Does knowing the city's topography still matter to a taxi driver in the age of GPS navigation? It seems that all you have to do is turn on the app and you'll get to your destination without a problem.
But understanding the structure of city streets is about more than just using navigation – it’s about being able to react quickly to unexpected situations and find the best shortcuts.
How is technology changing this industry and does traditional urban knowledge still give you an advantage on the road?
Knowledge of the City Topography and the Taxi Driver Profession
Just a dozen or so years ago, knowledge of the city's topography was one of the basic requirements for a taxi driver. To do their job well, every driver had to know the streets, shortcuts, key points and places where traffic jams often formed.
It was a skill that couldn’t be learned quickly —it required years of practice and hours spent driving around the city.
The topography and regulations examinations required to obtain a taxi licence were abolished only a few years ago.
Today, in the era of technology and ubiquitous navigation systems, some wonder if this knowledge is still necessary . It seems that it is enough to turn on the GPS navigation to reach the destination without much effort.
However, the topography of a city is more than just knowing the streets – it is knowing how to deal with unusual situations, how to avoid sudden traffic jams or construction works, as well as knowing which shortcuts can save time and which ones will delay the route in the long run.
Thanks to this, a taxi driver with a good knowledge of topography still has an advantage, even in an age when technology dominates the roads. A skilled taxi driver uses navigation to speed up his work, to make it easier to find an exact address, to check the current traffic before reaching a given part of the city.
GPS vs. Traditional Urban Knowledge
Choosing the right navigation is key to being a taxi driver. Although GPS has become an indispensable tool, each of the available applications offers different features, so it's worth choosing the one that best suits your needs.
The best solution seems to be a combination of several tools , such as Google Maps, Waze, Yanosik and Targeo, which together will create an optimal navigation system.
Google Maps and Waze are two of the most popular navigation apps. They offer accurate maps, frequent updates, and features to avoid traffic jams. Google Maps is easy to use and clear, making it a great choice for everyday use. Waze, on the other hand, relies on information from other users, so it will warn you about traffic jams, accidents, and police patrols. Both apps are very functional, and the choice between them depends on individual preferences.
Yanosik is a unique application that combines the functions of navigation, radar detector and CB radio. Although the navigation itself is sometimes less precise, Yanosik is irreplaceable in warning against radars and road checks. Additionally, it does a great job of displaying building numbers, which can be helpful, especially in new housing estates, where Google Maps sometimes fails.
Targeo relies on AutoMapa maps, which are very precise in rural areas. It's a great complement to Yanosik, especially if you're picking up passengers from more remote locations where other apps might struggle to find exact addresses.
Personally, I have a very big sentiment for MapaMap navigation, unfortunately this product died. Currently, one of the best professional navigations in Poland is, in my opinion, AutoMapa.
Its biggest advantage is the way it presents data and how precisely. Using this navigation, you will easily find any address, even if it is hidden deep in the bushes.
But even if you decide to use only Google navigation, don't forget to add Targeo maps to your "favorites" tab. Many times in your career there will be a situation when you won't be able to find an address.
The pin will show that you are already there, but the real address may be several hundred meters away.
In such a situation, always check Targeo or OpenStreet Map first .
Currently, Google Maps navigation takes over a lot of functionality from its sister Waze.
I've noticed that it's working better and better. Nevertheless, Yanosik will still enjoy the best warnings for a good few years.
Remember, one of the most important aspects of using a navigation system is to turn off the sound in Google Maps or Waze. Nothing irritates passengers more than a loud navigation system that may suggest that the driver is not familiar with the route, especially in well-known parts of the city.
However, it is worth leaving voice warnings in Yanosik that concern road checks or accidents, although it is a good idea to limit the number of messages in this application to only the most important ones.
Using a combination of Google, Yanosik and other applications can significantly facilitate the work of every taxi driver, allowing efficient movement both on crowded streets and in lesser-known areas.
The Role of Mobile Apps in Taxi Driver Work: A Guide for Newbies
More and more new taxi drivers are starting their careers through ride-hailing apps like Uber, Bolt, FreeNow, and iTaxi. For many, it’s their first job after arriving in Poland or a new city, making familiarity with the city’s topography seem less necessary.
Navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze do a great job of guiding drivers from point A to point B. But can you really forgo learning city routes altogether?
Here are some reasons why it is worth combining modern technologies with traditional knowledge, and how to become a skilled driver in the hustle and bustle of the city.
1. Use the app, but don't give up on learning the city's topography
Driving on transit apps can get by without knowing the city. Systems like Google Maps and Waze offer precise routes and traffic updates. However, it’s worth remembering that knowing the topography gives you additional benefits.
For example, if you use several apps at the same time and finish a course on one of them, familiarity with the city allows you to smoothly accept the next course without wasting time commuting "around".
The ability to plan routes in advance allows you to optimize your time and increase your earnings while saving fuel.
2. Knowing the city is the key to shortcuts and economical driving
In big cities, traffic jams are a daily occurrence, and detours and shortcuts often save time and nerves. Navigation does not always indicate the shortest route - it may not know local shortcuts available only to taxis, such as special lanes or routes closed to traffic for regular drivers.
Navigation in cities often doesn’t show these options, and only Waze offers a taxi mode in some locations. For this reason, knowing the city gives you an advantage, especially during rush hour.
3. Quickly estimate your route and avoid passenger problems
Knowing the city also allows you to quickly estimate the cost of a ride, for example when a passenger asks for an estimated cost to a distant location. When you don’t have to constantly check your GPS, you build more trust with passengers who see that you know the route.
Frequent use of navigation, especially with sound on, may raise doubts as to whether you are actually familiar with the city. Navigation may mislead you, and more experienced passengers may notice that you are taking a longer route than usual.
4. Learn the city's topography quickly?
Taking over a city won’t happen overnight, but there are a few proven ways to speed up the process:
Practice is key – The more time you spend on the roads, the better you will remember key routes and shortcuts. It is worth driving consciously, paying attention to the surroundings and important landmarks.
Learn the city in stages – Don’t try to learn everything at once. Focus on one district, get to know it thoroughly, and then gradually expand the area you know well. This will make it easier to systematically memorize new routes.
Knowing important locations – Knowing the names of popular places like train stations, shopping malls, hotels, and restaurants is essential. Passengers may often refer to these places in conversation, so it’s worth it for you to learn these locations quickly and be able to find them without a problem.
5. Exercise without navigation
Although navigation is essential at first, it is worth gradually eliminating its use. Once you know the area in which the address is located, try to get there without looking at the GPS, only with it in the background as a support. This will help you remember the routes faster, and in the long run it will improve your orientation in the city.
6. Navigation in traffic jams
In the hustle and bustle of the city, navigation can be very helpful, especially during rush hour. Google Maps, Waze or Yanosik will provide information about traffic jams, making it easier to choose the optimal route, saving time and fuel. Nevertheless, it is worth knowing shortcuts that will allow you to bypass traffic jams, even if the application does not show them.
7. Talk to passengers and other more experienced drivers
Talking to more experienced taxi drivers can provide valuable information. Exchange tips on the best shortcuts, local speed limits, or changes in traffic patterns.
It's also worth observing what routes other drivers choose during their courses - this is practical learning that will make you a better driver over time.
Your passengers often know the city better than any sat nav. Don't be afraid to ask for suggestions, especially if you're unsure about the route.
Such a conversation will not only make it easier to get to your destination, but will also allow you to get to know the city better. Be discreet about it and do it with sensitivity so as not to give the impression of being lost.
While modern technology gives drivers the advantage of apps, knowing the city's topography is still incredibly valuable.
Over time, your knowledge of local routes, shortcuts, and key landmarks will make your ride smoother, more efficient, and more economical. By investing in your skills, you’ll gain the trust of your passengers and increase your earnings by optimizing each trip.
Remember – practice, patience and systematic learning are the key to success in the work of a city taxi driver.
Traditional road atlas, does it still make sense?
Don't be afraid to reach for a traditional road atlas . It's not a shame or embarrassment. In the past, in the days before GPS navigation, "contrary to appearances, not so long ago, 20-30 years ago," drivers planned their routes using paper maps.
A road atlas was a basic tool for every journey. You had to memorize key landmarks and sometimes write down the most important towns and road numbers on a piece of paper.
Working with an atlas is a completely different form of working with a map than using an app. Working with a paper map engages our brain in a different way and can help us remember routes and the layout of the city more effectively.
Research shows that reading from paper (books, maps) and writing down information by hand helps in remembering and processing data better than using screens.
Why is this so?
When you use traditional tools like a road atlas, the brain engages in a more complex process. Paper requires more focus and cognitive activity.
In the context of memorizing a map, manually tracing a route on an atlas through visual and manual means (e.g. tracing with a finger or drawing) allows for an easier memorization of the spatial layout of a city. This is something that screens do not offer to the same extent.
Research shows that writing down information by hand promotes better retention because it engages more senses, which strengthens memory traces.
Research conducted by scientists from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology confirms that reading from paper leads to better understanding and memory of text, compared to a computer or phone screen.
In the context of maps, when you analyze routes on paper, you process spatial information more consciously, making it easier to recreate the route from memory later.
Similar conclusions appear in research conducted by Neuroscience & Education : writing down information by hand, compared to using a keyboard, leads to deeper data processing and better visual memory.
Therefore, instead of relying solely on digital navigation, regular contact with a road atlas can be a great mental exercise for you and will help you better remember the layout of the city.
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