Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with taxi

Personal injury lawyer in NYC?

limon — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:28:35 -0800

Can you recommend a personal injury lawyer in New York City? My girlfriend and I (pedestrians) were hit by a reckless taxi driver in November and we intend to sue. We can't afford to pay out-of-pocket, so it'd have to be a lawyer that makes a cut of the winning. (Not sure what the technical term for that is.)

How to find a taxi/care service to get parents from Jersey City to Long Island on Xmas?

anitanita — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:47:29 -0800

Shot in the dark filter: Does anyone have any ideas about how I can find a taxi/ car & driver service who can get my parents from Jersey City, NJ to Long Island for Christmas? Hi all,

Since you never know until you ask, I was wondering how I could find a car service that can get my folks to the family christmas party at my cousin's in Long Island this year. When I visit them for christmas, I usually drive, but this year I probably won't be able to make it. I know there are public transport options, but the folks are hitting 80 this year, and my father has sight issues, so I'd rather find another way.

I've never hired a car service before, and can imagine that getting someone on christmas must be like hitting a lottery ticket. But, I thought I'd ask the hive mind.

I'd just need them to get out there, and they could stay overnight. I could hire a different car service/taxi cab the next day (I think it might be easier to hire a taxi/car service on the 26th).

Bonus points if you have any ideas about how car services charge? If I can do this, it is easier just to give them my credit card up front and make sure my parents have money for tip? Money isn't really the issue, their comfort is.

Anything else I should be thinking of?

Thanks All!

Help me find a taxi!

kmtiszen — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:04:35 -0800

Lost my camera in a NYC yellow taxi. Paid via Credit Card. No receipt. Can I track down the cab I took? So, I think I might've left my camera in a cab last weekend. The ride was paid for via credit card, so there must be some record kept somewhere of the transaction. I don't have a receipt from the ride, but I'd love to be able to track down the specific taxi/driver from that night.

How can I go about obtaining that information? Are they even allowed to release it? Does anybody have experience with a situation like this?

Any help is very much appreciated!

Thanks!

Taxi to Limerick

Freedomboy — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:31:25 -0800

Ireland travelers: Anyone have success using Ireland's local taxi services to travel distance of about 50 miles to save time and enjoy a different journey? Is it a doable thing or is the Irish cost structure just too high to permit that as an option?

Reliable Taxi Co in Twin Cities, MN

judybxxx — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:26:41 -0800

Seeking a good (reliable) taxi company in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St Paul). A long term Insomniac, now I'm having trouble staying awake more than 25 minutes if driving alone, and want to have the option of getting off the road and calling a cab. Reviews on the web seem totally variable. I can take a pill in advance, but I try to minimize that. The thing is, traffic can change my travel time. If coming home, Minneapolis Lakes area and St Louis park would be the area, but I occasionally go all over (i.e. Maplewood, this Thurs, St Paul, North Mpls, etc). The reviews I read go from 'best in the cities' to 'horrible, never use them' for the same company. What do you use if you want a good chance they'll show up when they say, drive reasonably, etc.
(if I catch a cab, then I'd come back to get the car with a friend, at a convenient time, if you are wondering about the strategy).

I appreciate your concern, but please, lets not start with insomnia suggestions - believe me, I work hard at getting more sleep, in lots of ways, and that's not the question I'm asking now.

(I recommend the book, Insomniac )
So, cab recommendations, please!

Are there any Fort Wayne taxis that don't suck?

valkyryn — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:47:48 -0800

So are there any taxi companies in Fort Wayne, IN, that don't suck? Moved to town at the beginning of August. Hoping to get my drink on this weekend. I just moved from South Bend, IN, where it was almost impossible to get a cab inside 60 minutes, but I'm hoping that things are at least slightly better here.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

wtf mahadev?

bellbellbell — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:45:39 -0800

Some taxis (in Vancouver, perhaps elsewhere too?) have Mahadev stencilled on the back bumper. What the heck is that about, mefites?

why are taxi fare structures so complicated?

cilantro — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:20:41 -0800

Why are taxi fare structures so complicated? I was in a taxi today and was reading the sheet that outlined fares... it was basically something like 'Fares start at 2.70 and continue at the rate of .20 for every 234 yards or 67 seconds until the fare reaches 3.72, at which point it continues at the rate of .20 for every 321 yards or 78 seconds until the fare reaches 11.20, and then it continues at the rate of .14 for every 452 yards or 92 seconds. Except on the weekends or on holidays or after 10 pm, when it is completely different'.

I am pulling numbers out of my ass as an example, but the fare structure was exactly as random and confusing as that. This seems to be pretty normal for taxis - but why? Why can't they just say (for example) 2.00 to start, then .20 for each 1/4 mile or 60 seconds up to 5.00, and then .20 for each 1/2 mile or 90 seconds? Is this purely to make it impossible for people to try to add up the fares in their heads so they won't argue about it? I figure it's not to make it easier for the cabbies to cheat the passengers, since these are strictly regulated city taxis and not private hire cars... so what's the deal?

Cab or car service between Manhattan and Teaneck, NJ?

Joe in Australia — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:34:51 -0800

I will be visiting Manhattan and staying on the Upper West Side (near 80th St), but I want to visit friends in Teaneck, New Jersey. What's the most sensible and convenient way to travel between these locations? Rent a car, call a cab, or use a car service? I'm aware that I can take a bus from the Port Authority, but I'll be bringing little kids.

Why am I paying more fare for the same ride?

joe vrrr — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:39:13 -0800

The local taxi company charges more if they know you're on your way to catch the competing airport shuttle. Is this legal? Say we're in Bloomington, Indiana, and we're trying to get to the Indianapolis airport. There's a shuttle that runs from town to the airport, but we need to get downtown to catch the shuttle. The local cab company, which also happens to provide "door-to-door" service to the Indianapolis airport, says we have to pay per person for a ride to catch the shuttle. A normal trip downtown would not incur a per-person fee. I was advised by the cab driver to next time choose another drop-off location and lie about my true destination if I didn't want to pay the extra charge. The cab driver also said that with the extra cab fee, it "might make more sense" to take the cab all the way to the airport.

This strikes me as anti-competitive. Is it legal?

If not legal, who would be best to handle the complaint?

Childseat rules for Chicago taxis?

smelvis — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 07:02:14 -0800

Coming to Chicago for a weekend w. my 8-month-old baby. Hotel isn't walking distance to the L, so we'll need cabs a couple of times in town - never on Interstate. What are the rules for child seats in Chicago taxis? Should we plan on bringing the whole set-up from home? What do local daddies do?

Taxidrivingfilter:

sharkhunt — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:14:01 -0800

Does anyone have advice or first hand experience being a taxi driver? I am thinking of taking a part time position driving a local city taxi. What is the difference in night vs. day driving & is there something in particular to be aware of before taking the job. Also is there any contract do's & don'ts to look out for?

Planes, Trains, and Metros

fantine — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:25:25 -0800

ParisFilter: what is the best way to get from the Gare d'Austerlitz to Orly Sud? Tomorrow I'm heading to Berlin, and my flight leaves from Orly Sud. So I'm taking a train from my city into Paris.

I was looking around on the official metro website and it suggested taking the RER C to St. Michel Notre Dame, and then another line south to Orly, including something called the ORLYVAL (?) via Antony. I'm familiar with the metro system in Paris, but mostly only in the center of the city. The trajectory/plan provided was rather confusing.

I'm not opposed to taking a taxi if that's the most efficient way to get into the airport, and as long as it wouldn't be too expensive. As for my timing, the train should arrive at 10h44 in Austerlitz and my flight leaves Orly at 14h30.

Any advice would be greatly appreciate!

Need towncar service at Orlando International Airport

Lizc — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:36:23 -0800

Looking for reliable, cheap towncar/taxi/vehicle-for-hire to get from Orlando International to the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate. Arranging travel for an elderly couple, one of which is blind, the other hard of hearing from the airport to the Omni at ChampionsGate (which looks to be about 40 min south on the 4).

The Orlando International website lists a ton of vehicle-for-hire services - is anyone familiar with one or can recommend their favorite?

Thanks in advance!

Taxi lost & found

ceribus peribus — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 08:47:44 -0800

Help, I left some important paperwork in the back of a NYC cab last night! I've read this, and submitted the online Lost Property Inquiry form. The lost property precinct numbers were busy when I called; I'll try them again in a few minutes.

Is there anything else I can do?

Like an idiot, I don't have a medallion number. That lost binder has my passport, and immigration forms that have taken me years to get. I can't believe I did this.

Taxicab Etiquette: Headphones? Yea or Nay?

grapefruitmoon — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:07:42 -0800

Etiquette Filter: Headphones in a taxi - kosher or totally rude? The best way for me to get to my doctor's office is by cab. Everywhere else I go in town, I take public transportation. For this one destination, it just isn't an option. So, I take a cab. Even then, it's kind of a hike. (> 15 min.)

I really prefer to listen to music, but I don't quite know if it would be totally rude for me to be there zoning out. I'm somewhat new to urban life and can't quite figure out if a taxi is solely a transport device or if I should be using the same courtesy as other human-to-human service interactions.

Hail me a cab!!

metahawk — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:26:09 -0800

Greensboro NC filter - a friend at Guilford College in Greenboro needs a taxi at 5 am Tuesday morning. All the cab companies have zero or lousy ratings. Any recommendations??

Car service from Heathrow to Central London

meerkatty — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:23:51 -0800

Heathrow to Central London. Which car service do you recommend? I'm always exhausted after transatlantic flights. Sick of the tube and Heathrow Express. Want someone with a sign to be at the arrival gate and drive me to SW3. Recommendations for reliability/decent price much appreciated.

Best routes back to my roots

emelenjr — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:39:12 -0800

New Yorkers, help a former New Yorker out! How impractical would it be to take a taxi from LaGuardia Airport in New York out to Locust Valley, NY, versus renting a car for the weekend (not this weekend—no holiday rush implied.) I'll be staying with family and there will be cars aplenty at the house where we'll be, but no one is going to be able to pick me up at the airport on the night I'll arrive. I'm guessing it will be cheaper to take the LIRR out instead of a taxi, but that would also require getting picked up at the station, not to mention getting from LaGuardia to the LIRR first.

Is there public transportation to Putnam County (New York) Supreme Court?

manderacg — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:30:10 -0800

What are my transportation options for traveling from Manhattan to Putnam County Supreme Court in Carmel, New York? I need to attend a court proceeding at Putnam Co. Supreme (20 County Center, near lake Gleneida) later this month and don't know the area. Borrowing a car is an option but that's really my last resort. I'm wondering

-- If it's possible to get near the courthouse via Putnam Area Rapid Transit bus from a Metro-North rail station (the PART website was confusing, but it doesn't look like the routes do what I need here)
-- Whether it's possible to hail or call a cab from Southeast train station
-- If cab is a good choice, fare estimates and phone numbers for recommended taxi services.
Thanks.

Can a taxi driver get rich without winning the lotto?

pitseleh — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:49:33 -0800

What strategies do taxi drivers use to make the most money in the least amount of time, other than taking out-of-towners the long way? Do taxi companies impose rules on their drivers to distribute the work fairly? Do taxi drivers form alliances to help each other get the best work? (Not planning to be a taxi driver, just curious about how it all works.)

Can I rely on a NYC taxi to transport my bicycle box?

skryche — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:10:35 -0800

Will a box of dimensions 8" x 29.5" x 53" fit in a standard New York yellow taxi? What about one of them minivan or SUV ones?

ChicagoTransportationFilter: Help me get from O'Hare to Schamburg tomorrow morning.

stuboo — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 04:22:38 -0800

My flight arrives at 6:40 and I need to get to the Hyatt in Schamburg by 8:15-ish. Prefer train but don't know if it's possible. I'd like to keep the trip as inexpensive as possible and know that I can take a cab for $24.

I prefer to take a train if possible but don't know what series of trains I would take or if the schedule would work given my timeline.

Arlington Station to the Hyatt is $10 by taxi.

Thanks in advance.

los angeles taxi?

fac21 — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 07:42:47 -0800

Can anyone recommend a good taxi service in Los Angeles to use on a Friday or Saturday night? I'm thinking 213 and downtown-ish. A few I've tried are always busy on hot nights. Thanks.

How to be the Ultimate Cabbie (Taxi Driver)

Rolandkorn — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 17:31:50 -0800

Taxi Filter: I recently started to drive a cab for a living. I am looking for general/intermediate/advance advice on the Craft. Anything and everything that could help me be a better cabbie would be appreciated.