A day in the life of a taxi driver in Paris

A day behind the wheel of a Parisian taxi … and as many adventures and chance encounters as you could wish for! Even today, the average day of a taxi in Paris still seems a mystery to many of us. But today, their secrets have been spilled. From unpleasant customers, unusual fares, unfathomable regulations and unfamiliar routes: these taxi drivers are here to share their stories. So, what does a day in the life of a Parisian taxi look like? For the first time ever, find out for yourself!

Taxi driver in Paris: a fly on the wall

Being a taxi driver is not an easy job. And rightly so: the profession is suffering gravely at the moment due to the catastrophic competition of private hire vehicles and low cost services. From a group of over 19,000 taxi drivers in the Parisian region, a handful accepted to open up about their rich, dynamic experiences. Most taxi drivers reveal they chose this job for the freedom and independence it brought. However, this freedom is being jeopardized by the ferocious competition and a growing antipathy amongst clients. The day-to-day life of a Parisian taxi is therefore becoming more difficult, particularly for young drivers beginning their career. But, despite an ever more dislikeable client base, drivers often keep their spirits up by building relationships with regular customers and reminding themselves that there are unruly clients in all walks of life. As a consequence – and despite popular belief – the day-to-day life of a taxi driver in Paris is still in many ways an enjoyable and enriching experience.

The daily life of a taxi driver: unusual anecdotes

Saucy stories and unlikely encounters are inevitable if you drive a taxi in Paris . The many anecdotes told by taxi drivers are probably amongst some of the most unusual in daily French life; the drivers’ constant contact with different members of the public means that Parisian taxis come across some extraordinary tales. One of the drivers interviewed shared his most unusual story with us, an incident which had happened some months previous.
“It was 1.30pm on a Friday afternoon and I was waiting impatiently in front of Saint Lazare train station, when a new client happened to pass by my window and ask for a fare. I saw a guy about thirty years old and pretty handsome – but looking worse for wear after what had obviously been a long night out. He nervously asked me to take him to the Saint-Gervais church in the 4th arrondissement. He looked really stressed out. And I’m not surprised: he was about to get married! The ceremony was meant to start at 2pm. I had just enough time to drive him to the church, splash some water on his face and give him a square of chocolate for some energy. At 2 o’clock on the dot, he opened the doors of the church smiling and eyes full of love for his new wife. That day, I really felt like a superhero. I understood the importance of a simple taxi driver’s actions and the impact it can have on someone else. In this job, there is an immeasurable human dimension. And on that day, I swore I would be loyal to the profession for the rest of my life!”

A taxi driver in Paris: the risks of the job

Unfortunately, it’s not always rainbows and butterflies in the world of a taxi driver . There are many disadvantages and some drivers experience unpleasant incidents. With these risks and dangers, taxi drivers in Paris can sometimes find themselves in traumatising situations.

To find out more, check out our article on the risks of the job of taxi driver.

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