The pros and cons of private taxis versus public transportation

Since the first publicly owned streetcar system was built in Victorian times and the first horse-drawn carriage owner began offering his taxi services and founded the first taxi company to compete, private vans and public transport they have locked themselves in what can only be described as an eternal struggle for patrons. Here’s what you need to know about the problem, how it affects you, and why a way to move people from one end of a major metropolitan area to the other might be faster, easier, more reliable, or less expensive.

cost versus time

One of the main ways to differentiate public transport from taxi companies is by cost. Public transportation is often less expensive than a rental car trip, especially since bus and train fares are always the same for every trip. Also, you can buy a monthly bus pass or train ticket at a discounted price. Meanwhile, when you get into a passenger car, that meter kicks in and continues to tick throughout your entire trip, no matter how many red lights you may run or what kind of traffic you end up stuck in.

Of course, the tradeoff when it comes to public transportation is speed. A bus or train that has to make several stops along a given route may be relatively inexpensive, but your trip will take much longer than necessary, especially if your public transportation follows a circuitous route. However, you are likely paying a premium for your trip to get to your destination much sooner as a result of driving there directly with no stops. If time is of the essence, relying on that option is likely your best bet. If you’re not worried about getting there quickly, you may prefer the reduced cost of public transportation.

There is no need to see them as enemies

The idea that taxi companies and public transportation like trains, buses, and subways are diametrically opposed to each other is popular. Things often fall apart in an “us vs. them” mentality, but there’s really no need to consider public and private transportation at odds. In fact, there is even evidence that many travelers use both regularly; in fact, sometimes even on the same day.

Evidence collected recently in New York City shows that a large number of commuters will either take private transportation to work or take one home, but not both. Arrival and destination figures for the afternoon journey, compared to the morning journey, were found to differ greatly; In other words, the same number of people who take a taxi to work don’t take personal vans home at the end of the day. Obviously, these people do not sleep in their offices overnight, but rather take public transportation. In other words, buses, trains, and the ubiquitous taxi all work together to get people to and from work, so why not use—and celebrate—both?