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Gothamist has a pretty standard taxi routine: get in the cab, say our destination, repeat our destination, repeat our destination a third time (we sometimes speakabitquickly), roll down the windows because the AC is off or sucks, wait, pay and tip the driver, get out. Occasionally we'll get into a conversation with the driver of the standard "where are you from" or "how's traffic" variety but most often we get too absorbed in looking out the window. Which is to say we haven't ever really had any problems with our cabbies, though admittedly we don't taxi that often. But many people have had problems, and now one company is trying to do something about it. Yellow Cab SLSJet, which has 700 cabbies in its employ, is starting to institute a charm school for its drivers. Over the next few months drivers will learn "cabby etiquette" (i.e. stay calm, don't talk politics, smile) and "grooming" (i.e. not so much cologne, stay clean, smile). Cabbies will also be told to lay off the cellphones and to tone down their cultural music.
While Gothamist admits this is probably a good idea (who couldn't use some charm pointers) we're not really sure what all the fuss is about as we've always enjoyed our cab rides. And as for the music, as long as its not too loud, how else are we supposed to learn about new music if not from our cabbies? Do you think our cabbies need more social graces or should they just concentrate on getting you where you need to be?
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It’s nice to have a cabby who's talkative with a sense of humor. But above all else they should work on getting you to your destination in the most efficient and timely manner.
My Favorite cabbies are the nut jobs that drive like homicidal maniacs with a death wish, cursing slow moving traffic as they pass them by.
Even though they almost ram into other cabbies or barely miss hitting old ladies trying to cross the street, it’s hard to fault their efficiency.
I don't like cabbies yapping away on their headsets throughout the ride -- it makes me feel unsafe. But what I REALLY hate is the way that every time I get a cab at JFK, for the longest cab journey I ever take, it always stinks of stale cigarette smoke.
Forget charm school. I am willing to settle for a clean car and a cabbie who knows where he is going or is willing to admit to it when he doesn't. Beyond that, working AC wouldbe nice.
I understand that New York cabs tend to be on the pricey side, especially when compared to a flat-rate (hiked-up?) subway fare. However, we should also consider the hardships a cabbie must deal with: the long/late hours, customers who abandon fares, angry or wild passengers. Most of our cab drivers do not own their cars; only 29% of today's drivers own medallion licenses and an individual medallion can cost upwards of $200,000. Therefore, as long as drivers remain borderline friendly and efficent, I think that New Yorkers can allow them a few vices, especially ones as trivial as "ethnic" music.
I once split a cab with a girl who wanted to get off on broadway on the UWS. The cabby wanted to drop her off on amsterdam. They yelled at each other. When he dropped her off, he did a U-turn and nearly ran her over (intentionally). He then told me (still in the cab) that she was a b*tch. I really didn't know what to say in this situation. I feel that this fellow needs to go to charm school.
If you want more personable cabbies, get rid of the partitions. Then you and the driver are much more likely to feel that you should at least say a few things to each other, and the cabbbies won't need charm school. And some of the people in this city might be a bit nicer to their cabbies.
"their cabbies"
excuse me while I go PUKE.
Many times, I've mentioned to the cabbies (when their radios were off) that if they wanted them on, they should have them on. I know I'm more comfortable with music I like when I'm driving; I'd just as soon have a more relaxed, comfortable cab driver getting me somewhere.
1. Cabbie, I don't really care about your god, your desire for all unmarried women to be "untouched", or how blessed we all are. Especially not at 6:15am on a Sunday morning.
2. Cabbie, I'm actually kinda fond of the fast-paced ride. But maybe you could learn to drive *without* hitting the brake and gas simulaneously, sending me into nausea-ville?
3. Cabbie, when another taxi cuts you off, perhaps you can ask me to get out before you: drag-race down 11th ave, flipping him off, swearing at the top of your lungs (I'm assuming it was swearing -- I'm just not sure in which language), and intentionally nearly hitting him along the way.
4. Cabbie, it's bad enough when you're on the phone the entire trip, but perhaps you can try to not talk so loud that I can't hear the person I'm speaking to on MY phone.
5. Cabbie, I know it costs less for tolls when you use EZ-Pass. So don't act so surprised when I give you a lousy tip.
Alot of the time, they screw up the route or destination because they're always on the phone!!
It's rare that I get a cab driver who doesn't suck, so I've come to realize that if they're okay with sucking, I'm okay with not tipping.
Tips aren't a given in my book (I don't believe in the "10% is for a bad job" rule ... 0% is for a bad job, including at restaurants). If you want 15-20%, I expect competency, an ability to not cause 4-5 life-flashing-before-my-eyes moments, and no whining when I go to Brooklyn.
I once came across a taxi driver who kept watching me through the window at the place I was volunteering. One day he asked me out, and he took me to a porn movie! I quickly left in disgust, and the next day he came to my volunteering job and harrassed my co-worker and me. Crazy!
It's not because other customers mistreat their cabbies that I should allow a rude, half-assed ride. Like so many service workers in New York, cab drivers are missing many chips. I leave my cab drivers alone, with their music or their cell phone, but I do expect them to deliver the service I'm paying for. Most of the time one of the following happens:
1) driver doesn't helps me with my luggage and drops me off in front of the garbage pile.
2) driver refused to make change on a $50, and makes me pay an additional $5.00 to drive me to the ATM. And of course I'm so scared of confrontation I did it!
3) driver complains that you're not going where he wants to go - sometimes asks you to leave the cab.
4) driver doesn't drop you off at destination.
5) Driver asks you which road you want to take when I expect them to know what the traffic situation is.
6) Drivers can't drive smoothly, near-vomit.
It never bothered me as much as in the last six months when for some reason I systematically get poor service.