Sydney's water taxis

Press, 16 March 1982, Page 14

Sydney's water taxis

By

ROSALEEN

McCarroll

Australia’s first water taxi service commenced business in Sydney Harbour when Aqua’ Cab launched four taxis in mid-February. Initial demand was so great that the company had to order four more even before the first boats hit the water. Permanent bookings alone were enough to keep all four taxis tied up during peak hours. Eight more boats will be introduced before October. Bookings can be made by 'phone or a taxi can be hailed from any of Sydney's 40 public wliarves, with the exception of Manly which the Maritime Services Board considered too busy to accommodate the service. People with their own private jetties, of which there are 410 in Sydney Harbour. can call a taxi to their own doorstep. Operators are on call 24-hours-a-day and claim they can be on the spot in five minutes. The , 5.5-metre Marlin Broadbills, outfitted at a total cost of $35,000 each, are like big speedboats with twin

85-hp motors, eight bucket seats with arm rests, carpeted floors, and sliding glass windows. The service costs $1.20 a kilometre for each hiring whether one passenger or a maximum of eight is carried. There is no flagfall or booking charge. Comparable charges for road taxis are 70c flagfall.

45c a kilometre and 50c booking'fee. so water taxis are quite economical, especially for groups. Passengers are covered by a public risk and passenger liability insurance policy. taken but by the company. Aqua cabs can really move. A trip from Mosman Bay to Circular Quay takes three minutes and costs $3.50. The ferries take 20

minutes with three stops on <..?>» the way and cost 60c. The water cabs will find plenty of customers out of ’‘v? peak hours. Sydney has at-< tractions all along its foreshores. but driving through Sydney from one side to the other could take 40 minutes compared with only five minutes in the water taxi. And you don't have to worry about parking.