A recent episode of Russ Roberts’ EconTalk podcast featured a wonderful intersection of interests: economics, public policy and public transit.
One of Russ’ academia friends, economist Michael Munger, speaks at length on the program about the public transportation system quality in Santiago, Chile before and after nationalization of their bus network.
Prior to 2007 Santiago’s surface transit [...]

Here’s a summary of my cab shifts from last weekend.

I picked up an older guy from the Kaiser. I’d guess he was 60+. I have a hard time judging ages, especially those +/-5 years from mine.
He was heading back to his home in the Castro near the Seward Street slides.
He’s gay. We talked a bit [...]

This is a continuation of a previous post.
Toward the end of my shift, around 3pm, I picked up an elderly Chinese couple hailing on the street downtown. They were heading all the way out to the deep Richmond on the far west side of the City. We took Turk as far west as we could [...]

This weekend the City hosted its annual Bay to Breakers run. Bay to Breakers (B2B) is a 7 mile run through the heart of San Francisco. B2B starts from the east (bay) side of the City at the Embarcadero and runs directly west toward the ocean (breakers) side of the City.
B2B cuts through many varied [...]

I eeked by on Sunday with my lowest Sunday earnings in a long, long time — only $87. This was offset by better than usual earnings Monday and Tuesday, both over $170 (over average).

I notice that fares run together in my memory more than before. I’m not sure of the cause. Do I pay less [...]

The Chronicle reported on Mayor Newsom’s idea to turn a good portion of the Embarcadero into a pedestrian-only safe zone during certain times of the weekend. This is similar to the City’s current closing of JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park to vehicular traffic on weekends.
Is this a good idea? Yes, in spirit, but no [...]

I had a beautiful set of days to drive a cab in the City. Sunny and 60s is the perfect weather. Above 60s and the greenhouse effect of the car windows makes it a bit too warm.

I picked up a woman downtown who was heading out toward one of the hospitals in the outer neighborhoods. [...]

San Francisco cab drivers face two recent cost pressures: a recent gate fee increase combined with the recent climb in gas prices.
Fortunately, these cost pressures come at a time when aggregate demand for taxis in the City is increasing. More tourists, outdoor City festivals, and frequent conventions bring in more and more cab passengers as [...]

It was another slow weekend in San Francisco. During my shifts

I witnessed a non-trivial collision. A Toyota pickup truck was traveling behind me south on South Van Ness. As we approached the 16th Street intersection he passed me on the left and returned to my lane immediately before entering the intersection. The light had just [...]

A bit delayed, but here it is. Driving highlights during my shifts this past week.

Right after I left the garage early Monday morning (late Sunday night to my passengers) I picked up 4 Mexican guys in the heart of the Mission at 26th.
I try not to stereotype negative traits, but I enjoy generalizing positive ones. [...]