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Now or Never

Hop in! Toronto's legendary Cosmic Cab is a party on wheels

If you're hailing a taxi, you might be lucky enough to be picked up by this unassuming-from-the-outside-but-magical-on-the-inside vehicle.
CBC Radio ·
The view from the back of Toronto's legendary Cosmic Cab. (CBC / Eric Van)

The back seat of a cab can be a pretty boring place. There's not much to do other than make small talk, look at your phone, or watch the traffic pass by. 

But not in the Cosmic Cab. If you're hailing a taxi in Toronto, you might be lucky enough to be picked up by this unassuming-from-the-outside-but-magical-on-the-inside vehicle.

It's the brainchild of Akberali Batada, who has been a cab driver for more than 30 years. 15 years ago, he decided to transform his cab into something special. The interior is filled with bright lights, a disco ball, countless action figures, a guitar, a tambourine, and an explosion of seasonally-appropriate decorations. He even provides a karaoke machine for weekend riders.

Batada's goal is simple — he loves to make people smile.

"I like to make people more happy in the city because the city is now stressed out. There's no time for people, they're working like dogs, day and night."

So what's it like to hop into a party on wheels? Here's what some riders have shared on social media: 

Originally aired March, 2018

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