What is the procedure for taxis in NYC?

[Sleepy]

How do you get a taxi in NYC? Where I live, there are places where taxis sit in lines and you walk up to the line and grab the first cab, or you call a number and one comes to pick you up. Is this how it is in NYC?

Also, is just any cab willing to take you long distance, like from JFK to Lincoln Center and vice versa? Here, the drivers dislike distances like that and they usually play musical cars in the lines.

One more question. Is there an additional "out of region" charge to go from JFK to Lincoln and then the return trip? Any advice on rates such as perhaps a flat rate being more economical? I will be flying in on a Friday 12:30pm if that helps with advice. I don't want sticker shock or to be walking around looking like an idiot as I search for a taxi in the city.

Thanks in advance.

 

[buffettgirl]

Hi...this is a Disney World transportation board.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

At airports and hotels, there will be a taxi stand - taxis wait in line, people wait in line, first person in line gets in the cab, next person in line gets in the next cab, etc. There's a dispatcher to make sure it goes smoothly.

In the main tourist areas of New York, you can hail a cab by standing on the curb and putting your hand out. If you are in the boonies, you call and have a cab pick you up.

Cabs are required to take you between any two points in the city. Many cabbies don't like taking folks to outlying poor neighborhoods. And you can sometimes have a problem getting one willing to go to outline areas at the end of a shift. But, in general, not a problem. Runs out to the airport are almost always popular (other than end of shift problems).

There are out of region charges if you leave the city limits. To the closer suburbs, you pay to get to the city limits, the double the fare from the city limits to your destination. Or you can always negotiate a flat fare for out of town trips.

JFK is a flat rate into Manhattan. $45 + tolls, plus tips.

 

[Lewisc]

The passenger is generally responsible for tolls.

 

[goofy4tink]

Hi...this is a Disney World transportation board.

True, but we answer lots of non-Disney questions here as well.

 

[Sleepy]

Hi...this is a Disney World transportation board.

If you look closely, there are many threads on this DISNEY transportation board that has nothing to do with Disney or Orlando. Please review the following links and you will find that there are some very informative and helpful responses by other members. We don't strictly stick to Disney/Orlando info.

Page 2:
alacazander has asked for advice on car services to PA airport.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2201780

Page 3:
1disneychic wants advice for a hotel in Baltimore.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2201059

dmanwi wants advice on how to mauever Chicago.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2200196

kawanku needs advice for renting a car in Toronto to get to CA.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2198058

Perhaps I should have said "How do I get a taxi in Manhatten that will get me from my hotel to the airport so I can get to Orlando." Would that change your opinion of my question?

Thank you for your responses Goofy4tink, Lewisc, and DisneyWalker44. It makes me feel better to know the system. That was all I was asking for.

 

[Tozzie]

How do you get a taxi in NYC? Where I live, there are places where taxis sit in lines and you walk up to the line and grab the first cab, or you call a number and one comes to pick you up. Is this how it is in NYC?

Also, is just any cab willing to take you long distance, like from JFK to Lincoln Center and vice versa? Here, the drivers dislike distances like that and they usually play musical cars in the lines.

One more question. Is there an additional "out of region" charge to go from JFK to Lincoln and then the return trip? Any advice on rates such as perhaps a flat rate being more economical? I will be flying in on a Friday 12:30pm if that helps with advice. I don't want sticker shock or to be walking around looking like an idiot as I search for a taxi in the city.

Thanks in advance.

At JFK there will be a taxi stand with a line and you wait and get a cab. There is a flat fee from JFK to Manhattan plus tolls, it is not a metered ride. In Manhattan you generally would hail a cab just waive one down, at lincoln center there might be a taxi stand but I don't really know. You shouldn't have a problem getting one.

 

[Sleepy]

At JFK there will be a taxi stand with a line and you wait and get a cab. There is a flat fee from JFK to Manhattan plus tolls, it is not a metered ride. In Manhattan you generally would hail a cab just waive one down, at lincoln center there might be a taxi stand but I don't really know. You shouldn't have a problem getting one.

Thank you. As I can see based on responses, procedure for getting a taxi is different there. Here, you are not supposed to pull a taxi over. It causes a huge fight among drivers. You should see the commotion when a person walks up to the row of taxis. You would think the drivers were arguing over who bought the last round of coffee. Of course, this is just part of life in Naples. Was not sure about everywhere else since I always drove my own car in America. I know the driving here is absolutely scarier than being trapped in a horror movie, but something about NYC has me intimidated, so between that and the cost of rental/parking fees over 4 days, I will just let the taxi get me where I need to go.

 

[ahoff]

The few times I have used a cab in the city I have just stood on the curb and waved to one.

If you are going to the city from JFK, I would also suggest the Airtrain, take it to Jamaica and then any train going thru to Penn Station. From there you can get a subway. Or a taxi.

 

[bru_ellman]

I'm a life-time New Yawker. As many have said, at airports, hotels, major train stations (Grand Central and Penn Station) taxis line up at taxi stands. At the transportation terminals there will be dispatchers who will keep the line of cabs and passengers moving. They will also hand you a passenger's "bill of rights"/tip sheet. When in Manhattan just flag down a cab in the street with his top lights on (the one on the top of the roof that says "Taxi").

Also as has been noted, there is currently a "flat fee" of $45 for fares to/from JFK and Manhattan + tolls and tip (15-20%, the same as you would tip a waiter here). You want to take a "Yellow" cab (yes, all licensed NY taxicabs are yellow. There are non-metered car services of other colors, but they don't follow the same regulations. Stick with yellow cabs if you can).

BTW, the "flat-fee" is approximately what it would cost on the meter to midtown Manhattan from JFK anyway. However, it insures that some of the more enterprising cabbies don't take the "scenic route" from JFK to your destination. I also highly advise that if you have any amount of luggage that you do take a cab rather then train or bus into the city. The additional expense is in most cases well worth avoiding the hassles of other modes of getting from the airport to your hotel.

There are per trip surcharges of .50 - $1.00 depending on destination and time of day and passengers are always responsible for tolls, but as long as your destination (outside of flat-fee airport trips) is within NY City there are no additional charges besides what's on the meter. NY City includes all five boroughs.

There is a pilot program to allow certain cabs to charge each passenger a seperate fare, but usually the metered fare is for carrying as many passengers as is allowed for that yellow cab's vehicle type which is typically a maximum of four passengers.

Now if someone could explain to me as clearly how the Orlando/Lake Buena Vista/WDW taxi's work I would be appreciative (though we will be renting a car for our next trip)

 

[MsAmerica]

As someone who visits NYC regularly, I just want to stress to the OP to only use official yellow cabs in NYC. There are many gypsy taxi's, esp around JFK at the baggage claim area, trying to get you to use them. Please completely ignore them. Go to the official taxi stand, there are signs directing you to the area, and a uniformed attendant will give you a reciept and get you in a cab.

The same goes for outside Lincoln Center, esp after a show or performance of any kind. There will be lots of people trying to get you to get in their car, stick with NYC yellow cabs. It is the only way to make sure you won't be really taken for a ride, if you know what I mean.

Good Luck and Have Fun

MsA

 

[Sleepy]

You guys are fantastic! I would have never thought of a cab color other than yellow as being a poor choice. Here, all the cabs are white and the drivers definitely don't approach you like a gypsy. If they stepped one foot in an airport (other than for that necessary coffee), it would get ugly. I probably would have fallen for that one at JFK. No worries at Lincoln Center. I am just dropping my son off for his summer program.

Thanks for the advice on the tolls. Do I give the driver the money as they approach the toll or do they just tack that on to the end of the ride fare when I reach the destination?

I could not thank you guys enough.

 

[MAH4546]

Not all official cabs in NYC are yellow. The Taxi & Limosine Commission also operates black Lincoln Town Cars. They are more expensive for short distances, but often not much more for long distances.

 

[bru_ellman]

First, to answer the question on tolls: The driver will tack it on at the end.

As to other licensed non-yellow cars--the are not licensed "taxicabs" and are not regulated in the same fashion. Non-Yellow "livery" car services are only regulated as to safety and insurance, but can charge anything they like. However, they (supposedly) cannot pick up fares on the street or anywhere else without prior arrangement. It's a very different service. In practice you'll find non-yellow livery cars working the streets in neighborhoods Yellow cabs avoid -- or hustling unsuspecting tourists at the airport.

A town car can be a good choice for the airport at not too much more cost then a Yellow Cab when you do make prior arrangements. Just be sure to use a reputable car service.

Have a great trip!

 

[Sleepy]

Thanks guys. I think I have all the info I need I plan to have a blast in the city!