The idea behind taxi services date all the way back to the seventeenth century. Drivers of horse-drawn carriages would negotiate a fee with a customer who needed to travel to a desired location. The invention of automobiles created a boom in the taxi service industry. Modernizations such as the computer systems installed in taxi cabs in the 1980s made taxi travel even more affordable and convenient.
Geography plays a large role in the price and availability of taxi services. Crowded areas like New York city or Los Angeles have a much greater demand for taxi services due to traffic congestion and a lack of available parking space. Areas that are in the vicinity of an airport will also have a high demand for taxi services, as the price of the taxi will likely be cheaper than the high fees required to leave a vehicle parked at the airport. Prices will be higher in rural areas where taxi travel is less common. If no demand exists, it may be unlikely that taxi services are available at all.
Depending on your location, it may be possible to "hail" a taxi or private car. The classic yellow taxis in New York City can be found almost anywhere. Private taxi services often have "black cabs" that can be hailed in the same manner as a yellow taxi. These "luxury" cars are often more expensive than a traditional yellow cab. The downside of hailing a taxi is that sometimes it is possible that a car is not available. This is especially true at busier times of the day such as rush hour. If time is of the essence, many taxi services will pick you up at your location if you call their business phone number and make arrangements. These taxi services are often more expensive, but can guarantee that you will make your appointment in time.
The size of the car that your taxi service uses will vary by availability and region. Taxi services in the United States offer standard cars, SUVs, minivans and limousines. The standard car used by taxi services in the United Kingdom is much roomier and in some ways more convenient than those used by taxi services in the United States. Cars in the UK often have no trunk, just a large open cabin space where the passenger and luggage both conveniently stay together, as opposed to trying to squeeze baggage into a small trunk area.
Taxi services have made travel much more convenient. In case of emergency, there is always an option to ensure that you arrive at your destination. Taxi services make us not dependent on a car that may break down or a friend who forgets to show up. Taxi services offer an independence that is greatly needed in the hectic modern world.
