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
I’ve always thought cabs made the most money by doing a lot of short rides. Long rides, no matter what the tip, aren’t economical. Hence hating driving to Brooklyn. I don’t think the extra buck or two pays off in the long run, and even if they get a ride back, they probably would have made more money on the upper west side driving a couple different fares the same distance in less time. That being said, after the fare hikes, I’ve found cabbies much more willing to travel to Brooklyn.
Since the cabbie should have lost his license for that 11:24 shennigan, I think it would have been worth it. Get the cops badge numbers, the cabbie’s license number and his name. Report the cabbie to to TLC and the cops to their captain and the CCRB.
That said I have never had a problem getting a cabbie to take me to Brooklyn. And I hav eonly had one give me attitude. So I ddin’t tip him, and told him why. A dollar tip, Sylvia? You, I’d take to the police preceinct (smile). 15-20% please.
the other day I got into the cab, shut the door and said Brooklyn…he said get out. I said no, and he started driving UPTOWN. He went to the police station and demanded that the cops remove me. Unreal. The cops said “buddy, it’s not worth it, get out.” Of course they were right, but this is what it comes to. I feel like I have to offer up the tip in advance just to get home.
I am black and the yellow cab drivers don’t want to take me anywhere. I would love to open up manhattan to other cabs by allowing them to pick-up fares at designated bus stops. nothing like a little competition.
I am guessig LaFu is Lafayette and Fulton. They must live in FoGre which has been gentrified and I guess deserves to have its name abbreviated to save time and money.
I tip 20% because it feels right, that’s what I generally do in restaurants too. But “negotiating” the Manhattan to Brooklyn business, no way. Aside from being required to take the customer to where he or she wants to go, Brooklyn is NOT an outpost. Yellow cabs can pick up and go back to Manhattan if they want. They just need to learn the city. My negotiating technique is with the Taxi and Limosine Commission if I get any kind of trouble.
It is ridiculous to suggest we should be “grateful” for a cabbie who “concedes” to take us to Brooklyn. I live in the WV and my particular destination near dumbo is closer and easier to reach than most places uptown. I have recieved countless attitudes and refusals to take me; as with everyone working in the service/ tip potential industries – it’s a tip; for delivering a pleasant experience. no more. no less.
Back when I lived in Crown Heights, I learned the hard way to tell the driver where I wanted to go AFTER I was safely seated in the backseat. I was half in, half out of a cab once when I said “Crown Heights” and the driver took off down the street. I had to jump out really quickly – he didn’t even seem to care that his passenger door was open…
I’ve also had drivers take me across the wrong bridge (one even told me that going across the Brooklyn Bridge instead of the Manhattan Bridge was “no big deal, only a few dollars more”!).
I usually tip a dollar or two, depending on how long the cab ride is (usually $1 and the extra change that rounds it off to an even dollar amount if the fare is under $10) Am I just being really cheap? Does everyone tip 20%?
I’ve also heard (from life-long Brooklynites) that car services don’t even require a tip, they take their non-tipping clientele into account when they quote you the fare…
I tip well but the same regardless of destination. If cabbies don’t want to abide by the law they should find another job. That said I never have trouble getting a cab either way.