading!
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