Quote from: Cindy on November 27, 2015, 01:10:58 AM
I use taxis a lot, uber is here but so far I haven't used it.
There was a recent Facebook account by taxi operators in Victoria in Australia where people just slammed poor service, smelly taxis, sexist attitudes etc.
So what are horror and of course good stories?
I always sit in the back seat. I get chatted up a lot (sort of like it). I've stopped two drivers and got out because of the foul smell. And I've told a few drivers that if they text on their phone I'll report them to the police.
I haven't had any issues due to being TG, just from being female.
I have had some great drivers who have been very kind, helpful and protective.
So how about the rest of us?
Even though you live in Australia, Cindy, those sorta things you describe happen with me sometimes too here in the States. I get misgendered alot though, especially because my ID is still registered under my assigned name at birth. And I couldn't have asked for a more effeminate name. >.> This is usually an issue with new drivers or ones who have not seen me in a long time. I'm constantly having to tell them that I prefer to be called Phoenix. I usually don't bother tellin' 'em to address me as a man or with male-only pronouns unless they start adding ma'am or miss as a suffix to my preferred name. Then sometimes I even have to tell them I am TG. So far, the ones I have told about being TG have received it so well. I wouldn't have to either if that ID said Phoenix instead. And then the gender marker still reads "F" for female. Yeah, these taxis I ride are for dialysis which is done through my insurance. So the drivers have to know my identification status before they get me. Kinda sucks.
There are rude and polite drivers. I had all the experiences you described. I seriously hate the smelly ones. One guy is decent enough but his cab smells like mildew. The same smell my dad comes home with from work or after he has been outside for a while. One guy threatened to drop me back off where he picked me up from because I requested that he shut off his radio. Even though I tried to reach out to the supervisor of the taxi company a multiplicity of times, I only managed to get a hold of her once and gave up ever since. Yeah, she sucks bad. One guy, who seems alright, gets distracted way too easy and actually fumbles for his paperwork to show me stuff while he is driving. He actually turns his entire body away from the front of his vehicle where he should be focused on to look at me and give me something while driving. I've seen drivers play on heir cellphones as they drive. I wanted to say something, but I don't cause I am afraid they will get upset and kick me out.
In fact, this kinda happened one time. This guy told me to get out of his car because he said I was acting rude. Its a long story, but before he decided to kick me out I did apologize to him and admitted that I may seem a bit agitated because I was waiting to be picked up from dialysis for almost three to four whole hours from 2:30pm to 6:00pm and I am hungry as well as tired. He asked me accusingly, 3 times, if my name is what it says it was on the information he had to which I said, "Again, yes, that is my name." This response led him to have me gladly removed from his nasty vehicle, only to return to the dialysis center to be further scolded by a dialysis tech because my presence there would cause him and his co-workers to have to be there longer.
Ever since, I have been obsessed with getting home faster than a bat outta heck. A-Anyway, I'm pretty OCD now when it comes to these cabs. I don't like 'em, but I am thankful I do have a way to get back and forth to my treatments and doctor's appointments when necessary. And that's what really counts!^^ And yeah, I feel some of that sexist attitude too since its almost impossible to fully pass right now, especially since my ID still reads as "F" with my assigned name at birth. But to be honest, I think guys and gals can be sexist to guys too, you know?
