Silly question??

In NYC do you hail a cab or do you phone them for pick up? In Canada we do not hail cabs....you would be waiting forever. LOL

What%26#39;s the proper ettique?

many thanks....

Silly question??

Hail away!

As long as the light on top is lit (and not the off duty parts) you%26#39;re free to go.

Silly question??

There really are no silly questions. Cab service fluctuates in US cities. IIn Manhattan, hail a cab. In other US cities call and reserve a cab. I like the NYC approach best.

Re:etiquette - It%26#39;s a bit of a free-for-all. You throw your hand up in the air and hope no one%26#39;s standing one block ahead of you and gets the first cab that comes along. You%26#39;ll most likely have to step into the street, between parked cars. Sometimes there are formal lines (i.e. at the airportsand bus stations), but in most of Manhattan it%26#39;s anarchy. The cab driver is supposed to take the first person he sees.

You%26#39;ll feel very New Yorky when you get one, so have fun with it! And be nice to the drivers! They work pretty hard and the majority are immigrants.

Throw your hand up in the air - don%26#39;t be shy. If you have to (and you may have to) step off the curb, just be careful not to get run down by a bicycle or another car or something. Don%26#39;t worry if the cab is two lanes away - you%26#39;d be amazed how quick a good cabbie can get across the widest avenues to pick up a fare. Also- don%26#39;t hesitate to try to flag cabs even if they have their off duty light on. Sometimes a cabbie on his way home will pick up a fare if its going in his direction. And, it%26#39;s ok not to wait at the corner if you see a free cab up the block stopped at a traffic light. Just walk up to it and get the cabbie%26#39;s attention - otherwise, someone else will and the cab won%26#39;t be free by the time it gets to where you%26#39;re standing. Have fun!

How to get a cab and some basics:

';How do you hail a cab on the street? Do cabs really stop in front of you when you put your hand up, like they do in the movies?';

Yes.

Stand on the curb and raise your arm, as if you want a classroom teacher to call on you. An open taxi will pull up to you.

';Can taxis pick up more people once I%26#39;m in the car?';

No.

They can do this in other cities, such as Washington D.C., (which I find really irritating) but not NYC.

';I%26#39;ve been standing on the corner forever and all the taxis are zipping past me! How can I tell if a taxi is available?';

Look for the roof light.

If the CENTER roof light with the taxi LICENSE NUMBER is ON, the taxi is available.

If the outer OFF DUTY roof lights are on, the taxi is off duty. Put your arm down and wait for the next one. ( If you%26#39;re going to where the driver%26#39;s garage or home is, you might have some luck.)

If ALL the roof lights are OFF, the taxi is occupied. Put your arm down and wait for the next one.

';I wanted to take a certain route, but the cabby said that wasn%26#39;t a good idea. Is this allowed? Am I getting ripped off?';

Cabbies typically know the traffic situations and ';back routes'; better than anyone. Cabbies listen to radio traffic reports and talk to each other on the phone all day, so they%26#39;re probably correct.

Many cabbies will check in and ask you if you%26#39;re ok with a diffferent route. I usually say ';go for it'; if I don%26#39;t have any reason to object.

However, you may insist on specific routes and the cabby is supposed to follow your instructions. For example, from LGA to Manhattan, the Queensborough Bridge has no tolls and offers a great view of the skyline. The Tirborough Bridge or Queens-Midtown Tunnel (both with tolls) might in fact bring you closer to your desitination, but if you want the Queensborough Bridge, say so.

The first time a cabby took me on industiral Greenpoint Avenue as a shortcut from Brooklyn to Queens, it happened to be about 2 A.M. and I thought I was about to become the next serial-killer victim on the next morning%26#39;s news. Wow, was I wrong. That is the fastest, zippiest way to avoid the BQE traffic I have ever seen!

';Can I hail a swanky limo or Lincoln Town Car from the street? Since I%26#39;ve been standing here in front of this dance club, Town Cars are trawling by asking if I need a ride.';

No. It is illegal to hail limos and livery cabs on the street. People do it all the time, but it is illegal. You can only hail yellow taxis.

If you want the fancy ride, call a car service (also called a LIVERY SERVCE). Restaurants, bars, clubs, etc, usually have car service phone numbers on hand.

';How come I need to know the intersections of where I want to go? Shouldn%26#39;t cabbies know addresses and all the hotels in NYC?';

You don%26#39;t need to know the intersections, but it will make life easier.

Also, you%26#39;ll have a better trip no matter where you travel if you study a street map before you visit somewhere, particularly a big city.

';A cab pulled up to me and asked where I was going? I told him, and he said, No, and sped off. What nerve!';

When a cab stops for you, get in, greet the cabby, shut the door and then tell the driver where you are going. An on-duty cab driver has a legal duty to take you wherever you request.

';Hey, that lady just cut in front of me a stole my cab! What should I do?';

Deck her. ;o)

Ver helpful Q%26amp;A format, Queensblvd. Thanks!

What%26#39;s an appropriate tip for a cross-town ride? Is it a certain percentage of the fare?

What if luggage is involved?

QB, you should make that a separate, searchable thread called ';The Idiot%26#39;s Guide to Taxicabs'; -- it is brilliant.

Although could everyone wait til I am out of sight before you deck the ill-mannered cow who took your cab, please?

Brilliant guide there QB, I second GWB%26#39;s suggestion of making it into an Idiot%26#39;s Guide. I firmly believe both the BB directions and a comprehensive tipping thread should make it as stickies.

[If the CENTER roof light with the taxi LICENSE NUMBER is ON, the taxi is available.

If the outer OFF DUTY roof lights are on, the taxi is off duty. Put your arm down and wait for the next one. ( If you%26#39;re going to where the driver%26#39;s garage or home is, you might have some luck.)

If ALL the roof lights are OFF, the taxi is occupied. Put your arm down and wait for the next one.]

I actually (finally) managed to figure this out last month while smoking outside a bar. Who would%26#39;ve thought it would take a couple of G%26amp;Ts to do so when I couldn%26#39;t do it sober last time??!!

Do hail only ';yellow cabs';. Gyspsy cabs are a no-no. The yellow ones are regulated. Even if the off duty sign is lit, still some will stop and ask where you are going. If you are going their way they may take you. Make sure the meter is on. 15% of the total price is the usual tip. Beware that after 4PM they charge an extra dollar and after 8PM they charge an extra $.50. I don%26#39;t think they charge for luggage. There is a set price for a ride from the airport.

Just to clarify newyorker7%26#39;s info:

- yes, there are cars we call ';gypsy cabs'; that are unregulated, that trawl for fares. Usually they%26#39;re not yellow. Years ago I did almost use a gypsy cab that happened to be painted ';taxi yellow';, but when I got in, the car was a pig sty, there was no meter, and the driver lit up a cigar (smoking is not allowed in a legit cab.) Once we got to a red light, I simply got out without saying anything and didn%26#39;t look back.

- there is no charge for luggage when you use a NYC yellow taxi. I%26#39;ve never been charged for luggage when I%26#39;ve called a car service.

- The fare either way between JFK and any point in Manhattan in $45 (plus tip and any tolls).