Tampa Taxi Shots

Every few days I pick up some crackhead looking person at TIA and take them to 2727 W MLK Blvd. They have no luggage, from Ohio, and their teeth look like the smoke meth. There must be a doctor in there that is writing scripts on the side. Plus, these assholes never tip. The Tampa police should do an investigation.

Why did the Russian tank cross the road? To get to the liquor store! Daily life in Russia is like a scene from "Jackass" the movie. I don't think they are afraid of much. This video is awesome! The girls come in at the end.

I got a call at the shrimp docks this morning for Jose. I never did find my fare but a little kitty was hanging around looking for shrimp. He seemed kind of lost, and was friendly. Cats are the most misunderstood animal.

Mayor Bob Buckhorn Tampa - DINO (Democrat in name only) has aliened himself with Marco Rubio on a very naive version of free enterprise affecting the transportation market. Both of them are supporting illegal activities from unlicensed companies. For some reason, they have support among craft beer drinking hipsters, Tampashere Troll Blog , and liberals, who have no clue how far they have strayed to the dark side. The confusion of Buckhorn is legend, from naked ladies (he once had a law about how close a man could get to a naked lady) and now, a fundamental misunderstanding of real world dynamics as they apply to business and public safety. Not surprising he is lock step with Marco Rubio. The man on the left does not hide his support for the 1% It is not going well for unlicensed transportation in the United States. Law suites and legal procedings abound: 1.       Sacramento, CA California Department of Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones issued a pre...

The Hyde Park taxi stand We don't have taxi stands anymore but many of the drivers still sit on the old Hyde Park 21 stand. The stand is at a city park that is centrally located for getting calls. There is shade, a basketball court, a baseball diamond, and some cool wildlife. The retention pond behind the chain link fence is now the home of many migratory and wading birds. Richard says they eat frogs, which are plentafull in the lake. A wading bird This pond  has formed its own eco-system and I would not be surprised if there were now fish in it. Every time I stop by, I see different birds. They know there is food in there and they are patient enough to wait it out. There is something else that is going on out there as well. You can see the "Obamaville" thru the fence line A 'hobo camp' has been set up behind the pump house. These guys are not hurting anyone and they don't bother people for money. The camp is along the railroad line where it is...

(This was from 2008. I still feel the same toward this bad idea and Uber Lyft) This is not the time for taxi companies to offer complimentary cab service in the vital downtown Tampa and So Ho areas. Most taxi drivers are broke and struggling in this economy. We cannot offer free rides. It would not be practical and we are regulated in this part of town at $3 a head from 2 to 4 riders. I guess Minartti (the owner of Yellow cab) got Keven White to let him do this for a kick back. White is a very corrupt County Commissioner and he should be voted out of office. Oh, he likes mixed-race ass by the way. I saw a group of "hybred" green cabs at what is left of the old Yellow Cab compound on n. Oregon ave in Tampa. They were locked up behind a chain fence. Just keep them there.

I threw some food out to feed one cat. Today, I see this. I guess word spreads among cats about the soup kitchens. I like cats. I just can't have them where I live. They seem to be peaceful creatures.

A lyft car at the Iconic sign on Florida ave downtown Tampa I have been a hack in Tampa Florida since 1995. Unlike the estimated 50% of Americans that hate their jobs, I have never had a day when I did not feel like going to work. Certainly, the last few years  have not been fun because the economy fell apart like a three dollar watch. However, economies are like tides and this one is on the rebound, at a snail's pace. I would like to thank Mr. Obama for that but that would not be fair. The economy is recovering despite any fiscal policy of his. That being said - there are challenges. My job is inherently difficult. We face strange and deranged people street level on a daily basis. Taxi companies in Tampa (which are regulated) must serve the general population. We have no choice. Short fares, drunk fares, people going to buy drugs (they don't tell you that) we must pick up. Don't get me wrong, there are business people, beautiful women, great trippers, and long haul...

(This was posted some years ago. Richard left cab driving when he ran a red light and hit another car. Richard was alright - just the video went viral, and was seen on Fox, CNN, MSMBC. Bad day for Richard.) This may be one of the few pictures Richard. He has been a United Cab driver in Tampa for almost twenty years. Richard is very educated and once was a teacher. But like many, he became marginalized by society, and started driving a taxi. He is from Wisconson and not seen his family in years (like me). People just really don't want to have much to do with you when just drive a hack. Anyway, this image is one of the only ones of him. Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

I saw this on Facebook today. As a taxi driver I must buy the gas. My fares act surprised by that. We are quickly reaching a breaking point and the company will have to help us. If not, nobody will drive these gas guzzling wrecks.

In today's world it is all about brand identity. To keep taxi stuff separate from personal, camping, hiking, Bigfoot (the things I really enjoy) my name in dot com became available. Check out TimFasano.com avoid the rush.

I saw this taxi crossing the Courtney Cambell Causeway today. I think its a 1957 Chevy. I think. They have a website and they are out of Saint Petersburg. Fist time I saw one of these. I guess they are just another operation that is flirting the Tampa Bay transportation market.

The CEO of Tampa's finest taxi company, Rob Searchy went to Tallahassee two weeks ago to deliberate against a bill that would deregulate "transportation on demand" in Hillsborough county. This bill will allow anyone with a car (and unclear intent) to pick up anyone from an app on their phone. This would allow these drivers to only work hipster areas, and ignore the general population as a whole. The ramifications of this are now being felt in San Francisco and Seattle which is being cherry picked. This movement must be stopped, as well as,  Marco Rubio 's concept of free enterprise. While Rob Searcy was in the Florida state capital they played a clip of Ashton Kuthcer of all people. It seems he and the owners of Uber are very tight. This is what was said about that: Ashton Kutcher made an unplanned cameo during a Florida Senate Transportation Committee meeting two weeks ago. Uber representatives presented  a clip  of the Two and Half Men  star and Uber investor...

Got to have new shades for summer! Got to look cool going places.

TypePad now has a slick template with a slick mobile function. They sometimes are late to the rodeo, then, they score big. TampaTaxiHack.com is back. It is what I'm looking for and worth paying for. It does more then WordPress free version. Check it out. I am very happy with it.

Tony was a guy that everyone liked and knew. He was an old crab apple but he was in poor heath that must have affected his mood. He was one of the long time drivers from way back. I mean back to "The Bagel Boys" days. If you are still around from that time, you are one of a handful. Tony came to Florida like many do in search of a better life. That was in the days when they said you got paid in sunshine. Hell, he had already been driving cab 15 years when I started in 1995. He worked the airport for ten years, then, became a night driver. No matter what he did, he could not get ahead. I used to talk to Tony a lot and he expressed a desire to work in the hot rod industry. He was an expert of vintage cars. However, he could never get his finances right to move to California where the action was. Instead, he stayed in the cab until the day he died. Literally. That is a fate that awaits many cab drivers who get into a since of denial about just how bad things are. I promi...

From a piece of shit taxi, to Paul the shop forman, a colorful United Cab trash can, and other views.

This was last Halloween in the Green Swamp. Taxi drivers sometimes have some fun. That is a nice campfire.

I had a ride today to the Bahia Beach Club on Ruskin beach. There is no more public beach. All of it is private land. You can see downtown St. Petersburg from the beach. I also found this partially built walk away right on the beach. A relic from the Great Recession.

This man has been bought off by venture capital and is as corrupt as the day is long "Sen. Marco Rubio (U.S. Senate R Florida) was looking to score a quick ride in Miami, but when he tapped his white Uber button on his smartphone, the Florida Republican came up empty. “I was bragging to someone about this service in Washington and I clicked onto my app … and up comes a message saying, ‘Sorry we can’t pick you up in Miami because the county commission won’t allow it,’” he recalled.  That incident was the impetus for Rubio's Monday visit to Uber’s Washington headquarters, where he used the struggle of a growing and fashionable tech company to underscore his case concerning overburdensome regulations. “We should never allow government power and government regulations to be used to protect an establishment incumbent industry at the expense of an innovative competitor,” he said. Operating in 37 U.S. cities, Uber is a transportation company that allows a customer to order ...

Collin of LYFT is providing an illegal service. Is that the type of operation you want to do business with? This man is a criminal and the HCPTC needs to take care of him. I would not be surprised if this guy ends up in the bottom of a pond (because of bad driving). These assholes will only work prime areas, airport, downtown, Hyde Park, and do not service the general community. They have not been screened by law enforcement and are a threat to the Tampa Bay area

I got cleared by insurance and the company even gave me a couple free days to make up for it. I guess alls well that ends well.

I was suspended by United Cab today.  After 19 years, I was told to leave. The reason is the new insurance company does not have my correct drivers license number and they can't pull my DMV report. Without that, they can't insure me. Its sounds like somebody fucked up and it was not me. However, I am home with no cab, no job, and no clear idea when this shit will be fixed. As much as Gulf Coast Transportation tried to spin it - THEY FUCKED UP! You can't pass the buck when you are dealing with people's lives. I have a perfect driving record and I have been with this company for nineteen years. They all of a sudden have no copy of my drivers license? When I was a kid I saw a song by Roy Clark on Hee Haw called "right or left on oak street." My father said it was about desertion. A man does consider what direction he should take. It seems appropriate tonight.

I've been doing this exercise routine for years but still don't have six pack abs.

Kim has been on the streets for at least twenty years. Long time cab drivers know her from Kennedy Blvd where she would work as a prostitute. She is mentally ill and unpredictable. She can also be sweet and nice. I saw her today for the first time in a year. I was at a gas station and she asked me for money. I just don't have any extra and told her no. She looked sad, and walked off. I genuinely have sorrow for her. Her disappearances are from being in jail or rehab. I hope. Perhaps ObamaCare will help her if she goes online and pays the $400 a month. Right.

All that glitters is not gold When the Lyft car drivers kill your relative, good luck in finding them. They are very bad for Tampa and Dickhead Mayor Bob Buckhorn only wants to make beggars out of the cab drivers that have faithfully served the Tampa area for years. This is just wrong. Hear what I have to say in the video below! You Can see them coming

The shop has been dicking around with cab 363 since Monday. That was supposed to be my new cab but they could not get it running. Paul was good about it and has now put me out in a lower mileage unit. He was checking me out and let me know how excited he was about the shop problems. The newer car is sweet and I hope to have a good weekend.

The new Epicurean hotel on south Howard in Tampa has quickly developed a bad reputation among cab drivers. They will call for a taxi, and when you arrive, they tell you your fate is already gone. This is happening so much, United Cab dispatch mostly flags the calls. The hotel prefers to use car services like the illegal Flex Sedans. I have heard they are not charging the required $50 minimum, but charging taxi rates. That violates HCPTC rules. Here are some photos of the scum loading my fares after I was sent there. They are bad people.

Yesterday was just one of those days. I put a ton of miles on the cab and it was all working mileage. You know those days when everyone you pick up is going somewhere. I wish every day could be like that but its not the norm. Today, I'm sure it will be grocery stores, laundry mats, and runners. Rays did win opening day. I had a hot dog and enjoyed the moment.