All the drivers here in Reno pay their own gas. They are treated as independents. Fares are fairly high here because most of the distances are pretty short...from down town the the airport etc. I would be tipping 20% if I were taking a cab here.

in new orleans recently the cabs are adding $1 airport gas surcharge and a $2 local gas surcharge.

I would expect this to happen in most hubs.

For the record, I am a big tipper she says while patting herself on the back.

But, no one can convince me that driving a cab is one of the hardest job in any city including the big apple...well maybe Baghdad.

And if anyone does think that driving a taxi is hard work, they should ask a hospice worker or street paver or construction laborer or sheetrocker or pediatric ICU nurse or concrete finisher or tar and gravel roofer or prison guard or commercial fisherman or dock worker...

Driving a taxi in NYC is a very hard and stressful job whether or not somebody is unconvinced of that fact.

Parrothead, fine, we've already established your disdain for the "easy" job they have and know that you feel so many more poeple (including you) have a much harder job than they do. That's fine. Next time you tip 10% you can let them know exactly why, I'm sure they'll be thrilled.

A-You're wrong, it is not disdain

B-You're wrong, I have never mentioned anywhere that my job is harder

C-You're right, I think that many people have much harder jobs than they do

Amen Parrothead.

wyatt - what is it that you do do do?

When life gets me down, and work is a chore, I usually look at how blessed I am. I look at IronWorkers in below zero windchills, I look at asphalt workers when it is 104 degrees, I look at nurses and hospice and all the things ph mentioned. I look at the volunteers and workers that had to go thru the human debris of 9/11......

Not once have I looked to the many NYC cabdrivers that tried to take me for a ride around the block. Sure most of them are great people and deserve a tip.....

But Paaaaleeeeeze - enough with how HARD their job is. If you like to drive it is a dreamjob come true.

What do I "do,do,do"? Why does it matter? I tip according to standard US practices and I've been known to be generous from time to time with cab drivers, servers, bartenders, etc.

And I really don't understand the "When life gets me down, and work is a chore, I usually look at how blessed I am." comment. What does it have to do with this discussion?

Nevertheless, life hasn't gotten me down and I do feel very blessed. Maybe that's why I don't begrudge people tips. A few extra dollars here and there doesn't matter too much to me, but it can literally make someone else's day.

gosh silly, it was a simple play on word as in what do you do to earn a living , that you find a cabdriver to be a very hard job comparatively.

never did I imply that overtipping was a bad thing - unless you are my accountant!