Category Archives: Insight

Insight

The Best Questions to Ask a Cabbie

Chicago cabbies are not just known for their superb driving skills, they are also known for being friendlier than other cabbies around the country, or even the world. They are, after all, used to driving tourists all over the city. And knowing what a beautiful city this is, they’ve probably had hundreds of conversations with passengers from all over, too.

But sometimes, cabbies won’t be the first ones to talk. Hop into a Universal Taxi and you’ll find that sometimes, these cabbies can be quite shy, too. Cases like these, they’re just waiting for you to ask the right questions. Any of these questions below would be the cue for them to start revealing their friendly selves:

  • “Busy day?”

Any human being would actually enjoy being asked how their day has been, especially if you’ve been behind the wheel the whole day. This is one question that would trigger a great conversation, with the cabbie telling you anything from that accident he witnessed downtown to the famous passenger he drove just before you hailed him.

  • “Pulling in a few extra hours?”

This is perfect if you booked a ride through the Universal Taxi app really late at night. It could prompt the cabbie to tell you about a new home he’s hoping to buy, or a nice gift he wants to get for his daughter. Every hour worked beyond the usual will always have a story behind it, and that’s one great story for you to hear as you drive from point A to point B.

  • “Ever had any famous passengers?”

Probably every cabbie has had a famous passenger, especially if they’ve been driving around the city for quite some time. If you chanced upon a cabbie who’s fairly new in the business however, there’s a possibility that they haven’t been lucky just yet. In this case, you can always follow that up with “I bet you’ve had some weird ones though.”

  • “You been in Chicago long?”

Although cabbies seem to have mastered the streets of Chicago, not all of them have lived around here all their lives. If you’re new around the city, maybe this will give you the chance to meet someone who also hails where you come from. And when you’re lucky enough to experience that, you’re going to find yourself enjoying the ride as you reminisce about home.

  • “How’s business these days?”

This is a particularly touchy subject, knowing that cabbies are still at war with ride-sharing services. It’s the best way to get your cab driver to talk though, knowing that they would definitely have a lot to say about the subject. If you’re the type who enjoys political conversations and other pressing issues, then this is the perfect question for you to ask.

Starting a conversation with a cabbie could be the best thing you can ever do in Chicago. It’s a great way for you to get a glimpse inside a local’s mind, and could score you a few pointers from someone who knows every road and corner in the city as well.

Insight

Three Stress-Free Ways to Commute in Style

Commuting is and will always be part of big-city life, and Chicago is no different. You’ll need to ride trains, buses, and cabs to get to where you need to be. And like in any other city, this can be a taxing and stressful activity.

For some people, they even find this as a huge waste of time because all you do is wait until you get to your destination. But this doesn’t always have to be the case. Technology has brought about a means to make commuter life easier such as MP3 players, smartphones, and the Universal Taxi app.

  • Pamper yourself during the commute.

Yes, you read that right, you can pamper yourself while riding the train or bus. Of course, this doesn’t mean getting a massage or a sponge bath during the ride. What you can do is to enhance the way your body feels.

You can increase the endorphins (a brain chemical that is responsible for making you feel positive) by listening to your favorite tunes. Better yet, why not sing along? You don’t have to belt out loudly while in the bus, you can just whisper or sing mildly. Humming or singing in your head is also good since you don’t want to bother other people.

Another way to pamper yourself is to relax your eyes. This is particularly important for those with office jobs that require them to stare at computer screens all day. This can be extra stressful to your entire body. So why not try to relax your eyes by simply following the 20/20/20 rule. Focus  and look at an object about 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. Another great exercise is to roll your eyes clockwise, then counter-clockwise, and then up and down.

  • Make it productive.

Take this extra time to do something productive. Take a book with you and read. Better yet, learn something new by bringing a textbook or a how-to book. You can even try to learn a new language! And with the advent of modern technology, you don’t even have to bring an entire book with you, you can opt for e-books and read on your smartphone.

If you have an upcoming sales pitch or presentation, take this time to practice it! Go over your body language and memorize your lines. Go over the entire thing over and over in your head so that when the time comes, you won’t seem nervous or forget anything.

You can also try to save money while using the public transport system. Take out a pen and paper to track your spending for the past few days and try to budget your money to make sure you are maximizing your funds.

  • Make it easier.

Of course, with new technology comes even better ways to avoid a stressful commute brought to you by Universal Taxi. Just download the app onto your phone and login your location and destination. A taxi cab will soon be there for you. Safe, reliable, simple, and easy, this is the best way you can avoid all the hassle and stress of your daily commute.

With the help of these hassle-free tips, you can arrive at work as fresh as you were when you left the house.

Insight

Tips to Survive Chicago’s Public Transportation

Chicago has the second largest public transportation system in the United States. There are several different transport systems to choose from, such as the Metra Commuter Rail, the city buses, or taxi cabs. But if you are new to the Windy City, you might find it confusing at first because of all the routes available. So, here are tips to help you survive Chicago’s public transportation.

  1. Plan Ahead

There are a lot of places to visit and things to see in Chicago. To get the most out of your travel, plan ahead on the order of places to go to. This way, you’ll spend less time finding your way and more time enjoying the sights and sounds.

You should also learn which routes to take. Check out which sites are close to train stations or bus stops. You can use a regular map or an online map so you know the location of the places you want to visit and the landmarks you need to watch out for. If you wish to book a cabbie for the duration of your stay in Chicago, go for one who is under a legitimate taxi operating company. Take Universal Taxi Dispatch, for instance.

  1. Check Transportation Fares

Chicago offers you several ways to pay for your transportation. You can pay in cash or through your credit card. There are also transit cards you can load up with your money for easy fare payment. Choose which option is best for your itinerary. If you plan to switch your mode of transportation depending on your schedule, choosing a limited-use card is wiser than buying a full metro card.

  1. Know Your Ride

Chicago public transportation is divided into three major modes:

  • Riding the Bus

When commuting in Chicago, you would most probably take a bus. It is easy as long as you know which bus stops to wait in and what bus you should take. This is precisely the reason why it is important to plan ahead. Always check the destination signs on the bus to make sure you are on the right one.

  • Riding the Train

You can purchase Ventra Cards or tickets in every train station in Chicago. You can also load money into your card if you already have one. Also, each station has a map, so you can double check where you are and where your destination is. Follow the signs to get on the right train.

  • Riding a Taxi

Of course, the most convenient way to get around the Windy City is to ride a taxi since it can take you from point A to point B directly. And Universal Taxi has made it even easier for you to book a cab simply by downloading its app, input where you are and your destination, then a taxi will be dispatched to your location and take you to your next destination. On top of that, you can always be sure that Universal Taxi cabbies are polite, courteous, and professional.

 

For you to enjoy the best of this great city, we encourage tourists to take all three modes of transportation for a fuller and richer vacation in Chicago.

Insight

How to Act when the Cab Driver Goes into a Mild Road Rage

In a study conducted by a Connecticut auto club, commuters in 25 prominent U.S. metropolitan areas recorded occurrences of road rage in their city. This includes tailgating, profanity, and other aggravating tendencies. Out of 25 cities, Chicago ranked seventh with the worst road rage incidents. Here at Universal Taxi Dispatch, we aim to lower that rank by mentoring our taxi drivers on how to deal with road rage.

 

Road Rage Reaction as a Passenger

 

According to the US Department of Transportation, if you commute to and from work every day, you most likely spend a minimum of one hour each day in a vehicle. This amount of time raises the likelihood of you to experience road rage, even as a passenger.

 

A mildly upset cab driver because of justifiable circumstances, like a motorist who carelessly cuts him off, is easy to pacify. The hard part is when you encounter a taxi driver who takes personal offense over every little thing on the road. So, as a passenger, what is the proper way to respond when your cab driver is well into a full-blown road rage? Here are two helpful tips:

 

  1. Stay calm and sharp.

 

In actuality, when your taxi driver experiences the rage, there isn’t a great deal you can do. When he turns to you and howls, “Can you believe that? Did you see what happened? Where did that idiot learn to drive?” there is very little that you can say since the questions are rhetorical. Moreover, you can’t put a stop to the driver’s genuine feelings. His knee-jerk reaction is something you can’t prevent whether you are in agreement with him or not. In fact, either response from you can potentially make his feelings worse. If you agree with him, you validate his reaction. If not, you can frustrate him more that can make a bad situation worse. What you can do is to stay calm, vigilant and sharp. Don’t make further comments that will push him over the edge.

2. Get the driver’s attention off the road.

 

Obviously, this doesn’t mean that you avert his attention so much that he can’t properly drive anymore. Divert his attention by talking to him. If you already have an ongoing conversation that gets off track due to the road rage, the most sensible thing to do is maneuver the conversation back to the original topic. If you haven’t chatted with him yet, this is the perfect time to start a conversation. Choose a mundane topic, something that can’t get him more excited or fired up. You can also pick a topic that calls for a good amount of thought to keep the conversation going. For instance, talk about kids or mutual hobbies. Make sure to bring up topics that the driver can relate to.

 

If the driver is mildly upset, it’ll be an easy task to divert his attention. However, if he’s incredibly mad or out of line, it’s wiser, for your own safety, to ask him to stop so you can get out of the car. Lastly, make sure to report the incident to the cab service company. The Universal Taxi Dispatch, and other Chicago cab companies for that matter, will benefit a lot from this kind of feedback.

Insight

Riding a Cab around Chicago versus Taking the L

In any huge city like Chicago, there are always a number of options to get around. This can actually make commuting around the city quite confusing, but there are always pros and cons that you can consider beforehand so that you can make the most out of the time you have.

Among all the different transport choices in Chicago, it often boils down to two final options – taking the elevated train, more fondly known as the L, or taking a cab through any reputable company like Universal Taxi.

What are the risks? What are the advantages? Let’s take a look at each choice.

The Elevated Train

The El or the L takes you to different places in and around the city rather quickly. Remember that because this is a train, you do not have to worry about traffic jams or road accidents that could delay you from getting to your destination. Commuter trains are also different in every city, so getting on the L is definitely advisable if it’s your first time in Chicago.

You would have to think about what time you’ll be taking the train though, as it can get really crowded during rush hour. This is one thing that you have to consider, especially if you have no plans of getting to your destination all wrinkled up. Always check which train you are boarding as well, as different lines take you to different parts of the city as well, and you wouldn’t want to get lost and waste even more time.

Taking a Cab

The greatest thing about taking a cab around Chicago is that it picks you up right where you are, and drops you off right where you need to be. If you’re lucky enough to get an awesome cabbie, you can even find out more about the sights that you should be seeing. You would also be a lot more comfortable as compared to taking the L.

Of course, taking a cab would also mean that you would have to deal with traffic. Because of this, it is advisable to book a cab early and leave enough travel allowance for you to ensure that you get to your destination on time. Universal Taxi has a mobile app that allows you to book a cab anywhere, anytime, so it’s best that you take advantage of features like these to make the commute easier.

At the end of the day, it would all depend on what you are looking for and what you want to experience as you visit Chicago. For first-timers, it is probably best to take the L and experience how it feels like to be a regular Chicago commuter. Once that experience has been crossed off the list, you can enjoy the rest of the sights by getting a cabbie to take you around. Cabbies are always the best people to ask for recommendations on places to see, and you may even find a few surprises around every corner with their expert help.

Insight

Top 5 Tools for Taxi Commuters

American commuters spend an average of 50 minutes in a vehicle each day. That’s almost equivalent to an hour-long lunch break or an entire episode of Chicago P.D. These precious minutes shouldn’t be wasted staring at the same diet pill ad or an acne prevention billboard every day. Taxi commuters can make the most out of this travel time with the right commuter tools. Here are five I highly recommend.

  • Traffic Navigation App

At Universal Taxi, we make sure that our cab drivers are updated with the ins and outs of the city, particularly about news relating to transportation. As a commuter, it’s important that you have your own traffic navigation app to check the traffic situation before you hit the road. This way, you’ll be able to calculate if you need to adjust your time to avoid being late for your appointment. A traffic navigation app also helps in determining if your usual route is suddenly ridden with road hazards due to a vehicular accident.

Waze is a great navigation app.

  • Audio Books

If your commute takes over 15 minutes, an audio book can help you easily pass the time. Reading in a moving vehicle is bad for the eyes. Listening to a book is the next best thing. If you’d rather read than listen to a new story, you can always find an audio version of your favorite book and listen to it. It would be like hearing the story from a new perspective while making the most out of your commute time.

Try Audible.com for

  • Safety Kit

Each time you commute, you expose yourself to possible road accidents and disasters. That is a reality experienced by both public and private commuters. And while that fact can’t be denied, being proactive can be a big help in the event of a vehicle hijack, mugging, or accident. Pharmacies and drug stores sell ready-made safety kits. You can also build your own emergency kit. The basics include a couple of medical paraphernalia (antiseptic solution, tape and gauze, medicine), a whistle, an ID with your medical information, and an extra phone battery.

  • Music Player

For many commuters, an MP3 player is a must. Music is an influencer. A good one can easily boost your mood. A music player helps in setting your frame of mind for the day ahead or soothing your nerves after a long day at work. Or to share your love of music, you can just ask your Universal Taxi driver to turn on the cab radio and tune into your favorite radio station.

  • Travel Mug

Whether you’re running late or you just need another cup of coffee in your system, a travel mug lets you have your dose of caffeine without ruining your outfit or the cab interior. It need not be coffee all the time, you can fill the mug with your favorite tea or juice, or even a protein shake.

 

Travelling by taxi doesn’t need to bore or frustrate you all the time. With these tools, you’ll be able to make sure that your daily commute throughout Chicago is enjoyable and productive.

Insight

How to Become a Licensed Chicago Taxi Driver

If you think the daily grind that a Chicago cabbie goes through is hard, then you may be surprised to find out how much they also have to go through before they can legally become one. Just imagine driving through all kinds of traffic every single day. Some trips may be longer than the others, and it’s up to the cabbie to take each passenger from point A to B the safest way possible. Different kinds of passengers get in and out of their cabs the whole day, from rude ones that act like they know better than the driver to the really quiet ones that do not really seem to care what’s happening around them.

For you to get through all these, you need to prove that you’re more than capable of handling everything that comes a cabbie’s way. This means that you need a license.

The minimum age requirement is 21 years old. At this point, you can start getting ready for all the steps needed to have a Public Chauffeur License. Here’s a checklist of the things that need to be done:

  • Public Chauffeur Training Course – The training course includes an English proficiency exam. Since you plan on becoming a cabbie, you would have to register specifically for the Public Chauffeur Taxicab Driver Training Course (another option is also available for limo drivers) at the Olive-Harvey College. Once you complete the course, you will be presented with a Certificate of Completion.
  • Public Chauffeur Licensing Exam – Take the exam for public chauffeurs and pass it. This will entitle you to receive a Certificate of Passing. The exam will also be taken at the Olive-Harvey College.
  • Public Chauffeur License – Proceed to the Public Vehicle Operations Facility any weekday between 8:30am to 11:30am. This is where you complete and submit the form for new applicants.
    • You will be asked for your state-issued driver’s license, your certificate of completion for the training course, and your certificate of passing.
    • Fingerprinting is not exactly required, but it is recommended as this could speed up the process.
    • The license fee would also have to be paid.
    • A drug test should be done within 24 hours of the issuance of a Drug Testing Authorization Form.
    • Submit a completed Physical Certification Form that has been signed by a physician licensed within Illinois. It should be dated within the past four months.
    • Submit your ‘Court Purpose’ driving record abstract. This should be dated within the past 30 days, and is issued by the state.

As long as there are no problems with your requirements, then everything should flow smoothly from here.

Once you are a licensed cabbie, you could finally drive a Universal Taxi. You can now help people get to places they need to be in the safest way possible. There is no better time to become a Chicago cabbie, especially if you consider how advanced the taxi system has now become. With a Universal taxi app at your disposal, you get connected to customers in a convenient manner.

Insight

Taxi Etiquette: Is It Okay To Strike a Conversation with the Cab Driver?

Is it your first time to visit Chicago? If so, riding the famous Chicago cab is not something you’d want to miss. In fact, taking the cab is the best way to tour the city as it’s less frantic than the ‘L’ and definitely less confusing than taking the bus. Moreover, taking the cab presents you with the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds en route to your destination.

One thing you can do to make the ride a lot more interesting is to strike up a conversation with the driver. Cab drivers are known conversationalists with more than a story or two to share. But how do you start a conversation with your cabbie? What safe topic can you bring up? What subjects do you need to avoid?

Conversation Etiquette When Talking to a Cabbie

Taxi drivers are wonderful people to chat with and are full of fascinating stories. You simply need to ask good questions or bring up interesting topics. Like in most social gatherings, avoid discussing subjects that revolve around politics and religion. These two are notoriously considered as “touchy” subjects since most people have strong convictions about them. Avoid any chance of argument or disagreement by steering clear of these topics.

Another subject to avoid is the weather. Unless you are actually traveling through a hurricane, the weather as the main topic will get tedious very quickly. This normally leads to a deafening silence and awkwardness as you deliberately look out of the window.

Traveling around Chicago can be time-consuming, especially during rush hour. Avoid wasting time looking at unmoving vehicles with these three conversation-starting queries to ask your taxi driver.

  1. Where’s the best place to go in the city?

Cabbies are endlessly asked about the most popular places to see in Chicago regularly, but it’s a topic they enjoy discussing. Chicago cabbies, particularly Universal Taxi drivers, are proud of their city and will take pleasure in telling you about the awesome places you can visit. They may even share with you the best-kept secrets of Chicago, the ones that you may not just find on a regular tourist map.

  1. Where are the best restaurants around here?

Everyone is a foodie and cabbies are no exception. Chicago cabbies always have some sort of inside information to offer you on the best spots to have a sumptuous meal. From this point, you can cultivate the conversation and focus on food to keep the chat flowing.

  1. What are your most memorable experiences while doing this job?

Cabbies transport dozens of passengers every single day, so it’s not unlikely that they’ve come across unforgettable characters along the way. Perhaps a movie star or a famous athlete has taken the cab to get across the city. Taxi drivers have some funny, scary, or priceless tales about their passengers that will last a lot longer than your cab journey.

Striking up a conversation with a taxi driver is not hard when you’re conscious of what things to converse about. In fact, our drivers at Universal Taxi Dispatch are encouraged to be friendly with their passengers through communication. By arming yourself with these conversation starters, you’ll have topics to chat about long after arriving at your destination.

Insight

Tips to be a Better Taxi Driver

Every person who sits behind the wheel of a Universal Taxi knows that by doing so, they are making a commitment to get passengers from one point to another the safest way possible. This is how huge a Chicago cabbie’s responsibility is. That’s why being a cabbie is not something that is to be taken lightly. Every cab driver should not only aim to do what is required of them, but to go beyond that call of duty and go for excellence in their craft.

Here are a few tips for cab drivers who want to be even better at what they do:

  • Learn how to relate with different kinds of people. Being a cabbie means that you will encounter different kinds of people throughout the day. From the wide-eyed tourist to the professional who’s in a rush, there are also different ways to relate to them and make their trip enjoyable and comfortable. Know which ones would love to hear your stories, and which ones would rather have complete silence during the trip.
  • Be updated with places of interest. Sure, you know where all the popular landmarks are. But did you know about the popular new restaurant that opened up downtown? Or that swanky new club that everyone’s dying to get into? Be updated with these things because people would rely on you to take them to where they want to go, regardless of whether they have been there before or not.
  • Be updated with changes in city ordinances.The City council also enforces new ordinances from time to time, so you have to be updated with things like these. Especially for new guidelines regarding the transport sector, it could affect not only you, but your passengers as well.
  • Know more about safety. This is not just about safety for your passengers, but your own as well. Find out if there have been recent accidents or attacks that involve cab drivers, and be vigilant at all times. Be aware of suspicious characters that may get on your cab and make sure you have a means to call for help in case something untoward happens.
  • Find other things to do aside from driving. Relax every so often. Find a hobby. Spend time with family and friends. All that driving around the city can take its toll after some time, which could make you crankier when you’re on the road. This is not exactly the healthiest state of mind that you could be in as a cabbie, so make sure you give your mind and your body some rest so that you can practice more patience the moment you start driving.

Just remember that when you become a cabbie for Universal Taxi, it shouldn’t end there. It has to be a continuous learning process, something that would allow you become better not only as a cab driver, but as a human being. The skills and traits that you develop through time would definitely be useful for you not only in the cab business, but in other areas as well.

Insight

What are the Characteristics of a Good Chicago Cabbie

There is no doubt at all that taking a cab in Chicago is one of the most convenient ways to get around. Especially if you’re still unfamiliar with the city, cab drivers can easily take you to where you want to go in no time. Especially with the new Universal Taxi app, you can ask your cabbie to pick you up at a specific location at any time.

Once you’re in a cab, the level of service that you receive is then shifted towards the driver. No matter how easy the booking process is, having a cab driver that does not know how to give quality service will make everything else useless. These are the traits that each cabbie should have for you to say that their service is truly exceptional:

  • Knows how to communicate well. There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to understand your cabbie. There may also be times when the cabbie fails to understand what you’re trying to say. This is why a good Chicago cabbie should be exceptional when it comes to communication. This includes knowing what kind of tone and approach to use for different kinds of people, as well as being able to refrain from using crude language.
  • Knows how to draw the line. No, it’s not just about his ability to speak, or how deep your conversations with them would go. Some cab drivers may have the most insightful thoughts to share, but when you need silence, they should be able to give this to you as well. Some cabbies talk incessantly even if it’s obvious that you are not in the mood to talk. This is an irritating habit, especially if the trip takes a little longer than expected.
  • Honest and polite. No matter how bad your day is, a friendly good morning from your cabbie can change things somehow. Things get even better if they prove to be honest as well. Cabs are prone to the risk of having valuables left behind, and only an honest cabbie will have the conscience to give it back. Basically, honesty and politeness in a single cab driver make a winning combination, allowing you to gain trust in the cabs around the city.
  • Knowledgeable about routes and landmarks. Nothing can be more frustrating than having to explain to your cabbie where you want to go, especially if you’re new to the city. Cabbies should be able to take the best routes possible to avoid heavy traffic, and should also be able to direct you to different places that you may want to see.
  • Knows what proper hygiene is. You have probably ridden a taxi that stinks at one point in your life, and it’s not exactly a pleasant experience. If a cabbie has no idea that his taxi stinks, or doesn’t really mind that it does, then we have a huge problem. A great cab driver should know that when he smells great, his cab should smell great as well, and vice versa. And smelling nice never really hurt anybody.

The next time you get on a Universal Taxi, be aware about how your cabbie behaves. Is he awesome at what he does? Or is there anything about him that put you off?