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Today, the NY Post takes advantage of the built-in outrage of taxi fares by looking at how the new fares stack up. The fare increase, which went into effect yesterday, doubles the amount charged for waiting time from 20 cents per minute to 40 cents. So the Post made a couple trips:
[A] ride from Penn Station to the Metropolitan Museum of Art came to $18.50. The 5-mile, 29-minute midday trip would have cost $3 less the day before - an increase of nearly 20 percent.Okay, there are a couple things to think about here. It's the holiday season - there are tons of vehicles on the street. Who takes a cab from Lincoln Center to Grand Army Plaza during rush hour? It probably would take about the same amount of time on the subway (maybe a little more, given rush hour train congestion) and it's $2 (or less, with your Metrocard!).Passengers were hit even harder on trips closer to rush hour.
It took 66 minutes to make the 8.7-mile journey from Lincoln Center to Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn during the afternoon, including 37 minutes of waiting time. Under new fare rules, the cost spiked $7.30, or 26.8 percent, to $34.50.
Of course, some taxi regulars are horrified. One said "It's appalling, I hate New York cabs!" noting that "her ride from West 81st Street and Riverside Drive to Midtown used to cost $9 - but yesterday, it was $12." And a driver told the Post that on Wednesday (pre-hike) he made $160, but on Thursday, he already made that much with four hours left on his shift. There was a lone person who said the increase was okay with him: White Plains resident Neil Bond said, "I think it's a deserved price raise with insurance and gas prices going up."
Did anyone take a cab yesterday? Or drive a cab? What have you noticed with the fare hike?
Photograph of mass of cabs by pixelopera on Flickr
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20 cents a minute is a rate of $12 per hour. We expect the driver and the cab owner to make a living/profit off that? The raise to 40 cents was well overdue. We can't blame the cab drivers for the city's gridlock.
Lincoln Center to Grand Army?!
Lincoln Center to GRAND ARMY?!
Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaahahahahahahahhhhaaaaaa! Funny!
If congestion pricing goes into effect, it should lower the price of taxi fares.
"If congestion pricing goes into effect, it should lower the price of taxi fares."
Except that the cabs will likely have to pay it as well, and they will pass the cost on to the fares.
"Did anyone take a cab yesterday? Or drive a cab? What have you noticed with the fare hike?"
Hahahahahaha, like a freaking cab driver would visit this website.
Bwahahahaha!
"If congestion pricing goes into effect, it should lower the price of taxi fares."
When have cab fares gone DOWN???
Uhhh...like never?
Cabs were a rip off before the hike and they're a rip off now. Save your money for the coming apocolypse (but stash it in Euros - or gold).
If you walk from Lincoln Center to 72nd Street or switch to an express at Times Square, it takes about 45 min. to get to Grand Army Plaza from Times Square. It also costs AT MOST $2 if you bought a one-ride MetroCard. So any dumbass taking a cab there deserves to pay $34.50 for the pleasure of spending 66 minutes in the back of a cab.
Also, Jason, there are literate blogging cab drivers out there. And it doesn't take much to find them.
As a cab driver who visits this website, let me say bring on the extra 40 cents!
Also, was I the only one who was kind of appalled by the venomous quotes in the Post story?
Normally on the nights I'm stuck working late, for safety reasons, I'll take a cab home rather than the subway. From Spring St. to Columbus Circle used to cost 10.00 with a tip. Last night it was 12.00 with tip. My solution? I'm no longer tipping, especially if the cab drivers are making the same amount of money in the first 4 hours as you report.
I'm no longer tipping, especially if the cab drivers are making the same amount of money in the first 4 hours as you report.
That's stand-up. So you're working late? On overtime? And won't give your cab driver an extra $.50 or a buck because, hey, now they're making a few more bucks. Nice.
I have no problem with the fare increase. The costs of everything else have gone up, and the drivers have to make a living. Salaries in many professions have gone up this year, to compensate for the increased cost of living, and I for one don't expect to pay 2006 prices with a 2007 salary. And, Jason, how condescending. There are plenty of cab drivers online. Have you never heard of the Hungry Cabbie? I've had cab drivers give me cards for their internet businesses. Not to mention all the drivers who are doctors, engineers, scientists, etc. in their home countries. Many of these people have to learn a new language, often a new alphabet, in addition to a new city, so have some respect.
Mary C., I applaud you. After all, no point in letting these guys think they're worth that extra 2 bucks. Hell, you need that for your morning latte. Why oh why isn't the city looking out for the little guys?
I took a cab yesterday - east village to Brooklyn - usually 11 bucks was 14 last night - I took it out of their tip because he was taking a busier route.
When gas prices go up our fares go up - but now gas is back down - does that make our fares go down?
When you get in a gas saving hybrid cab - do you pay less because less gas is used?
It's a business and these guys make money at it. They can turn you away when it's raining, when you want to go to Harlem or Brooklyn and when they feel it would affect their shift change so I doubt they miss that money.
Actually, ruiner, a friend of mine is planning on getting a hack license, and I've been looking over a lot of TLC stuff. A cab driver CANNOT legally refuse to take you anywhere within the five boroughs. And in fact, you shouldn't tell them where you're going until you're in and the door is closed. At that point, if you're going to any destination within NYC, they have to take you. Otherwise, report their asses to the city.
Took a cab from Stuy Town to Penn Station this morning - didn't notice any difference in the fare, but I made the cabbie NOT take 23rd Street. (Why do they always take 23rd street????)
Funny, but I took the "cabbies don't read gothamist" crack as a slam on gothamist, not cabbies.
why can't we be happy that we are paying extra money to fund terrorists?
because they frequent some of the cities finest eateries with awesome shag motor paneer or dal? then of course there are a whole host of other wonderful ethnic foods that cabbies may prefer.
sheesh, lay off the fact that many cabbies may be muslim - no true muslim is a terrorist. if anyone happens to be claim being muslim and a terrorist, they are not considered acceptable muslims by most other muslims.
i took a cab from 3rd ave at 29th street to columbus circle. the driver went across 34th street (one of the most busiest congested streets in nyc, especially during the holiday season) to 10th ave why? because he was driving up the rate with traffic and waiting times. any cab driver knows that a direct shot up third across 57th or 59th woujld have been faster and better for the customer... fuckin asshole!
Slightly off-topic...
I wonder how others feel about what Ben K says. A driver once refused to take me to Brooklyn, claiming his shift would be over soon. He finally agreed (angrily) when I started to write down his license number. I knew I was legally in the right, but during the ride I started wondering if I was being unreasonable. I mean, maybe the guy really just wanted to get home to family on time.
I know people who ask kindly before they get in if the driver will take them to Brooklyn.
What do other people do in this situation?
bob:
then tell him what route to take. if he doesn't take it, report him. you have rights.
Do they taxi drivers make more? Or do the medallion owners raise their lease prices and offset the drivers income?
CB - if the guy had his light on, he is required to take you where you need to be. By keeping his light on, he took the risk that you'd be headin' to the BK. Do NOT ask the driver whether it's okay to go to the outerboroughs, people! They are required by law to take you, no if, ands, or buts. I had a cabbie refuse to take me to Brooklyn. I took down his license plate number and called 311. We had a hearing and he got fined $500 for his refusal. I actually felt a little bad about such a hefty fine because the guy clearly wasn't raking it in, but I know that this happens ALL THE TIME to my outerborough-dwelling friends (especially my African-American friends), so I figured the buck stopped with me.
With that said, I don't begrudge the fare increase. Those of you who are taking it out of the tip are cheap assholes.
remember: fewer than half of New Yorkers own cars, and more like 75% of Manhattan residents don't own cars, so they really don't know how expensive just owning a car is. when you consider paying for gas, insurance, maintenance, parking (maybe not, if you feel like spending a half hour searching for a new spot every 2 days), a couple bucks extra here and there to take a taxi around the city is still far less expensive than owning a car, much less owning a car in the city. buck up, and if you choke at paying $3 extra to wait in traffic (wasting gas and polluting the city air), maybe you should consider paying $2 to take a train instead ...
Umm..on top of the right to have the driver take you anywhere in the 5 boroughs you want to go, you also have the right to tell him EXACTLY WHAT ROUTE to follow..don't blame them for taking crowded streets when that now works in their favor...speak up then or shut up now..
My cab from Union Square to the Upper West Side last night cost $2.50 more than usual. You better believe that came out of the tip. The fare increase was a stupid idea. Driving a cab is an easy job, it doesn't deserve great wages....or tips. I don't tip at McDonalds and that might be harder than talking on your cell phone in a foreign language while smelling like body odor and taking too long to get me home.
Ditto to what Samantha T said -- both on the importance of not asking drivers if they'll take you, and also on the reasonableness of the fare increase.
CB and Samantha: My husband and I live in Greenpoint so we run into the whole "I am not going to Brooklyn" thing quite often. I know they have to take you but don't you ever find that if you actually talk them into it, it's going to be some of the most unpleasant 10+ minutes of your life? Sometimes, they get really ugly, drive like assholes, etc. I dunno. I usually give in just because I can't deal with being treatd like a burden.
I know that doesn't really do much for those in the future but still...
Driving a cab is an easy job, it doesn't deserve great wages
Have you ever driven in NYC? Have you ever tried doing it for 10 hours a day while supporting a family?
I'm glad to see stories on cab fares bring out the dicks among us. But then again, those are the people who are *too good* to take the subway.
is it really more beneficial for the driver to sit in traffic or actually clocking miles on the meter and picking up another fare? $12/hr is not a lot considering the cost of labor + overhead for the car.
among all the fares around the US in large met area's i think nyc still ranks as the most fair for mileage and waiting time.
i travel to DC frequently and their "zone system" sucks... talk about a rip off.
---
the drivers here deserve tips on several conditions:
first off, no one deserves a tip unless they go above and beyond their call of duty. i used to wait tables and bartend to pay for college and i never expected a tip if i was a below par with my job. i would work my ass off for the customer to get my tips.
i always tip according to the ride itself and the amount on the meter. if the meter is $10+ dollars i always tip $2+ change. more than enough. however, if the driver refuses a route i give him or talks on his phone whilke trailing slow traffic (while other traffic is going around us) i deduct accordingly, that's fair. rewarding him for a shitty ride will teach him he can continue to drive like an idiot.
i do not reward anyone including waiters, cab drivers, doormen, etc if they cannot perform the simple task of good customer service. customer service has been on the decline in recent years and it's bullshit. we as consumers have rights, on of those rights is to tip accordingly. reporting the drivers to the tlc for bad driving or misrepresentation of their jobs is a headache and doesn't do much.
if they want tips they're gonna have to work for them, like anyone else in the service industry.
I took a cab from DUMBO to Williamsburg and it was $8.20. I think that's a fair price considering a car service would probably have been about $12. We did take the BQE and there was little waiting time.
I think it's a fair increase. If you think of other cities in the world, NYC taxi drivers get screwed...
However! If they increase the fare they better increase the service. Cleaner, newer cars. Cars without exhaust pipe problems. Drivers who bathe?
all this means to me is screwing them over on there tip, i hate it when they choose the worst possible route, and when i give suggestions they say thats a bad choice,,,, hahahha 311 have recieved many calls from me about cabs
i think im going to carry exact change on me fron now on!
mihow, I was going to Greenpoint too when this happened. Maybe taxi drivers hate Greenpoint! What is it? The Poles? How can anyone hate the Poles?
And yes, it was a very uncomfortable ride.
Have you ever reported a cab driver for refusing to take you where you want to go?
I was kicked out of a cab recently when he told me and my friend, both of us with significant luggage already packed in the cab, that he would not drive us to Brooklyn from Port Authority.
He started taking our stuff out of the cab and putting it on the side of the street. We immediately called 311 and reported him.
But it's not that simple. You have to go to a hearing during business hours weeks later to officially submit your complaint. You don't even know when that hearing will be until you get a letter in the mail with all the details.
Who has the time and resources to take off work to go through this arduous process? It doesn't seem like there's much incentive for cab drivers to respect the law.
sarah, if you read some of the comments above, you'll see that at least one person did complain about it and won.
Couple of things:
A) If a congestion charge is only charged one time per day per vehicle (as they do in London), then it will be spread out over a LOT of passengers, who will barely notice it. Additionally, the resulting drop in congestion will mean less time sitting in traffic, which means cheaper cab rides (and more money for cabbies too, because the can get a new fare sooner and get more surcharges).
B) Gotta love the Post's opening graf:
Uh, yeah, that's what "average" means. Some people pay more than 11% more some people pay less. Duh.
I reported a cabbie for refusing to take me from the East 30's out to Bay Ridge (quite a hike, but I was ready to pay accordingly). I gave the TLC commission all the info on the incident and never got any call to let me know that there was a hearing on the matter. Just one incident, but it pissed me off that I did everything right and that cocksucker broke the law w/o consequences.
"Who has the time and resources to take off work to go through this arduous process? It doesn't seem like there's much incentive for cab drivers to respect the law."
I'm the person who had a hearing and won - yes, this is all true, but I found the TLC to, surprisingly, be pretty efficient. I was given a choice of times for the hearing and chose 8:00 a.m. for minimal interference with the workday. I had to wait maybe 1/2 an hour and the hearing took about 15 minutes. I'm a lawyer, so I just showed up in a suit and represented myself. The driver showed up with a lawyer. They waited in a separate waiting room and the driver never hears any of your personal information (the administrative law judge was very careful about that, at my hearing), so there's no reason to be nervous about a sketchy confrontation. I thought the judge was very reasonable and fair - you're both given an opportunity to present evidence and plead your case. The TLC sent along the decision within a couple of weeks. The driver has the opportunity to appeal, which means another hearing, but the driver in my case didn't.
The only bitch of the whole thing is that if the driver is a no-show, there's a re-scheduled hearing whereas if you, the rider, are a no-show, it's a default judgment in favor of the driver. I know it sounds like a hassle, but it was 100% worth it, ultimately.
I think it's important to stand up for your right to be taken anywhere in the 5 boroughs you ask to be taken. This happened to me once recently, when I was outside the Harlem Fairway with groceries. The cab slowed down for me, but then sped off when he saw the groceries behind me at the curb (wtf?). I took down the number and called 311, but it was after 5 p.m. on a Friday, and I'd have to wait until Monday for the TLC to open again. By the time Monday rolled around, my anger had subsided, but at the time I thought about how I wouldn't have been merely inconvenienced but really fkkd if I were elderly, disabled, had children, etc. No way a cabbie should get away with discriminating against a fare just because they don't like what you look like or where they know or assume you're going.
Not tipping is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. I think a better solution for the cheapskates among us would be to invest in a monthly Metrocard.
Or call a car service. There are so many to choose from, and as far as I know, the rates are staying static right now. I like New Day myself. Cheaper and nicer than a cab, and always more than willing to take me to Brooklyn or any other outer borough.
I think people need to stop whining about the fare hike. These drivers bust their butts for 12 hours a day and they deserve a raise. You think Cab Drivers in NYC make as much as the jerks who work for the LIRR or the Metro Buses? Not even close.
Besides, with the waiting time increase, it helps to lessen the desire for cabbies to drive like maniacs to make ends meet.
People expect these guys to work 12 hours a day for peanuts. Milk goes up, gas goes up, cigarettes go up, it's called inflation. Get used to it.
Billy Kess