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July 13, 2009
'Sup with those black van taxis?
Does anyone know the deal with those big vans driven by Caribbean men? They seem to trail the bus lines and pick up locals. They also have funny horns. Are these like low-income taxis? Has anyone ridden in one?
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Those "Dollar Vans" have been around longer than some of the readers of this blog. I have no idea what they cost now, but they have always done a brisk business catering to a mostly minority and Caribbean population up and down Flatbush Ave, going over to Livingston Ave, downtown. Especially back in the 70's, when bus service to minority neighborhoods was worse than it is now, these van served the Flatbush market better than the MTA. In the late 80's or 90's, the city realized they weren't making any money off of this lucrative service, and started to require strict licensing, insurance and registration.
If you were Caribbean, these vans reminded one of the transportation of home, and could be filled with like minded, hard working people who just wanted to get home at night. The different horns and vans helped identify van companies and drivers. There were similar vans in the Bronx, when I first came to NYC, and they really filled a need in neighborhoods that weren't well serviced by buses or the subway. I often had the same driver, same bus mates, and it was a cheap,faster and safer alternative to the bus, as the driver would let me off in front of my door.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at July 13, 2009 11:17 AM
That is great - thank you
Posted by: IronMaiden at July 13, 2009 11:24 AM
They were a blessing during the subway strike!
K
Posted by: HurricaneKate at July 13, 2009 11:32 AM
Oh, these are called "Dollar vans!
I mean it doesn't cost a dollar - but it's relatively cheap and you tend to be crammed into them with various folks going to destinations not normally serviced by public transportation. I beleive it's sorta hop on and hop off and you can tell the driver where you want to go.
Posted by: gemini10 at July 13, 2009 12:04 PM
They are called dollar vans because they actually were a dollar to ride. But that was back in the 80s. Ah, brings back memories. I haven't ridden one in years. They were always slightly cheaper than the bus. Anyone know how much they cost now?
Posted by: roofrights at July 13, 2009 2:09 PM
oh the dollar vans.. nj had them, jersey city, union city, west new york. they were great. lots played music too (spanish mostly) but always fun. and cheap. and for a teenager at the time getting to the mall for (i think 1.25 sometimes a dollar) versus 2-250, it was worth it :)
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 13, 2009 8:02 PM
and that is how many minimum wage workers get to work and survive. to a lot of us 2.25 one way might not seem like much, but when it's like an hour of work for you after taxes, hello!
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 13, 2009 8:04 PM
Thank you for asking this question. These vans are certainly more frequent than the B41. So, is there a trick to it? Do certain vans go only to certain parts of BK? Or do you just hop on, pay your money, and give your destination?
Also, would it generally be cool to do this as a white person, or would I be better off w/the bus?
Posted by: BrooklynButler at July 14, 2009 2:01 PM
I was in Sunset Park the other night and I saw a Chinese dollar van on it's way back from Canal street.
Posted by: jack slade at July 14, 2009 5:46 PM
BrooklynButler, in regards to the first part of your question, I believe the vans stop at or near bus stops. You could ask people standing by the bus stops about that, and also get info about where the vans go. I know some of them just go up and down Flatbush, from downtown all the way into East Flatbush and perhaps beyond, if there is a market. When a van stops, you can always ask the driver. I don't believe most of them will take you to your door unless your door is on an established route. When I lived in the Bronx, my street was on one of the routes.
As to whether or not you as a white person should do this, I'm going to refrain from the smartass remark that I must admit came to mind, and just say that your green money is the only color they are interested in. Live adventurously, support black owned businesses, and go for it.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at July 15, 2009 11:36 AM
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