BDx13 - 4-9-2007 at 10:18 AM
Sun Apr 8, 12:14 PM ET
NEW YORK - Betty and Bob Matas have retired and are moving to Arizona, but like many New Yorkers they don't drive, and they don't want their cats to
travel all that way in an airliner cargo hold.
Their solution: "Hey, cabbie."
They met taxi driver Douglas Guldeniz when they hailed his cab after a shopping trip several weeks ago.
They got to talking about their upcoming move, and "we said 'Do you want to come?'" said Bob Matas, 72, a former audio and video engineer for
advertising agencies. "And he said 'Sure.'"
It was initially a gag, Matas said, but as they talked over the ensuing weeks it became reality.
They plan to leave Tuesday on the 2,400-mile trip to Sedona, Ariz., with Guldeniz driving his yellow SUV cab 10 hours a day for a flat fee of $3,000,
plus gas, meals and lodging.
They're getting a break. The standard, metered fare would be about $5,000 ? each way, according to David Pollack, executive director of the Committee
for Taxi Safety, a drivers' group. But city Taxi and Limousine Commission rules direct drivers and passengers to negotiate a flat fare for trips
outside the city and a few suburban areas.
It's also a good deal for Guldeniz.
"This job is not easy, and I want to do something different," said Guldeniz, 45, who has been driving a taxi for two years. "I want to have some good
memories."
The Matases will ride in relaxed comfort in Guldeniz's sport utility vehicle while their cats ride in the back in their travel cases. A mover will
haul their belongings.
"It's a little unusual, but it will be fun," said Betty Matas, 71, a retired executive administrative assistant.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070408/ap_on_fe_st/odd_taxi_mov...
defstarsteve - 4-9-2007 at 03:01 PM
I read this and thought it's not a horrible idea
but then how do they get around once they get there
it's hard as hell to get around in the middle of nowhere not knowing how to drive
and public transit is shit in arizona
clevohardcore - 4-9-2007 at 04:10 PM
It makes a good story.
Siczine.com - 4-9-2007 at 06:18 PM
That it does. This is either a ploy to get their name in the paper or just really fucking stupid old people with too much money.
ENDERA.x - 4-9-2007 at 07:59 PM
lol! well thats interesting.
joe - 4-9-2007 at 10:58 PM
interesting but definetly a waste of cash