Depending upon who you ask, New York City transportation is either among the finest in the world or a chilling, hair-raising experience that can leave you swearing off ever wanting to visit the city again. Most who live in New York or at least visit it frequently will tell you that the subway system is the best method of getting around the city. However, there will be times where you don’t want to be a slave to subway schedules or have to walk two miles from a designated stop in order to reach your destination. It’s at these times where the city’s famed yellow cab service comes in handy. Here are a few things to know about NYC yellow taxi cabs to & from Brooklyn.
How to Get Where You Need to Go
Unfortunately, New York City’s cab service often suffers from a bad rap. Much of that may have to do with the fact that currently over 8.4 million people call the city home. This mass of humanity puts a tremendous strain on the transportation service, especially cabbies. This limits their availability and often restricts your chances of using them to get to the city’s outer boroughs. Yet that’s not to say that you can’t rely on them to get you where you want to go in the manner that you want to get there. You simply need to understand what your freedoms are in using them and how you can help your cabbie reach your destination before costing you a small fortune:
- Plan ahead: If you know you’re going to be traveling in a large group, understand that you’ll likely need more than one taxi. The typically NYC yellow cab can’t fit more than 4-5 passengers, so you may need to spread your party out over multiple cabs. Look on the bright side, however: at least you’ll get the chance to say “Follow that cab” just like they do in the movies.
- Be safe: If you’re traveling with small children that will require a car seat restraint, don’t expect that your cabbie will have one available for you. Bring your own along instead. A cabbie cannot refuse you fare simply because you’re traveling with a child. Also, don’t tolerate unsafe behavior on the part of your cab driver. If he or she is talking on a cell phone, drinking coffee, or doing anything else that may distract attention from the road, ask them to stop. Say that you’re only looking out for their best interests, as you’d hate to see them get a ticket.
- Don’t assume your cabbie knows the way: Believe it or not, it’s currently not mandatory that NYC cab drivers have a GPS system in their vehicles. While a good general knowledge of the city’s streets is a prerequisite to being hired as a cabbie, one likely won’t know what street your Aunt Hazel lives on in Brooklyn. If you’re traveling to the outer boroughs, be prepared to provide directions. This will save you time as well as cab fare.
Many will tell you that you can’t truly experience all that The Big Apple has to offer without taking a ride in one of her famed yellow cabs. Contrary to what some may say, doing so needn’t be a traumatic experience. With just a little bit of planning on your part, and the resolve to talk to your driver to help make your experience more enjoyable, you’ll find cruising through the city’s streets by cab to be quite a treat.