Bainbridge Island Taxi

Do not order a cab from these guys, they will not show up. Instead call Bainbridge Taxis and Tours (842‑7660) — they’re much more reliable. Look them up on Unilocal; 5 stars as opposed to 2 for BI Taxi.
We called a cab at 10:45 on a Friday. The dispatcher said 20 minutes. 30 minutes later we called back. She said a cab had broken down and it would be a further 20 minutes. I asked her to call me if there would be another delay, and she got huffy and defensive. She did not deign to apologize for the mounting delays.
The cab never showed. At midnight, we called Bainbridge Taxi and Tour, and they picked us up at 12:30. Again, BI Taxi never showed and never called. I honestly don’t even know why they have a dispatcher, because she doesn’t dispatch anything.

THESE GUYS RIP OFF TOURISTS
THE BEARDED MAN IN THE TANK TOP WEARING SUN GLASSES AND DRIVES THE OLDER MODEL VAN RIPPED ME OFF BECAUSE I TOLD THE GUY I WAS A VISITOR. THAT SHOULD CONCERN ALL BUSINESSES ON B.I. THAT RELY ON GUESTS FOR BUSINESS.
I’ve come to find out after the fact that a taxi ride from the ferry to most anyplace on the other side of the island should cost $ 18−2O. I was at Safeway and called for a cab. He showed up about 2O minutes later. He’s the bearded gentleman who drives the fragrant 15-​year-​old van. I told him very specifically several times that I wanted him to drive me to where Madison Avenue ends. I’ve come to find out, there isn’t one person on B.I. who couldn’t find 6 easy and 12 creative ways to get to Madison.
Keep in mind, I’m a visitor, I’m taking a cab because I don’t have a car. He gets on the highway and blows past every intersection and finally takes a right on the road past hidden cove, drives several miles down, tells me we can’t get to Madison that way. I’m from Chicago and just assumed he’d pull his flag and stop charging me like any honest professional cab driver would do. I didn’t notice that he didn’t.
I thought it was a bit pricey, but I didn’t say anything. I even tipped him well, $ 5, as I do all good cab drivers. A few hours later I was recounting to my sister about what I thought seemed like a pricey cab ride. That’s when I was introduced to the truth. She was angry and said I should be, too.
I’m a fun, good natured guy, but I loathe a man who will look you in your eye while lying and say he’s not. He actually told me he rarely works B.I. because he finds the people to be A-​holes and snobs and prefers the residents of Poulsbo. I should have known then.
Certainly not a too big of a deal, but I think I’m like most people. I like to be treated fairly wherever I go.

Do not use this service! Unreliable, they do not show at time they commit to so you miss ferry.

I reserved a cab well ahead of time to get to the ferry twice. Missed the boat both times! First time they never showed. They’re horrible about communicating issues. They’re also very disorganized and it doesn’t seem to matter when or how you put a reservation in. Seems like the drivers basically just hang out at the ferry terminal and will only come get you if there’s a fare from there to you. Try to avoid them if you can.

Thought the rates were fine, service was fast and friendly. Didn’t have a problem at all! Driver picked us up from the ferry and took us home without anything bizarre happening. We paid with cash, which doesn’t seem like a big deal to me. Just be prepared with cash instead of credit cards; it’s not like they’re the only business that prefers cash. Small businesses often have a hard time making the transition to cards because of the cost (merchant services AND equipment costs). In short, I wouldn’t hesitate to call them again!

I’m filing a complaint with the State against Bainbridge Island Taxi for discrimination toward the handicapped. They called back to refuse a ride to the ferry this morning because of my son’s folding wheelchair. «We don’t transport wheelchairs.» I reminded the stupid little man that the wheelchair took up no more room that 2 pieces of luggage. He insisted no wheelchairs and I told him I was filing a complaint with the State for discrimination against the handicapped. THEN, he said will that will cost «$ 25.00″ – and I’m in the $ 6.00 zone. He said, «That is not a $ 6.00 zone…» and I reminded him EVERY taxi driver charges me $ 6.00 to/​from the ferry so why, now, is it not a $ 6.00 zone??? I reminded him this will appear on my Facebook page and other places on the internet – including Bainbridge Islanders and Unilocal. Then, he agreed to take us with the wheelchair for $ 6.00. What does a person do if they don’t have the self confidence to speak up? As if it isn’t enough stress to live with Lyme and a wheelchair (or whatever condition a person may have).

No issues here. Used the taxi to get around on a weekend boat trip to Bainbridge. Short trips; the cabs showed up when they said they would, drivers were pleasant, fares were decent.

This is not so much a review as a comment. I was getting off the BI ferry the other day and overheard a rather scruffy Taxi driver telling an obviously tired pair of travelers that they «weren’t the only people in the world» when they asked about the cab that they had reserved. Really? Customer service at it’s finest indeed! It’s a shame that because BI Taxi is the «only game in town» a punk driver feels like he can treat customers like crap. Take the chip off your shoulder and give it a rest.
I will NEVER use BI Taxi and encourage all visitors to this island to avoid these jerks at all cost!

I’ve traveled in taxis all over the world. Never have I experienced a taxi that provided such poor service. Bainbridge taxis not only cheat on the fares but threaten passengers. How can we let this business treat us and our guests like this? Is this the Bainbridge experience we want people to remember?
Made a reservation several days ahead. Driver argued with me about the accuracy of my reservation. 3 not 4. No luggage vs luggage. I think, why would you bring luggage to a charity dinner? Ended up squeezing into cab with another party. I explained to my bewildered Seattle friends, this is how we do things on the island. Opposite direction. First fare was $ 10. Meter was working. Driver didn’t have change for a $ 20. Wife Digging through purse. Husband checking wallet. I ask, do you take credit cards. Driver reluctantly and acrimoniously responds, YES. Couple pays and tries to leave vehicle. Driver shouts, I NEED TO OPEN DOOR. We wait 5 minutes for driver to exit vehicle to open door. Sound like a horror movie? Next, the driver informs us the meter is broken. He will charge $ 12 for first drop. Interesting? Shorter distance more $$. Second drop he will charge me the $ 12 my guests already paid for the first drop PLUs my fare from the origin. I may have had a few cocktails but I can still add. A 15 minute trip in 40 minutes for 3X the price? It’s one thing being ripped off. When I question the math, he basically tells me i have no choice. Do I feel safe alone with this guy? I tell him I’m getting out. He tells me I can’t. We pay the fare. I exit the vehicle. He asks me how I’m getting home. Not with you. I’d feel safer walking the 2.93 miles at 10 pm.
This business totally takes advantage of the lack of regulation on fares. Meter breaks? They randomly tell you at destination how much? Don’t taxis usually charge by time, by mile by number of passengers? King county regulates taxis. Why doesn’t Kitsap? Do you threaten and take advantage of people because there is no competition? Is this how we want to treat our guests coming to the island? Is this the Bainbridge experience we want our friends and families to remember?

Honestly the guy driving was very sweet. Nothing bad to say about him.
The overall taxi service gets a 2 because the amount they charge in increments of a quarter is a little ridiculous.
Also I used their service Jan. 14 of 2013 and paid with my credit card. They just today charged my account! They need an actual credit card machine to charge right on the spot and not 4 weeks later.
I wouldn’t recommend this service unless it’s your last choice.

Late pickup. Other days wouldn’t matter as much. Today was unacceptable. Then i report it dispatch and they try to convince me how late he really is and hang up, rude and late. Snowballs chance i use them again or recommend.

I am currently disabled due to severe ankle break on one foot and a sprain on the other. When I left Island Rehab Center on Bainbridge Island on Madison in a wheel chair, this company charged me $ 50 to go a half of a mile home. When I needed a ride to the ferry, they wanted to charge me $ 15 to put my fold down scooter in the trunk that is the same size and weight of a piece of luggage if not less. I feel that this company is taking advantage of the opportunity to gouge helpless passengers. We should not be treated any different as a regular passenger and I can tell you that Yellow Cab in Seattle does not charge any additional fee to use their wheel chair van. Shame on you! I feel sorry for the passengers that are permanently disabled. Unfortunately the only other option I have found on the Island is Dial a Ride through Kitsap Transit that requires a 24 hour lead time and has limited hours, BUT they only charge $ 2 each way. Again, shame on you for taking advantage!

On April 13, 2011, I had a really terrible experience with Bainbridge Island Taxi. I live within 2 miles from the ferry and usually walk or have a friend/​family member drop me off. However, in this event, my husband was out of town, I was dressed up for an interview complete with high heels and had luggage so I needed the taxi. Keep in mind when I scheduled the cab a few days in advance I told them where I lived and that it would be a short ride.
The five-​minute ride seemed like an eternity as I had to listen to the taxi driver talk negatively about me on the radio, about how I was late (which I was not because I had to catch the ferry for an important out of town interview), how I was an unprofitable fare, and how he usually would not take me had he known how close I lived to the ferry. He contined to tell me how difficult it is to make a living as a taxi driver and that he would not be able to make a living if he continued to accept fares like mine. He would not stop. IT WAS AN AWFUL EXPERIENCE — NEVER AGAIN.
There is another taxi /​cab service on the island. I recommend you call them. Bainbridge Island Taxi and Tours (206) 842‑7660. Since then, I have used their service many times and have been satisfied.
If I could do it over again, I would have paid a random stranger to drop me off at the ferry rather than use their service again. Both my husband and I complained directly to the taxi company after this happened. They were apologetic, but offered no other remedy.

When you are in a pinch and stuck on the rock, who ya gonna call? Ghost busters wont do you any good, but Bainbridge Island Taxi will get you where you need to go for a reasonable price. This taxi company is much much cleaner and has better drivers than when I was growing up on the Island. I am glad to see they have survived grown even through this economy.

Myself some friends used Bainbridge Island Taxi on a recent weekend. We requested a ride for 10 people from Kitsap Peninsula to the Squamish Casino, ~3.5 miles away. The taxi company took a long time to show up (bad) and brought a 12 person passenger van (good). The ride went fine. Arriving at the casino, we asked what the bill was — apparrently for the big passenger van it is a flat rate per person, which was explained by the driver to be $ 6 /​person. So, total for our 3 mile ride was $ 60. We thought this was a little exhorbant and I immediately called dispatch then was connected to the owner who explained that the rate was $ 5 or $ 6 per person, not seeming too confident.
Felt like the owner was trying to cover for the driver. In any case, we paid and left. Definitely felt a little taken advantage of as the per person rate was not explained to us prior to the bill being tabulated. We definitely take some of the blame for not asking, but I still think this was poor business to not tell customers upfront of the different charge for the special service.

While the driver was nice enough, I am pretty sure I was hoodwinked and bamboozled with the advice and hiked up fare cost.

Well, I guess it can get worse. You probably will not believe this but I get a call right when I am sitting down for dinner (about 7pm) and guess who it is? Yep, BI Taxi calling because they were not able to process my credit card because the driver somehow missed a digit on the draft. I was concerned that it was someone phishing but they had all of the other pieces of info that I think that only they should have known. It only took them over a month to bother me at home in the evening to get their $$.
Negative stars, negative stars, negative stars.
If BI Taxi is my only choice again in the future, methinks I will try my luck at hitchhiking.