As promised, here is why I hate taxis … ok maybe I don’t hate them but strongly dislike and try to avoid taking them if at all possible. If you’ve been reading my blog since they beginning you may recall my first encounter with New York taxis in which I was rejected several times because apparently none of the drivers felt like driving to Park Slope. (It’s the entry from October 2nd if you need a refresher). Until recently that was my only experience hailing a cab from the street, all other times we have called a local Brooklyn car services for airport trips.
About a month ago I was babysitting at the Waldorf and the family came home very late. Usually up until midnight I feel comfortable taking the subway home since there are always plenty of people around, especially on a Friday or Saturday night. However, the parents returned to the hotel around 1:30am and it’s about two long blocks for me to walk to the subway from the Waldorf, not to mention the half mile walk once I get to Park Slope. The childcare agency will reimburse me for up to $15 if I need to take a cab home; unfortunately, from most of the uptown hotels it costs a bit more to go all the way to Brooklyn. However, this particular night it seemed like the best idea to grab a cab. As I get out to the street a couple was returning to the hotel and so as they got out, I got in. I told the driver I was headed to Park Slope in Brooklyn and we were off.
First lesson, Brooklyn appears to be foreign territory for Manhattan cab drivers. The driver asked me where in Park Slope, I give him the cross streets and he starts listing the different highways and bridges he could take and wants to know which way I think is best. I struggle with trying let him suggest the best way but also not wanting to seem like someone who doesn’t know the way and therefore have him take the long way to charge me more money.
Second lesson, cab drivers drive like mad men and as much fun as it is to have a tv to watch in the backseat, watching it will make me carsick. Between the tv and frantically trying to text message Mike for directions from Mapquest I started to feel very queasy.
We finally get into Brooklyn and the driver realizes he forgot to set the meter running. I’d noticed at one point that it wasn’t lit up but thought, “what do I know” and once again didn’t want to come across as a naïve taxi passenger. Luckily, he was a nice guy and when he dropped me off said, “how about we say $15” which I knew was less than it would have been had the ticker been running the whole time. Overall I was disgruntled by not knowing how to tell someone how to get to my home and from getting car sick when on the subway I can even read now without feeling sick!
A week later I was babysitting for my cousin on the Upper West Side and they came home later than they had expected. I was completely comfortable taking the subway home, but they gave me money for the cab and had their doorman call one for me. Once again, the driver was not familiar with Brooklyn neighborhoods and I got car sick.
After that I swore I’d never take a taxi again, however, I looked up directions on Mapquest and memorized which bridge, highway, and exit to tell the driver if need be. Another late night of babysitting and being a sketchy walk from the subway I decide to test out my direction giving ability. All is going well until I decide to pay this time with my credit cards since I was just a bit short on cash. We pull up to my apartment, he totals the ticker and I hand him my card. He instructs me that I swipe it myself from the back seat so I find the machine and swipe, but it won’t read my card. He asks me if I chose the credit card option on the tv touch screen. I tell him the tv screen just says “thanks for riding” and he says I’m too late and I only have 30 seconds from when he totals the ticker to select the credit card option. How ridiculous!!! I then have to call Mike to come downstairs and bring me cash since I didn’t have enough and I was too slow to swipe my credit card! It wouldn’t have been so bad if he hadn’t made me feel like such a fool for not knowing the 30 second rule!
As I now sit babysitting again for the British author at Trump Towers I weigh my transit options for the night. Its cold out… I have to work early in the morning and taxis are faster…I have to transfer subways…the taxi will definitely be more than $15 from here… BUT I KNOW the subway, where it goes, which one I need, and I can get home and not feel super car sick. I think the subway wins again!
