How to Catch a Cab to Brooklyn
Yesterday the Daily Slope compiled a list of advice from Brooklynian users on negotiating Manhattan-to-Brooklyn cab rides, which included thoughts on the etiquette of tipping and stiffing. But several DS commenters took issue with the suggestion to tip between $2 and $4 (or around 15 percent) for a cab ride from Manhattan to Park Slope…
Yesterday the Daily Slope compiled a list of advice from Brooklynian users on negotiating Manhattan-to-Brooklyn cab rides, which included thoughts on the etiquette of tipping and stiffing. But several DS commenters took issue with the suggestion to tip between $2 and $4 (or around 15 percent) for a cab ride from Manhattan to Park Slope or Prospect Heights, saying that was too little and that riders needed to “have a heart.” As DS reader Ben put it:
“The only solution is to start a revolution in tipping the cabbies better as a Borough, and then cabs would scramble to the LES to take you and your skinny jeans home.”
But isn’t his position maybe a little extreme, given that–as some of our readers have mentioned before–a ride to, say, the Upper West Side is often much farther for a driver than Brooklyn? What kind of tip do you think is appropriate?
Brooklyn Taxi Guide: How to Tip, How to Stiff [Daily Slope, via Gawker]
Photo by chien courant via Flickr
shit, i live in ROCKAWAY BEACH, QUEENS–you don’t even know what it’s like telling the cabbies where to go when I hop in. I don’t just cross one bridge, I cross two (and sometimes three) and that cab usually costs up to $65 and by that point I don’t have much money left for a 15-20% tip. But I try to be friendly in the cab, since it’s such a long ride, and when it’s over I give them as much tip as I can and then directions to JFK, so they can at least make some money on their way back.
I usually start the tip at $2 and add a dollar for every $10. Might be a little bit more if it’s $10 and I give the guy three, but usually I’m in a hurry and I don’t have time to do the math so it usually just depends. I had a little trouble when I first moved to Brooklyn getting a cab from Manhattan, but once I learned to get in first and then tell the cabbie where I was going the problems stopped. I have more trouble getting cabbies to take me from Brooklyn to Brooklyn though. They never want to do it. I don’t understand what the difference is – if you get a fare in the bourough to a spot only 20 or 25 blocks away, how is it any different then going LES to midtown, with much less traffic? I hope the taxi stands help the cause a bit at least.
That said, if you ever need a cab in BK Heights or Cobble Hill/Carrol Gardens after 5pm, just go to Clinton Street. After about 10pm all you see are empty cabs on that street headed back to Manhattan.
I work in downtown Manhattan and there are times when I hail a cab, they ask where I am going and when I say Brooklyn they speed off. Although it is still rude, I can understand this if they are going off duty and Brooklyn is out of the way. However I do have a problem when they groan and complain and say they just came back from Brooklyn. They are being paid and tipped so it’s not like they are doing the job for free. I had an experience where the cabbie started complaining after I got in told him my destination. He peeled out and started driving recklessly until I said “You know what I can get another cab to Brooklyn if you don’t want to take me, I don’t need this shit”. His attitude completely changed and he started driving in a normal manner.
…And another thing. Why doesn’t 777-Cabs service Brooklyn? My mother needed to get a cab to La Guardia and so she called the number advertised on NY1 as “servicing New York City.” They said the don’t service Brooklyn.
Maybe they need to amend the commercial to say, “servicing THE CITY” (ie Manhattan.)
How about the driver locking the cab and asking where you are going before letting you in… should it be legal? Is it? (Of course, once you answer a location anywhere other than in Manhattan, off the cabbie goes — without you.)
I only had one real negative experience when the cab driver decided to take the scenic route to Brooklyn. I told him he didn’t know where he was going. He answered that “black women are too demanding. That’s what’s wrong with them.” (He was black–of what nationality I’m not sure)
He abandoned me along Canal St and told me to find another cab.
for the last time there are no issues. dead time, no fares back whatever… i have no sympathy. do the job you are legally required to do or get another one period.
seriously 11:24. why roll over like that?
the real issue for cabbies was the “dead” time getting back to Manhattan after a drop in Brooklyn…that has all changed…getting a yellow cab in Brooklyn is no longer difficult…Flatbush Ave, 4th Ave, Clinton St…and all should be encouraged to use yellow cabs to go to Manhattan so yellow cabbies will be further encouraged that coming to Brooklyn isn’t a bad fare…