Large metropolitan areas offer an alternative to taxis in that they often provide mass transit systems such as buses and subways. As these mass transit systems are designed to move large numbers of people efficiently, they do not provide privacy for their occupants. In the confines of a taxicab you can make phone calls, use your netbook and jot down notes without worrying about someone looking over your shoulder.
Taxicabs offer an unparalleled level of convenience in that they are akin to having a personal driver. Taking a taxi allows you to cut down on your door-to-door commute time over driving your personal car as you need not worry about finding parking on crowded city streets or in a parking garage. Additionally, in a taxi you have flexibility in travel route, whereas public transport follows pre-planned lines that may not fit exactly with your destination.
Before social gatherings at bars and nightclubs or when you're throwing or attending a party at someone's home, you must plan for a designated driver. Taxicabs eliminate this worry and allow all who would like to partake in the party the chance to do so without risking a DUI or injury to themselves or others.
Using a taxicab can negate the need for a car for many people, while lessening their travel-related expenses. Owning a car can be a pricey endeavor between the cost of purchase, operation and maintenance. Relying on taxicabs can eliminate maintenance, gasoline, insurance and parking costs from your monthly budget. If you only occasionally need to travel relatively short distances by car, then using taxis can be a financially advantageous alternative to car ownership.
