Taking Tokyo Taxi Challenge

The Taxi Driver Who Tried To Lose 'Em!


The police car pursued the taxi through the alley-wide streets of a Tokyo shopping district, weaving around pedestrians, bicycles, street vendors, and garbage cans. Now I was certain: our taxi had just run a red light, and those cops we'd passed did jump in their police car and take off after us.

The cab driver tried to lose 'em! He veered off the wide road into that neighborhood shopping street. The chase slowed dramatically. Then I heard the police on their loudspeaker. They'd caught up. The cabbie was nabbed. My colleague and I got out. We didn't have to pay that fare.

Due to the economy, many more "re-structured" workers are driving cabs. The drivers still wear uniforms, ties, and the traditional white gloves. The passenger doors still open automatically, but now, taking a taxi is an adventure.



The Taxi Driver Who Ran Away

Got out of his cab clutching my Google map, and left me in the back seat, the roof lights flashing and other cars having to go around the taxi. I watched the driver search for the address back in the direction from which we came. He was gone several minutes.

I could've jumped into the driver's seat and driven away. That would've been funny.

I also could've found the address myself. Because this driver only had to go straight on one street, less than a kilometer. (I was late, that's why I didn't walk.) Or he could've used the GPS unit.

Turns out he'd passed the destination. Made a U-turn, and dropped me off.


Typical "shotengai" shopping street