they want to know if you want to go the long route so they can make more money

The taxi driver in Tokyo asked me the same question before.

better than in china, where the driver doesn't ask and just drive. even if they don't know where they are going! ha

HAHA

haha that is surely the worst case. in London, the drivers have memorized all the roads

SF cab driver asked me to make long distance call to ask how to get to the place