Nowadays getting a lift to and from places is pretty easy thanks to taxi companies being accessible right from our mobile phones.
But, there's no denying it can be annoying in a busy city like Leeds waiting around for a taxi, or your Uber or taxi firm cancelling your journey at last minute. What's more, you miss out on seeing the city while travelling to and from different areas in a car.
While some love walking and cycling around Leeds too, many may not know about the Leeds Water Taxi - the boat which will take you through the city centre on the stunning River Aire.
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A TikTok went viral recently from Leeds Bucket List, raking in over 93,100 views with many saying they had not seen it before. @Bethmhutch said: "Cute. I need to start getting the water taxi to work."
@SuperSarah added: "Need to do this! Never have but seen it." Speaking to Leeds Live Francesca Manders said the taxi boat "looks awesome", and Lisa Waller Fincken added she's "got to try this".
For those who don't know about the boat it looks not too dissimilar to a classic New York cab - with its yellow and black colouring. The Leeds Water Taxi was established in 2014, when two boats were shipped over from Amsterdam's famous canal network.
There is an Uber-style app used called TaxiTrack app which allows people to track the boats' movements in real time. There are two boats named Twee & Drie, which ferry 120,000 passengers between Leeds Dock and the train station every single year.
They can carry up to 12 passengers at any one time, operating between 7am and 7pm on weekdays and between 10am and 6pm at weekends. The waiting time is around 12 minutes maximum. Individuals wanting to get on the boat pay just £1 to ride, and children under the age of five can ride for free.
Is the taxi boat worth going on?
I got on the taxi boat on Sunday afternoon (August 21) around 3pm and didn't really know what to expect. There is a sweet bus stop style area for boat riders to wait for the taxi and it was easily sign posted.
I got on at Leeds Dock, but you can also get on at Leeds Liverpool Canal just a few yards from the Hilton hotel. Luckily I was the first passenger on so I was able to choose which seat I wanted - as the sun was beautifully blaring I had to sit at the front in the outdoor area.
There is an inside with windows too but that's not as fun in my opinion. I can not believe that it is just £1 per person. If you tried to get a boat on the water in London I guarantee it would be at least £10 (that's why Yorkshire is the best).
I think the price is so reasonable. While we all want to get to our destinations quickly it was amazing to see all the sights along the River Aire - from the fabulous canal boats on the river, Calls Landing, Lower Briggate Bridge, Leeds Minster, grand buildings, apartments, and more. You can hear the soft sound of the water against the boat as the sun glistens onto it.
The driver on board was super friendly, he drove the boat gently but at a reasonable pace so the ride was only around 10-15 minutes, and he was helpful at getting individuals off and on the boat.
I think it is a really cute activity to do with family, friends, or a partner on a sunny weekend. What's more it is a really helpful form of transport - if you're in the city centre and you have a friend who lives near the docks, why not get the boat to meet them?
It's cheap, it's enjoyable, there's very minimal traffic, and it is the most relaxing transport I have been on in Leeds. I felt so calm the entire time and I didn't have to pay astronomical prices for petrol or a taxi instead.
I would give this way of travelling around Leeds city centre a 10/10 experience.
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