Lack of Taxis and Buses at Night

Moved from Trip's Burgers:

Intercasa wrote:
"Chapala / Ajijic lacks broad hours for food and taxi service, the locals are starving and the tourists more! Tacos and pizza are not going to attract more people and those foods only are available certain hours, dominos before 10pm and tacos if the guy isnt too drunk to open."


Exactly right, Spencer!

I ran into my taxista friend the other day and I asked him why you can't get a taxi after 10 at night or a bus after 9. I asked him how he thought the area could grow and prosper with more tourism (Pueblo Magico) without people being able to get home after an evening out. I told him the people think the taxistas are lazy and don't want to work. He smiled and nodded.

He said he doesn't want to work at night because he's already worked all day and he's tired and wants to sleep. He said if someone wanted to go out and drink or eat and wanted a ride home at midnight all they had to do is make the arrangements with him and he'll pick them up. I said, what about the tourists who don't know you? Why are there no taxis driving around at night or parked at the plazas waiting for a call? He agreed that a night shift was needed and I asked why there wasn't one. He said because that's when the drug dealers are out! Basically, he said there are no roaming or staging taxis during the night because the drivers are afraid.

I can understand that, it would be very dangerous to be a night shift taxi driver around here. So, unless and until they can provide safety and security at night for tourists and tapatios to come and enjoy the area and get home safely after - we will continue to remain a small town pueblo that folds up the sidewalks at 10.

when the garage on zaragosa was dealing drugs taxis came and went even after dark so not all of them are afraid.It is over now but not because the taxis do not want to work.

i am surprised that the taxi drivers seem to be afraid to drive at night. i travel to tamaulipas frequently and arrive at 3 am and even in that dangerous state there are still plenty of taxis. certainly it would be convenient if there were taxis later here. welcome to paradise !

Many are afraid and do not like the night shift but money is money..We have plenty of night taxis in San Cristobal ant the town outside of the few blocks in center is not as nice as it appears.

I can only tell you what the dude told me. They are afraid to drive at night.

We're pretty druggy here, cartels "own plazas", officials and other players get gunned down in the light of day - does that happen in San Cristobal?

In Guadalajara it takes all of two minutes,if that, to hail a taxi,they work 24/7 here.

So, I guess our taxi guys are just country bumpkins and don't need the money or don't want to work at night.

Check out "Small Town Blues" thread: As Viajero said, no problem getting a log of things in the Big City. Here, is here.

I would guess that there are a hell lot more drug dealers in San Cristobal than in Ajijic. We have plenty of cartel activity down there, one of the reason that some area like Hormiga is not a could place to go to at night. Do not forget we have lots of gangs as well. Tourists do not see it but they are there. People involved in those activities are murdered right and left . San Cristobal has done a good job with their image but do not kid yourself it is a whole lot more dangerous than Ajijic.
Also we really do not have a local paper so if you want to hear the news you have to listn to the radio and plenty goes on.

I noticed that the bus burning in Oxchuc between San Cristobal and Palenque did not make it big in the news either but we had 500 cops in that town and 66 people hurt and life goes on..they are trying to kick out the new mayor for a change..

Yes. . .
So that means the viable answer to the question is . . .fear and laziness. Nobody here wants to drive a cab or a bus at night.

think you hit the nail on the head..

I honestly think longer hours would be more realistic. How many people realistically need a taxi on a regular basis past 1:00.am?

a few bars are open till 2 am. probably business from that. el barco, cameleon. etc.especially when they have live music..maybe taxis could do just friday, saturday and sunday nights.

Yes, I agree. Extended hours for the taxis and the bus on weekends for a start.

All this talk about Pueblo Magico, and all the money spent for modifications to Chapala in order to reach that goal, and you can't even get a ride home after 10 from a bar or restaurant. Pueblo Magico is a dream. A pipe dream. For many reasons, lack of transportation is only one issue.

Uber may well be the answer.

haha yes , in their dreams..they need a lot of things put into place before that happens especially ajijic.would be nice to see though. problem with uber is there is a lot of friction between the drivers and as round here is so small and i suppose all the taxi driver know one another they may make life very difficult for an uber driver.anyway someone may take the risk.

I really don't think there is a lot of business in this area after dark. The Tapitios come down in their own cars, the locals don't use taxi's or can't afford them and the gringos (generally speaking) are in bed by 8:00pm and/or afraid to be out after dark. For those that do want to be out late you quickly learn how to line up a ride if you need one. I learned that the second day I had ever been in this area.

Besides, there isn't anything, other than a couple of bars, even open after 8:00pm. Ever try to find dinner after 8:00pm?

maybe with taxis at a later time more gringos would stay out later.. maybe !

From what I have read there are places with a lot less than Chapala has going for it that achieved Pueblo Majico status. Doesn't seem to take as much as it used to.

hickton wrote:maybe with taxis at a later time more gringos would stay out later.. maybe !

Doubtful. And for what? There is nothing happening after 8:00pm other than El Cameleon, El Barco, Adelitas and a few other back water bars. Those that frequent those places always find a way to get there and home.

I think the call for night (especially late night) buses and taxis is putting the cart before the horse.

I believe - 'If they build it they will come."

I really don't have a dog in this hunt. Have a car, rarely use a taxi (the last one didn't show up!), and don't frequent late night bars. I did get stranded in Joco late one night though, it was difficult to find a way home and it took forever.

I said in a previous thread I would ask my taxi friend why there is no service at night here. I'm old, we can remain country bumpkins until I die for all I care but if they want PM status or new good restaurants and other businesses that mainly serve a night crowd they better get some transportation going on.

Lady Otter Latté wrote:I think the call for night (especially late night) buses and taxis is putting the cart before the horse.

Yep, if the business demand was there, there would already be someone doing it. It has nothing to do with laziness or fear. They have taxis all over El Salvador in the evening......now that's a dangerous place.

2am for maybe a couple of 50 peso fares is not worth it for any drivers.

Would any of you pay an Uber driver or Taxi a set fee for off hours between 10pm-6am?  Let say 500 pesos per trip anywhere in Chapala Municipo?  

5 fares at 500 pesos might make it worthwhile for a driver to stay up all night.

Trailrunner has a point, I don't go to bars in Ajijic because I don't know if I have a way home. If I could be sure there would be a taxi at the end of the night, I would be there

CanuckBob wrote: It has nothing to do with laziness or fear. They have taxis all over El Salvador in the evening......now that's a dangerous place.

Well, according to my friend and neighbor who actually DOES drive a taxi for a living. . .