Page 242 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

240  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Travelling by Taxi
Taxis in Prague are a useful but
frustrating form of transport. All
taxis are privately owned, and
there are many unscrupulous
drivers who are out to charge Pedestrian Pedestrian
as much as they can get away zone crossing
with. Never take a taxi from Street or square name
outside a hotel or tourist sight, and Prague district
as these are most likely to be
operated by drivers who fall into
A typical, modern public bus on the this category; the only taxis safe
streets of Prague to hail on the street are Fair
Place taxis (www.prague-taxi.
Travelling by Bus co.uk/taxi-fair-place.htm).
Most visitors to Prague are likely Drivers in the Fair Place scheme
to use a bus only to travel to and guarantee a fair price, a safe
from the airport (see p235), or if ride, a professional approach
they visit the zoo. By law, buses and high standards. There are
are not allowed in the city centre around 50 Fair Place taxi ranks Street number City registration
because the streets are too across Prague. number
narrow. Instead, they are used Official taxis have a roof lamp Walking
to transport people from the and the company name,
suburbs to tram and metro registration number and basic Walking around Prague is the
stops outside the centre. price list must be displayed on most enjoyable way to see the
Unless you have enough both front doors. Prices city. Some pedestrian crossings
small change, you must currently are Kč40 boarding are controlled by traffic lights,
purchase a ticket before you fee, Kč28/km travel and Kč6/ but be sure to cross only when
board a bus. Tickets are available minute waiting. After the the green man is showing, and
from the vending machines at journey, the driver is obliged even then, check the road
the entrance of metro stations, to print an official receipt. carefully before you do so. It is
tabáks (tobacconists) and all the To get an idea of taxi prices now illegal for drivers to ignore
usual agents (see p238). in Prague, look at one of the pedestrian crossings, but for
You must validate your ticket Fair Place price leaflets, years they were allowed to do
in the punching machine on available for free in hotels and so, and old habits die hard. Be
the bus. When buying a ticket, train stations. especially careful at crossings
choose either a Kč24 transfer If you think you have been that do not have traffic lights.
ticket allowing 30 minutes of scammed by a taxi driver, take Bear in mind that trams do
travel, or a Kč32 ticket, which is their name and number so you have priority at pedestrian
valid for 90 minutes. You have can report them to the police crossings, which can be
to push a button to open the (see pp228–9). The best way not confusing. They also travel
doors on most buses, though to be taken advantage of is to at high speeds, occasionally
some open automatically. use a Fair Place taxi or have your coming upon you with little
There is a high-pitched warning hotel or restaurant call another warning. Considering the
signal when doors are about to reputable firm. uneven cobbled streets,
close. You are expected to give Unless your Czech pronun- the steep hills and the mass
up your seat for the elderly, ciation is good, always have of tram lines, flat, comfortable
the disabled and people with your destination written down shoes for walking are
small children. in Czech. strongly recommended.
Bus timetables are located
at every stop. They have the
numbers of all the buses that
stop there and the timetable for
each route. The frequency of
buses varies considerably. In the
rush hour, there may be 12 to 15
buses an hour; at other times, as
few as three.
There are more than 25 buses
that run during the night, serving
the outer areas not covered
by the tram and metro system.
These buses are numbered in
the 500s and 600s. Yellow AAA taxis at a Fair Place taxi rank

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