My writing had me away on assignment, and all I can tell you is this... Tampa is really messed up. Media and Metro mix and the ingredients are not mixing well with others.

While the City of Hopes/Dreams/NonMass Transit exists, it fails in such areas that it makes you wonder what is happening with all this junk.

TIA is one of the top airports in the country and the parking cannot accommodate the traffic. So you want to fly out of here, but you have no where to park your car for drop off or for your friends to pick you up.

As for the cab situation, (before I am flamed by the self proclaimed expert let me clarify) is not customer friendly. You wait for long periods of time to get a cab in rush times, if you are calling one from your home or hotel you are faced with a 50/50 crap shoot you will arrive on time. Not to mention the danger you place yourself in when you step into the under-insured vehicles.
That's right, did you know cab's are not required to carry large amounts of insurance. Just the standard, 10/20 liability?

Last week a group took 6 cab rides for the upcoming study to determine what was already known, to only find out that 4 out of 6 cabbies took more than the expected time to arrive, talked about TIPS on the ride, and took deliberate paths that were more lengthy. Also, when asked about buses, they were told they don't run around here.

Now for the busing issue, not a pretty one either. Did you know you can't get there from here, and if you get there, you will never get back here from there the same way? When the bus drivers were quizzed they stated the routes change with the time of the day. How convenient is that? One rider mentioned they would catch a cab to meet the bus at another location, and the driver said good luck with that. She (the bus driver continued) if you are not at a strip club, you won't catch a cab unless you wave 100 dollar bills around. Then you are taking your life in your hands.

Interesting how the transit folks want equality and all that jazz, but the customer is the one who is really left "behind".

Disclaimer: I read many blogs and have read taxi and bus driver blogs, the story is the same. Not enough money, not enough tips, not enough anything. My views are my views like it or not. When tipping and how much money you make is all you discuss with your fares, you are pond scum.