My university is in a small town, so I am used to biking or taking the bus to get from place to place. Therefore, taxis are a new experience for me! I was a little nervous when we flagged down our first cab, especially because you're expected to negotiate with Panamanian taxi drivers to settle on a price. Luckily, I had a friend from Panama City with me who was able to give me an idea of what it should cost to get from place to place so I wouldn't get overcharged.
Driving in Panama can be a little nervewracking, as drivers here tend to move a little faster and more assertively than they do in California. I also heard a lot more horns honking on the road--some parts of the city sounded like Manhattan! Every cab driver I had was very good at navigating the busy Panamanian streets, and after some pleasant conversation with each, I reached my destination safe and sound.
Taxis are very popular in Panama City because many people do not own cars. Some people in Panama cannot afford their own cars, and others choose not to drive because public transportation works better for them.
Panama City has grown quickly, which has had a big impact on transportation. Traffic gets notoriously bad when people are trying to get into the city center for school and work. If they plan on driving, folks who live in neighborhoods far outside the city might have to leave home at 5:00 a.m. to get to work by 7:00 a.m. Because rush-hour traffic is such a problem for the people, the Panamanian government is currently expanding public transportation by building a third subway line into the city.
