About NYC Taxi Services
New York City Residents have a love/hate relationship with NYC Taxi cabs. They are an absolute necessity for getting around Manhattan, especially in areas not adequately serviced by the subway system. Yet, having over 13,000 cabs plus private traffic and commercial trucks all vying for the same 24 miles of land, that calls itself Manhattan, can lead to some humongous traffic jams.
The taxicabs of New York City are widely recognized by their distinctive yellow paint. They are almost as much a part of the history of the city as the Staten Island Ferry or Grand Central Station. Taxicabs are operated by private companies. The right to operate a cab is obtained through purchase of a Medallion. The taxicabs are licensed by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. The Commission is the government agency responsible for the taxis operating in the city.
These yellow, “Medallion taxis," as they are called, are the only vehicles in New York City permitted to pick up passengers in response to a street hail. Avoid any cabs that stop for you if they are not the typical "yellow cab", especially if you are new to New York. For a time period there was a tremendous problem in NYC with “gypsy cabs.” These were cabs (many of which were not licensed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission) that would pick up people who had hailed a cab. They would many times overcharge and their vehicles were not necessarily safe or even insured.
What is a street hail? It is the act of flagging down a cab. It’s fairly easy and it you are a native New Yorker, you can do it holding two big bags of groceries, a crying child and an open umbrella! Just stick out your arm above your head and hold it there. Doormen sometimes have whistles and some people also whistle.
You can always tell if a Taxicab is available to pick up a fare by whether or not the light on the top of the cab is on or off. When the light on the roof is lit, the taxi is available. Taxi cabs are required to take you to your destination inside the metropolitan area. Most cabs take both cash and credit/debit cards. If you're paying cash it's a good idea to have small bills because the cabbies can't usually break anything large bills.
When you arrive at your destination, pay only what's on the meter, plus a 15-20 percent gratuity. If you are going to airports, there are set fees plus toll and tip.
Most cabbies are friendly and knowledgeable about the city so you should not have a problem with a medallion cab. If however, you do have a problem, record the ID number from the cab that you have problems with and report them to the Taxi and Limousine Commission.