Taxi Services

Taxis provide greater flexibility in meeting the needs of individual travellers and are often faster than other forms of public transport.

They can also be cost-effective if four or five people are going to the same place. Maxi-cabs (which seat 6 or more) and wheelchair accessible taxis are also available.

An extra 100 taxis will be on the road from August 1998 to supplement afternoon and early evening services.

Catching a taxi

There are three ways to catch a taxi.

1. Hail a cab on the street
Vacant taxis have an orange roof light illuminated. Hail the taxi where there is enough room at the kerb for the driver to stop safely and pick you up.

2. Wait at a taxi rank
There are taxi ranks throughout the city and suburbs, at railway stations, shopping centres and major hotels. Choose any taxi on the rank.

3. Phone a taxi network
You can phone for a taxi to pick you up. If you have any special needs, tell the network when you make the booking. Phone bookings attract a $1 service charge.

Taxi telephone numbers

ABC Cabs...........................	132 522
Legion Cabs........................	131 451
Manly Warringah Cabs.........	131 668
Premier Radio Cabs.............	131 017
RSL Cabs...........................	132 211
Silver Service.......................	133 100
South Western Cabs............	132 788
St George Cabs...................	132 166
Taxis Combined Services......	9332 8888
TTY....................................	9331 3585
Yellow Cabs........................	131 924
Zero 200 Wheelchair Accessible Taxi.................	9332 0200

What it costs to hire a taxi

Taxi charges are regulated by the Department of Transport. The maximum charges at November 1998 are:

Flagfall:             $2 once the meter is                          started.
Distance:           $1.17 per kilometre.
Waiting time:     0.55 cents per minute

These charges are calculated by the taxi meter and are shown as the 'fare'.

Other charges may be payable. These will appear on the meter as 'extras' and include:

>Phone bookings: $1 surcharge per taxi.

>Toll charges: Passengers pay any toll or
ferry charges that apply to the journey,
and the return toll for northbound trips on
the Harbour Bridge or Tunnel.

Under the taxi regulations the total fare to be paid will be shown on the taxi meter as 'fare' plus any 'extras'.Every taxi in Sydney should display this sticker (below), called a taxi users charter of rights. It lists rights and responsibilities for both the driver and passenger.

Complaints or compliments

If you have any comments about your driver or taxi trip, phone the Department of Transport's Taxi Hotline 1800 648 478. You will need the taxi's number plate, the driver's number, the network and the time and date of the journey.

Lost property

If you have left something in a taxi, ring the taxi network as soon as possible.

Hire Cars (Limousines)

A number of private companies provide hire car (limousine) services. For contact details look in the A-K Yellow Pages under "Hire Cars".

For more details click on any of these links:

http://www.dollarcar.com.au

http://www.bnm.com/sydney.htm

http://www.sydney-hotels.net/cars.htm

http://www.atn.com.au/nsw/syd/sydcar.htm

http://www.australia-hotels.net/rentals/carsacr.htm

http://www.redspotrentals.com.au/home.html