Blue Bird always for me - good service, clean cars, no ripoffs, prompt pick-up and reliable - in Bali and in Jkt too. I will wait a long time roadside for one to come along. And for a Westerner - they drive at a good speed not like so many other taxi drivers in Indonesia.

Other Indonesian cities suffer this same problem. Bluebird also set up in Bandung a while back to a similar kind of reaction from local cab drivers there. As I understand it, Bluebird pays its drivers a monthly wage whereas other companies do not, hence the rip offs. Medan cabs were the worst I've ever been in. Utterly clapped out, and the endless arguing the toss over fares is a real pain in the backside (as were the seats and suspension).

Just another reason to keep clear of Bali...

So is this what it has come to? A company that puts the customer first, that promotes honesty, integrity and humility is 'punished' for being so. What message is this sending to the average tourist, business owner, employee or indonesian citizen? Blue Bird are successful ... why??? WELL.. they are honest... courteous and provide a professional service, whether you are a tourist or not - so the local mafia taxi groups are continuing on with there ' gangster - mafia' behaviour. The SHAME - absolute SHAME - I hope as many as people as possible write and forward letters of protests to ALL newspapers - facebook - twitter social networking sites - Government offices and DEMAND that this 'high school' bullying behaviour stop. Everyone should pull together and refuse to take any taxis other than Blue Bird - this is a brillant and proud INDONESIAN company and this is how they are treated. I am very disappointed and saddened by this.

These drivers should climb out from under the rock in which they live rather than throw rocks at Bluebird Taxis! This action certain says volumes about the integrity of "the Bali Tourism Service Association (PJWB), a union of taxi drivers", particularly if the report that they "also raided Blue Bird taxis passing along the road and forced the passengers to exit the vehicles."

I operated Golden Bali & Global Travel in Australia for more than twenty years - and the complaints I have received over this time from disgruntled cients could fill volumes of books!

Bluebird and its sister company Silver Bird are wonderful ambassadors for Indonesian Tourism and Travel Agencies, both International and Domestic know that they may safely recommend the Bluebird Group in whatever Indonesian City they operate, in the knowledge that their clients will always find a clean, immaculately-maintained vehicle (never without an operational A/C), with a courteous, clean, uniformed driver who will always use the Meter regardless of distance of the fare.

Now living in Indonesia, my preference is always to take a Bluebird/Silver Bird and will gladly let taxis of many other "brands" pass by me whilst I wait for the company of my choice;in Jakarta there are a couple of other companies which are also striving for excellence which I will take but sadly this is unquestionably not the case in Bali!

Rather than victimise Bluebird and its drivers, these clowns would be much better advised to "take a leaf out of the 'Bluebird Book'" and follow the superb example set by them. They may find that in doing this, their number of fares and revenue base would improve to the point that they are happy to have "followed the leader".