By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bjgordon@ladailypost.com
Need a lift? Los Alamos Taxi is at your service. Serving Los Alamos since 2013, Los Alamos Taxi and its sister business, New Mexico Wine Tours, now have a bus, two vans and a minivan ready to take groups large and small where they need to go.
“We go to the Albuquerque Airport pretty much daily,” owner Cindy Capelli said. “We offer shared rides when they are available to cut down on the cost.”
The cost for one to the airport is $160, but that gets a lot cheaper when split two or more ways. There’s plenty of room for luggage, too.
“We’re the cheapest taxi service in the state,” Capelli said.
Shuttling those with business at Los Alamos National Laboratory to Albuquerque and Santa Fe is a big part of Los Alamos Taxi’s business, but it’s by no means the only part. Plenty of locals need a lift to the airport, or someone picked up there, Capelli said.
“You don’t need to inconvenience friends and family,” she said. “We’ll get you there.”
Los Alamos Taxi has some big advantages over Uber and Lyft, Capelli said. Since the business is a licensed taxi service, the company carries full commercial liability and vehicle insurance. All drivers have Dept. of Transportation certified medical cards, are drug tested, driving tested and have extensive background checks.
“You know you’ll be safe with our drivers,” Capelli said.
Another big part of the company’s business is taking people to doctor appointments off the hill. The minivan is easy to get in and out of, if this is an issue, she said. She promised a clean comfortable ride in a non-smoking vehicle. Locals get a discount on taxi services, too!
“We have a number of regulars,” Capelli said. “I’ve made some great friends who rely on me.”
Another common request is pick up and drop off at parties, weddings and events. No parking problems or worries about drinking too much. Los Alamos taxi often goes up Pajarito Mountain for weddings, Capelli said.
Rides around town are available before 8 a.m. and after 7 p.m. and other times if a driver is available. Capelli wants to be sure people get home safely if they’ve been drinking and her business will do its level best to make sure that happens, she said.
Capelli is hiring more drivers. Rates, information and reservations are available at losalamostaxi.com. Call 505.250.8943 for a ride or more information.