[mac9]

There is an ad in the Daily Sun from the woman who runs TV shuttle stating that starting May 1 they will have car service for shopping, doctor's appointments, etc. since there will no longer be TV taxi. Did I misread this or is the Villages taxis really going out of business? She states that this will be on a trial basis to determine if there really is a need for it.

[swrinfla]

mac9:

It seems to me to have been poorly publicized, but it does appear to be true that:

1] The Villages Taxi will cease operations at the end of business 30 April 2012

2] A "car service" will replace it.

3] The "car service" will be far less flexible and available; my information shows severely limited hours of service.

4] The "car service" will be essentially useless in so-called 'off-hours' as a connector to The Villages Transportation's Airport Shuttle Service.

5] The highly convenient airport-shuttle-with-home-pickup-and-delivery program will be become essentially inconvenient, at so-called off hours, especially.

I am disturbed that, once again, the "bottom line" has directed a corporate decision with little consideration of the "public relations line."

The situation bears close watching!

SWR

[Bogie Shooter]

If there is money to be made, some private investor will jump right in.

[Jim 9922]

If it is true that there will be no taxi service they have just created a good reason not to take The Villages Transportation shuttle. Are passengers expected to walk home from the dropoff stations ??!

[Sable99]

I am sorry to hear this. We used Villages Taxi during our "Design Team" meetings for my new home in February. We thought it was a wonderful service as we needed to take the 5 AM shuttle to Orlando. The driver picked us up at the Lifestyle villa at 4:30 AM!!! I can't imagine another company picking someone up at that hour and I sure would hate to ask someone else to do it!!

[English Ivy]

On The Villages Transportation website it states:

Pick up Service
The Villages Transportation service will pick up Villages Residents and their guests at their home and take them to the designated Shuttle Station for transfer to and from Orlando International Airport. For an Additional Fee.

They're not going to make you stick your thumb out and hitch hike to and from your home.

Check it out here The Villages Transportation ? Orlando International Airport Shuttle Service

[njbchbum]

VILLAGE AIRPORT VAN
40 TRIPS A DAY TO OIA
DOOR TO DOOR
352 241 2000

this service is advertised in the daily sun service directory under 'airport transportation' is it the same/different service?

[mac9]

English Ivy, I know that they do pick ups now, but according to the ad in the Daily Sun, effective 5/1/12, this car service will only be available from 8am - 4pm.

[jojo]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

VILLAGE AIRPORT VAN
40 TRIPS A DAY TO OIA
DOOR TO DOOR
352 241 2000

this service is advertised in the daily sun service directory under 'airport transportation' is it the same/different service?

It is different. There are two major services to the airport. The Villages Transportation operates the white bus that stops at Spanish Springs and LSL and is reserved on The Villages website. What is in question is the taxi service that did the home pickups and returns. The Villages Airport Van (with the yellow stripe on the side) is a separate operation. They do door-to-door service and their phone is 352-241-2000.

There are advantages to each. If someone can take you to the station, the Villages Transportation runs on a fixed schedule and you know when you are going to leave. You have to have a more flexible schedule with the Villages Airport Van (yellow stripe). They pick other customers up along the way and may wait awhile at the airport (especially in the evening) for late flights before returning to The Villages.

[English Ivy]

Sorry Mac, should have referenced who I was responding to. One of the other posters asked if they were supposed to walk home from the dropoff stations.

I'm understanding all of this to mean that if you want to go to the airport they can take care of picking you up/dropping off at your home for any of their scheduled shuttle runs.

The problems may be for those who used the taxi for doctor appts, shopping trips, etc. That's where the service is being curtailed.

Njbchbum, you are referring to a different company.

[trichard]

The Villages transportation business (i.e. airport shuttle & taxi) are getting their butts kicked by the competition. People want service; not run on their schedule from the stations at the squares.

[Milthoff]

Be careful when using taxi service. We used The Villages Airport Van taxi service (241-2100) to go from Hemingway to Wal Mart parking lot on 466. Was charged $25.00. On way back from trip, called Villages Transportation and only paid $12.00 for same service. Don't be fooled by the closeness of the names!