By Taxi in San Francisco

By Taxi

Taxi service is notoriously bad in San Francisco, and hailing a cab can be frustratingly difficult in some parts of the city, especially on weekends. Popular nightspots such as the Mission, SoMa, North Beach, the Haight, and the Castro have a lot of cabs but a lot of people, too. Midweek, and during the day, you shouldn't have much of a problem -- unless it's raining. In a pinch, hotel taxi stands are an option, as is calling for a pickup. But be forewarned: taxi companies frequently don't answer the phone in peak periods. The absolute worst time to find a taxi is Friday afternoon and evening; plan well ahead, and if you're going to the airport, make a reservation or book a shuttle instead. Most taxi companies take advance reservations for airport and out-of-town runs but not in-town transfers.

Taxis in San Francisco charge $2.85 for the first 1/5 mi, 45¢ for each additional 1/5 mi, and 45¢ per minute in stalled traffic. There is no charge for additional passengers; there is no surcharge for luggage. For trips outside city limits, multiply the metered rate by 1.5.

Taxi Companies

City Wide Cab (415/920-0700). DeSoto Cab (415/970-1370). Luxor Cab (415/282-4141). Veteran's Taxicab (415/552-1300). Yellow Cab (415/626-2345).

Complaints

San Francisco Police Department Taxi Detail (415/553-1447).