Why do taxi cabs in Athens take another customer on the way?

Question

I'd seen it 3 times in 5 days, and it really made me laugh.

You take a cab, you tell the destination. Cab moves and whoops! somebody else on the way jumps in. I was really surprised with that? Does this work like that in Athens?

Answer 1

It happens all over Greece. There is no specific law that forbids taxi drivers of doing this.

There was an effort from the government in the near past to vote for a new law but the taxi-driver union organised big strikes and protests so now there is a legal hole!

It's true that some drivers ask you politely if u want another customer but the sure thing is that u have the priority if u were the first to take it.

A note . Taxis in Greece have the smallest fixed charge all over Eu 2,65 euros and this is the main argument of taxi drivers against having only one customer at a time. If they raise it (which price has been raised 30% in the late 3-4 years) a typical greek citizen will not afford it. They will prefer bus which is only 50 eurocents

Answer 2

It happens all the time in Athens, yes. The drivers get more money and the clients find a cab easier. It is not legal, and if you are the first client you can deny that the driver takes another passenger too, but why leave the poor guy waiting on the sidewalk when he goes to the same direction? It is more ecological too!

Answer 3

it is illegal , of course, but taxi-drivers do that often, especially when they deal with tourists.what you can do, is ask him to change route to the nearest police-station.
some of them are also kind enough to ask whether you would be bothered if they would take another customer.

Answer 4

yes, unfortunately they do that, if it's on their way they take another person, but they are not supposed to, and they are not allowed to refuse to take you (if he hasn't got another person in) no matter where you are going, you can report him if they do that. Some of them ask you if mind to take someone else too, but not that often.