How to give cabbies instructions so you don't get ripped off? (Midtown East - LGA)
Aug 29, 2013, 10:15 pm
#16
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I'm pretty sure they're just trying to get you there ASAP so that they can turn around and get another fare. Crescent St S/B towards the 59th St Bridge is always filled with cabs coming back from, presumably, LGA (they don't want to pay the fare back into Manhattan).
Aug 30, 2013, 2:48 am
#17
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I would not imply any cab driver is attempting to rip anyone off because a meter is a meter and cabbies typically want to get rid of you soon vs. later so they can obtain the next fare.
My take-away is many cabbies don't know alternatives for routes to outer boroughs or airports. So, if they know the Tri Bridge is closest that is what they will take and same goes for VWE, etc.
My take-away is many cabbies don't know alternatives for routes to outer boroughs or airports. So, if they know the Tri Bridge is closest that is what they will take and same goes for VWE, etc.
Expect to more frequently get less experienced cabbies during the off-hours than during the regular hours. At least that is what I would expect given how taxi owners/users rent/re-rent/share a cab.
NYC cabbies really aren't much in the game of taking people on long trips to try to fleece the passengers -- they would end up fleecing themselves. They are big time into taking the fastest route to pick up a new fare even if the trip is longer distance-wise and involves tolls. They want you out as fast as possible to pick up the next fare. The cabbies do generally better picking up fares in Manhattan for Manhattan drop-offs than taking you to LGA and hiking up the distance to save their time or hiking up the distance and time. [The exception may be cabbies about to come off a shift who need to get back to Brooklyn or Queens.] This dynamic of how to maximize their income -- which they know pretty well -- is why from the UES I often have had to play a game of picking up a cab in the "wrong" direction with my bag sort of out of sight to hail a cross-avenue cab.
Last edited by GUWonder; Aug 30, 2013 at 3:00 am
Aug 30, 2013, 9:23 am
#18
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It's a time of day thing as early in the morning it's closer to $28 but as the day wears on it's around mid $30 as the traffic on the surface streets as well as the BQE and Queensboro increases. Often a lot of the traffic is on the streets coming from LGA on to the GCP.
Sep 2, 2013, 11:37 pm
#19
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3a. The way I see a lot of cabbies wanting to go is to take the Grand Central to the BQE (278) to 495 (essentially, the same route as to the Midtown Tunnel), but then get off at Van Dam, and take the BQE. This is certainly simpler than taking surface streets, but it's a bit longer.
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Cheers
Howie
Sep 3, 2013, 6:28 am
#20
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Nov 4, 2013, 11:50 pm
#22
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From LGA to your area, there are basically three river crossing options: the Triboro, the Midtown Tunnel or the Queensboro.
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3b. You can also take surface streets to the Queensboro. This route is the shortest and the cheapest. Take the Grand Central Pkwy toward the Triboro, but get off at exit 45 (31st St). Stay to the right (don't get back on the highway toward the Triboro) through the intersection with Astoria Blvd, and go straight ahead, then make a left onto Crescent Street. Follow Crescent St all the way down until it basically feeds you into a right turn onto the Queensboro Bridge. For most (but not all) cabbies, telling them "take Crescent St to the 59th St Bridge" will get you this route. I find it about 3/4 of cabbies know what I'm taking about. Here's a Google Maps link for this route, assuming the UN is your destination: http://goo.gl/WNpqeq
Going from LGA to the UN, distance for each route is:
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3b. 7.6 miles, no toll
Assuming no traffic (so all meter based on distance, not time), you're looking at fares of (assuming 20% tip on the whole fare, including toll):
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3b. 7.6 miles, no toll, $26
Bottom line, 3B (Crescent St to the 59th St Bridge) is very likely your best bet, unless the 59th St Bridge is much more congested than the Triboro or Midtown Tunnel.
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3b. You can also take surface streets to the Queensboro. This route is the shortest and the cheapest. Take the Grand Central Pkwy toward the Triboro, but get off at exit 45 (31st St). Stay to the right (don't get back on the highway toward the Triboro) through the intersection with Astoria Blvd, and go straight ahead, then make a left onto Crescent Street. Follow Crescent St all the way down until it basically feeds you into a right turn onto the Queensboro Bridge. For most (but not all) cabbies, telling them "take Crescent St to the 59th St Bridge" will get you this route. I find it about 3/4 of cabbies know what I'm taking about. Here's a Google Maps link for this route, assuming the UN is your destination: http://goo.gl/WNpqeq
Going from LGA to the UN, distance for each route is:
...
3b. 7.6 miles, no toll
Assuming no traffic (so all meter based on distance, not time), you're looking at fares of (assuming 20% tip on the whole fare, including toll):
...
3b. 7.6 miles, no toll, $26
Bottom line, 3B (Crescent St to the 59th St Bridge) is very likely your best bet, unless the 59th St Bridge is much more congested than the Triboro or Midtown Tunnel.
Nov 4, 2013, 11:58 pm
#23
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The implication of this thread the cabbies are trying to rip you off troubles me. It's not like cabbies make extra money by taking toll roads. Most take the toll roads because they're faster, and faster is always better for the cabbie.
Don't get me wrong. There are some cabbies who would prefer to take a longer route or otherwise try to rip you off. But that's true in virtually every city, and in fact I think it's less true in NYC than in most other U.S. cities. (In Boston, I have on numerous occasions had to redirect cabbies to the Sumner Tunnel when leaving Logan Airport instead of the Ted Williams Tunnel, which adds several dollars to a trip to my Cambridge apartment.) When traveling to JFK, for example, which is a flat fare except for the tolls, most cabbies will take the toll route not because it puts any more money in their pocket, but because it's faster.
That said, if you're knowledgeable there are ways to save tolls and take shorter routes that cabbies may not know about. By all means, educate yourself and feel free to direct the cabbies. If done politely, I rarely have a cabbie argue with me about the route I want to take. If they do object, just be firm. And please remember that being a cabbie is not an easy job; it involves very long hours for not very good pay. By all means don't let them get away with ripping you off, but it doesn't hurt to show a little compassion to these guys.
Don't get me wrong. There are some cabbies who would prefer to take a longer route or otherwise try to rip you off. But that's true in virtually every city, and in fact I think it's less true in NYC than in most other U.S. cities. (In Boston, I have on numerous occasions had to redirect cabbies to the Sumner Tunnel when leaving Logan Airport instead of the Ted Williams Tunnel, which adds several dollars to a trip to my Cambridge apartment.) When traveling to JFK, for example, which is a flat fare except for the tolls, most cabbies will take the toll route not because it puts any more money in their pocket, but because it's faster.
That said, if you're knowledgeable there are ways to save tolls and take shorter routes that cabbies may not know about. By all means, educate yourself and feel free to direct the cabbies. If done politely, I rarely have a cabbie argue with me about the route I want to take. If they do object, just be firm. And please remember that being a cabbie is not an easy job; it involves very long hours for not very good pay. By all means don't let them get away with ripping you off, but it doesn't hurt to show a little compassion to these guys.
I'm sorry that checking to make sure I wasn't ripped off troubles you; I've been ripped off (even when I spoke the local language, and was familiar with the city) in many places and even when you are prepared it happens. But you are right, I feel it happens much less in NYC.
Nov 5, 2013, 10:43 pm
#25
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Yes, maybe it's beneficial for the cabbie, but most people taking taxis prefer the quickest route possible as well. Tourists probably are not aware of which routes are fastest or of the fact that tolls can be avoided. New Yorkers, maybe. But obviously, not all are. Likely, the cabbie generally faces no opposition when taking toll roads, so he will naturally choose the quickest route he knows. Unless instructed, no reason to do otherwise. Thus, I don't have a problem with taxis taking toll roads, but I will make it clear which route I prefer if I have a preferred route.
Nov 6, 2013, 5:46 pm
#26
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While I agree with most of your post (especially when a cabbie took a toll when you explicitly asked him not to), I don't agree with this part.
Yes, maybe it's beneficial for the cabbie, but most people taking taxis prefer the quickest route possible as well. Tourists probably are not aware of which routes are fastest or of the fact that tolls can be avoided. New Yorkers, maybe. But obviously, not all are. Likely, the cabbie generally faces no opposition when taking toll roads, so he will naturally choose the quickest route he knows. Unless instructed, no reason to do otherwise. Thus, I don't have a problem with taxis taking toll roads, but I will make it clear which route I prefer if I have a preferred route.
Yes, maybe it's beneficial for the cabbie, but most people taking taxis prefer the quickest route possible as well. Tourists probably are not aware of which routes are fastest or of the fact that tolls can be avoided. New Yorkers, maybe. But obviously, not all are. Likely, the cabbie generally faces no opposition when taking toll roads, so he will naturally choose the quickest route he knows. Unless instructed, no reason to do otherwise. Thus, I don't have a problem with taxis taking toll roads, but I will make it clear which route I prefer if I have a preferred route.
If you have a preferred route, it's up to you to specify. Some cabbies will ask as a matter of courtesy, but they are by no means required to do so.
Oct 10, 2017, 12:34 pm
#27
Join Date: Oct 2017
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Taking the Triborough is never faster.
Always tell the cab driver to take the 59th St. Bridge to 31st Street to Grand Central Parkway. The driver will probably ask what terminal, but if he or she doesn't, tell them before the airport exits, or if you don't know, tell them what airline you're taking. Drivers always say there's too much traffic on the 59th St. Bridge, but that's practically never true. The trip over the Triborough is a few miles longer, benefitting the driver, and you have to pay that extra fare, plus the toll. Sometimes they say the Triborough is safer from people who might rob the cab if it's stuck in traffic. Don't fall for it. Take the 59th St. Bridge, and say it like you know what you're talking about.