Can the title of this be changed? I assumed this was some new payment system all NYC Cabs signed up for except 5. Where as the title is really 'Dear', i.e. a letter to.
The Five NYC Taxi Drivers who Refused My Fare
11–20 of 58 posts
Re: The Five NYC Taxi Drivers who Refused My Fare
#12You have to get inside the cab before you tell them where you're going, they are legally required to take you once you are inside
They are legally required to take you anywhere whether you're inside or not.
There are exceptions; they can refuse to take you to Texas, etc. But refusing to take someone to somewhere in the five boroughs while they are on-shift is not legal.
Having said that, get in the damn cab before you tell them where you're going.
Re: The Five NYC Taxi Drivers who Refused My Fare
#13This is a common tourist mistake. Flag the taxi, and then get in the car, say hello, then tell the driver where you are going. Only tourists think they need permission to get in the car, and so the drivers will refuse them. Tourists also tend to request unprofitable routes, like going 15 blocks in Times Square.
They are allowed to turn the off-duty light on, and to get one final fare going their return direction at the end of their shift. This rule is coming to an end because the GPS logs have proven that the drivers abuse this rule extensively.
Re: The Five NYC Taxi Drivers who Refused My Fare
#14You have to get inside the cab before you tell them where you're going, they are legally required to take you once you are inside
In theory, sure.
In reality, during the day in midtown (and particularly around rush hour), you're more likely going to find a cab that pulls up to you with its doors locked, and a driver who rolls down his window to ask you where you're going.
Especially if you look like you're going to the airport.
If I have to get to the airport in NYC I book a car, every single time. I hate dealing with cabbies' bullshit, and so I simply don't. Even if I'm fairly certain I can get a cab. I'd rather pay more for a service I can count on over one that is a gamble and filled with drivers who are more than willing to deceive their customers.
Edit: context - i live in NYC, work in midtown.
Re: The Five NYC Taxi Drivers who Refused My Fare
#15I hate his pretentious tone. The Uber drivers do what they do not because they are more respectful, but because you are paying out of our ass for it. You really think they like pulling around people if they could do something else?
Re: The Five NYC Taxi Drivers who Refused My Fare
#16Whenever I've been in NYC, I've never had a problem getting cabs. Going to Newark airport however cost me something like $110 if I remember correctly, because the cab driver gave me these special "fees" at the end, it felt like highway robbery.
Now in SF, it's the worst cab situation I've ever seen. I've had cabs that I ordered via the phone never bother to show up, and once waited 90 mins in front of a hotel, as the hotel employee tried to flag taxis as they passed by the line. I don't bother taking the cab anymore. If I need to be somewhere for a day like New Year's Eve, I'll park downtown earlier that afternoon and then take the Muni there.
I just might try out Uber this New Year's Eve and see how that goes.
Re: The Five NYC Taxi Drivers who Refused My Fare
#17Hacker News: Criticizes cab companies for using laws to keep Uber out, then criticizes cabbies for not following the letter of the law with respect to unprofitable fares.
Which is it: Do we celebrate breaking laws? Complying with them? Or do we pick and choose the laws we respect?
Re: The Five NYC Taxi Drivers who Refused My Fare
#18For the record, do note that "the taxi industry" and "taxi drivers" are not the same entity, do not have the same goals, and probably don't like each other very much.
Re: The Five NYC Taxi Drivers who Refused My Fare
#19OP - quit your whining. Sounds like the country mouse is complaining about life in the city. The City moves fast, and it looks like you were not moving fast enough. Stop with tired metaphors of "small town rules and old world business."
Pro tip: Get in the cab. Close the door. Then tell them where you are going.
That is how you get to Brooklyn or any other undesirable place in the city. (see what I did there? the slight dig at BKLN?)
You squandered an opportunity there in Midtown. I'll explain:
1. It was raining 2. It was Midtown 3. Sounds like it might have been near shift-change.
How many times have you tried to get a cab in the rain in midtown? Given those market conditions YOU are the common commodity with little value. There are plenty of other customers willing to take the cab who will apply my pro-tip above.
Re: The Five NYC Taxi Drivers who Refused My Fare
#20New York has a solution for this. It's called a livery car (they're usually Lincoln Town Cars). This is especially prudent when you have a flight to catch.
You call and they send someone at the appointed time.
It's cheaper than Uber and the drivers are the same.
Some have phone numbers you'll never forget: (212) 777-7777 and 866-666-6666.