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Video: Man Gives Out 14 Hours Of Free Cab Rides

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Mark Malkoff, catching some rays on his taxi

You remember Mark Malkoff, right? The man who visited 171 Starbucks in a day, lived in an IKEA, and rode a Big Wheel trike down 42nd Street? The comedian's latest stunt is a bit more involved—over the course of 14 hours, he raced all over the city in a single taxi to pick up passengers who requested rides via Facebook and Twitter. The passengers didn't pay, because Malkoff somehow convinced a cabbie to leave the meter running for 14 hours straight, eventually racking up a $468.10 tab. In the process, he manages to end a stranger's relationship, get a shave, and possibly find true love. The taxi, meanwhile, suffered the indignities of being filled with popcorn (literally) and getting plastered with Tony Danza's face. The video:

When we asked Malkoff where this idea came from, he explained: "With the current state of the economy a lot of my friends in NYC that are either unemployed or cutting back financially have stopped taking cabs. I figured since so many other New Yorkers were in the same situation giving out free cab rides for a day would be a nice gift."

His favorite passenger was Lisa Birnbach, the author of the Preppy Handbook. "She tweeted me for a cab ride from her Upper East Side apartment to a meeting in Chelsea. She randomly saw on Twitter that I was offering cab rides. I had no clue until she got in the cab she was a public figure and a well known author. The ironic thing was of course that she easily could have afforded the ride."

And what became of the poor cab driver? "As of now I actually haven't tipped the driver anything!" says Malkoff. "That's horrible, I know. I'm definitely going to give him something. I'm still asking myself what is customary to tip on a $468.10 cab ride." Might we suggest something a little above and beyond the standard 20 percent?

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Comments [rss]

  • Mike_Nesmith

    I'm confused. I thought that since this guy was described as comedian that this video would actually be funny.

  • Ragingsemi

    $468.10 tab....thats cheap for 14 hours no?

  • Yeah it kinda is. Part of the reason it's so cheap is because he's not doing the customary $3.50 when he first starts the meter. Distance doesn't really add up to much for short trips.

  • Emma Leinhaas

    that's not how their pay works. i can't believe he didn't tip him, what an a**hole. 

  • whatidsay

    And why exactly do you call him a comedian?

  • seebirds

    and why exactly do they call you a poster? hahaha jk

  • whatidsay

    Aren't you up past your bedtime? Sneaking Moms computer again, right?

  • nayerr

    I'm sick of quirky internet videos.

  • seebirds

    and i'm sick of dumb posts! hahaha jk

  • nayerr

    I'm sick of quirky internet videos.

  • seebirds

    and i'm sick of dumb double posts! hahaha jk

  • mlleBeth

    I'm a bit baffled that the total was only $468 for 14 hours? They made a point of saying the meter was on continously. How do they afford those expensive medallions on that?

    That was a serious question, but as a side note how hard is it to figure out a tip? If he wanted to give the guy more money later he always can, I just hope the cabbie doesn't feel stiffed (if he does end up tipping him)

  • It's because the meter was on the whole time. Every time you start the meter it begins at $3.50. If you never shut it off, you're going to be deprived of a lot of money because it's a big part of the short trip fare. Better to get 3 20-block fares than 1 60-block fare.

  • winning1234

    That's $33/hr. What don't you get?

  • mlleBeth

    That's about 70k a year figuring a 40 hour work week, which I'm sure a good percentage goes to the garage, then their 250k medallion (I think that's what it is now), plus living costs? I guess I just didn't realize their margin was so low.

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