When asked what I’d do if I had a problem with my bike I couldn’t fix, I’ve always said if desperate I’d call a taxi. In four years, I’ve walked home once and taken light rail twice for flats, and called Dick for a ride once when my headlight was stolen. Last night on our bike date, I locked both our bikes to the rack without having the key. Four miles from home, in a city with no nighttime transit, and I had locked up my rescuer too. Taxi time!
Getting a taxi at night in the suburbs isn’t easy. I called five companies that came up in an internet search, but they were set up for airport shuttle runs, not cross-town trips. So I went back into the restaurant and asked the hostess. She called and a taxi arrived in 10 minutes. The driver was a madman behind the wheel, but since he said he specifically works in Mountain View, his number is now saved in my phone contacts.
About the Bike Commute Diaries: Launched in May 2012 for National Bike Month, this series explores the unexpected and surprising things I’ve seen and learned while bicycling for transportation.
Frank
October 4, 2014 at 10:02 am
No UBER?
ladyfleur
October 4, 2014 at 10:13 am
I just downloaded the app and it looks like there are drivers in my area. At least during the day (right now). I’m going to play around and see what kind of coverage is normal.
gasstationwithoutpumps
October 4, 2014 at 2:19 pm
I’ve had bus and taxi as my backups for years. The only times I’ve taken the taxi are to or from the hospital, when anesthesia made bicycling or even bus riding infeasible. I do take taxis when traveling, if the bus system is inadequate or confusing in the destination city (or I have way too much luggage).
ladyfleur
October 4, 2014 at 3:11 pm
Unfortunately, the last bus leave downtown Los Altos around 6pm and doesn’t resume until 9am, so the bus wasn’t an option. If we had been in a city along the Caltrain/El Camino corridor like we usually are we could have waited for the train or taken the bus. We’d still end up walking over a mile, though.
TinLizzie72
October 5, 2014 at 3:19 pm
oh no! That’s terrible, and stressful. : (
Ada
October 25, 2014 at 11:47 am
+1 to Uber. We never needed to wait more than 10 minutes for a ride in Bay Area. On average 5 minutes. Example prices: <$20 – Redwood City – Mountain View, $40 – Palo Alto Baylands – SFO , $11 – Palo Alto Baylands – North Mountain View.