Wash's 'taxi' was sitting in an empty lot*. It was actually one of Serenity's shuttles) with a haphazard paint job of yellow with black and white check done by both him and Maxine.
Outside the shuttle there was a sign hanging that said "Taxi Service $10$5$1 Complimentary."
Apparently residents of the City were nervous about transport by air. Wash earned enough working with Tony so he didn't really have to worry about a fare.
He'd spent a while waiting and had decided to take a nap. He had a newspaper over his head and snuggled down in his seat, his bright floral shirt the first thing visible in the shuttle craft window.
(*Because the City said 'let there be an empty lot for this shuttle!' and there was.)