Kelly Dessaint

The massive pot holes in San Francisco city streets can ruin your night. Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner

Navigating a Friday night blowout

The streets of San Francisco are ribbed for your car’s pleasure. And…

 

Everything will be illuminated

Everything will be illuminated

I’m rolling through the Bayview on Jerrold, heading back to the Mission…

 

“Dreamforce attendees are usually super upbeat, but once desperation sets in, they begin attacking each other to secure a seat on the limited number of buses.” (Courtesy photo)

What taxi dreams are made of

Every once in a while the sun shines on a taxi driver’s…

 

Three things in life are certain: death, taxes and traffic in San Francisco. (Courtesy photo)

The thin checkered line

For some stupid reason, I still start my shifts at Caltrain these…

Three things in life are certain: death, taxes and traffic in San Francisco. (Courtesy photo)
Revelers join in the fun on Sunday at San Francisco's famous Folsom Street Fair. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)

Suits and leather jock straps

Last week is a blur. In retrospect, I’m not sure why I…

Revelers join in the fun on Sunday at San Francisco's famous Folsom Street Fair. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
Don’t end up like Quaid in “Total Recall” who can’t evade the bad guys because of “Johnny Cab,” the automated driver. (Courtesy TriStar Pictures)

The many potholes on the road to self-driving cars

I’m cruising down Haight Street when four women flag me outside Magnolia.…

Don’t end up like Quaid in “Total Recall” who can’t evade the bad guys because of “Johnny Cab,” the automated driver. (Courtesy TriStar Pictures)
After a while, driving through the lawless streets of San Francisco is like playing Galaga. (Cindy Chew/2007 S.F. Examiner)

Where the streets have no rules

It figures. Just when I’m finally getting Zen about sharing the road…

After a while, driving through the lawless streets of San Francisco is like playing Galaga. (Cindy Chew/2007 S.F. Examiner)
Deciding between sustenance and income is no laughing matter. (Courtesy photo)

The top light is on, but I’m not

Tonight, The City is a ghost town. Burning Man, Labor Day weekend…

Deciding between sustenance and income is no laughing matter. (Courtesy photo)
A cab driver who jumped a curb on Market Street last week and crashed into a shoeshine stand is just one example of taxi drivers pushing themselves to the limit to survive in an increasingly competitive industry. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)

Taxi drivers are dropping like flies

Based on what I’ve been hearing while I linger outside the National…

A cab driver who jumped a curb on Market Street last week and crashed into a shoeshine stand is just one example of taxi drivers pushing themselves to the limit to survive in an increasingly competitive industry. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner)
Buying drugs on the streets of San Francisco is easier than going through a Jack in the Box drive-through. (Courtesy photo)

A drug run in the slow lane

It’s been a while since I’ve taken anyone on a drug run.…

Buying drugs on the streets of San Francisco is easier than going through a Jack in the Box drive-through. (Courtesy photo)
Whomever you run into in the Marina, you can bet they’ve got their priorities straight. (Cindy Chew/2008 S.F. Examiner)

Fear and loathing in the Marina

"Do you know the AMC on Van Ness?” asks the girl who…

Whomever you run into in the Marina, you can bet they’ve got their priorities straight. (Cindy Chew/2008 S.F. Examiner)
There’s no telling what a passenger will say during a long ride to the Peninsula. (Courtesy photo)

A hell ride into the Peninsula

The cashier at the ARCO on 14th and Mission is a funny…

There’s no telling what a passenger will say during a long ride to the Peninsula. (Courtesy photo)
“I can’t help but smile whenever I think about how I pissed that Uber driver off so badly his passenger had to get out of the car and call me an asshole.” (Courtesy photo)

The invigorating power of gridlock

Last Wednesday night, I participated in a panel discussion for the annual…

“I can’t help but smile whenever I think about how I pissed that Uber driver off so badly his passenger had to get out of the car and call me an asshole.” (Courtesy photo)
Professional drivers in San Francisco rejoiced last week when a pickup truck drove onto the BART tracks in West Oakland, shutting down the Transbay Tube for nearly two hours. (Courtesy BART)

A fleeting sense of worth when demand surges

Wednesday looked to be a promising night for taxi driving. With Phish…

Professional drivers in San Francisco rejoiced last week when a pickup truck drove onto the BART tracks in West Oakland, shutting down the Transbay Tube for nearly two hours. (Courtesy BART)
Just because a passenger has luggage, doesn’t necessarily mean they’re headed to the airport. (Courtesy photo)

Being at the right place at the right time

It’s a quiet night. I’m close to my nut, but still in…

Just because a passenger has luggage, doesn’t necessarily mean they’re headed to the airport. (Courtesy photo)
“Do you know how much money I made last year? Half a million dollars.” (Courtesy photo)

The existential financier from Madison, Wisconsin

I’m on 11th Street, waiting for the light to change at Folsom.…

“Do you know how much money I made last year? Half a million dollars.” (Courtesy photo)
You never know what’s going to happen at night in San Francisco. (Courtesy photo)

No one turns down a story from Late Night Larry

"San Francisco is always changing. So are we.” While I’m idling in…

You never know what’s going to happen at night in San Francisco. (Courtesy photo)
Even if it’s during a weekend of love and positivity, it can be hard to take pride in your job when you feel underappreciated. (Ryan McNulty/Special to S.F. Examiner)

Searching for pride at the end of the rainbow

“From the very fountain of enchantment there arises a taste of bitterness…

Even if it’s during a weekend of love and positivity, it can be hard to take pride in your job when you feel underappreciated. (Ryan McNulty/Special to S.F. Examiner)
(AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)

What we talk about when we talk about Uber and Lyft

It’s 2:35 a.m. and I’m looking for a cabstand showing signs of…

(AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)
“You’ve never heard of Haight-Ashbury?” (Courtesy photo)

The perils of shopping on the black market

I’m heading inbound on Market, trying to prevent a Yellow cab in…

“You’ve never heard of Haight-Ashbury?” (Courtesy photo)