tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27418456962343887662024-03-13T04:15:01.383-04:00NYC Taxi BlogNYC Taxi Driver's personal blog.Jay Baraichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11697109714213412375noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-36185069301663070662011-04-02T16:45:00.000-04:002011-04-02T16:48:06.319-04:00Finding fares<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/happy-gimp/5583198662/" title="Where are the fares? by Happy-Gimping, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5583198662_64f396e99a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Where are the fares?"></a></center><br /><br />This photo shows how desperate drivers can get on slower day, at La Guardia airport this driver was standing on car's trunk to see if there are any planes taxing towards terminal.Jay Baraichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11697109714213412375noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-57489725625529897472011-03-29T05:55:00.004-04:002011-03-29T06:03:06.511-04:00Lower ManhattanI took one passenger to Staten Island yesterday and took this photo of Lower Manhattan with my Iphone, for I phone I think result is awesome.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/happy-gimp/5569272793/" title="lower-manhattan by Happy-Gimping, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5147/5569272793_759e47d44f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="lower-manhattan" align="center" /></a>Jay Baraichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11697109714213412375noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-79408294493040386562011-03-27T18:35:00.004-04:002011-03-28T19:29:33.748-04:00I'm BackHere I come again, I went to Pakistan on vacations, got married, this blog was dead even before I left for Pakistan but I hope it will have continuity in posting from now onwards.<br /><br />Just to give blog new start, I have taken few photos during my shift, also have to reply to few emails.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/happy-gimp/5565994286/" title="Chelsea by Happy-Gimping, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/5565994286_9aa78fd390.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Chelsea" /></a></center><br /> This is United Methodist Church of the village on West 13th street and 7th Avenue, Great architecture<br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/happy-gimp/5565993482/" title="Tourists captured by Happy-Gimping, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5306/5565993482_9025e6f4c3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Tourists captured" /></a></center><br /> Few tourists were taking photos at W 72nd street and Central Park West, I captured them in my Iphone camera<br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/happy-gimp/5565414499/" title="Pedi Cab by Happy-Gimping, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5149/5565414499_7964af19d0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Pedi Cab" /></a></center><br />These pedi Cabs were parked in whole block on W 56th street between Broadway and 7th Avenue, by the way they are not cheap at all, my friend and his wife take one of them from Radio city hall to Time Square and it was $35.00 ride, I wish we could have that kind of faresJay Baraichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11697109714213412375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-16722050452425239252010-11-22T11:01:00.001-05:002010-11-22T11:11:14.399-05:00Safe bet<div>What if at start of ride someone walks up to you, and tells you that they don't have money for the ride but at the end of fare they will bring up the money from his/her house/apartment, will you pick up that fare?</div><div><br /></div><div>This past weekend I dropped off someone on West 46<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> street, street was jam packed with cabs due to <a href="http://www.hudsonterracenyc.com/">Hudson terrace</a> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><a href="http://www.pachanyc.com/">Pacha</a></span> as I expected, one girl was talking to the cab driver for about five minutes three cabs ahead of my cab , and then cab left with out picking her up to the next fare, same happened with all three drivers ahead of me, they talked to the girl and then drove off with out picking her up.</div><div><br /></div><div>On weekends in busy hours, usually drivers tend to avoid fares going outside Manhattan as their business <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">strategy</span> to earn more money, while waiting for my turn I was thinking, she might be going to some outer borough and I was ready to pick her up regardless of the destination. As I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">approached</span> her she came to driver's side door and told me she is going to West 26<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> street, but did not have any money or credit card on her and would bring money from her apartment. I picked her up and she was very thankful to me, at the destination which was about 23 blocks, a short ride, she brought me $20.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have done the same thing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">numerous</span> times, and I can tell every person who told me at start of ride that he/she don't have money and will bring money at destination had always returned and left good tips, the person who's intention is jumping the fare will never approach driver in this manner, instead <a href="http://nycab.blogspot.com/2010/08/what-is-going-on.html">all four fare jumpers</a> I had this year, they acted bossy through out the ride.</div>Jay Baraichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11697109714213412375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-4258745285126970522010-11-06T11:39:00.003-04:002010-11-06T12:02:03.072-04:00Wtf?<b><i>Subject:</i></b> A couple in their mid 20's hailing for cab at W 60th street and Broadway going south, for those who don't know New York city very well, it is well known landmark in NYC known as <i>Columbus Circle.</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b><i>Object:</i></b> They want to go to Penn. Station.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Route taken:</i></b> Pretty simple and straight route, from Columbus Circle either take Broadway south or much better option is going on Central Park south to 7th avenue south, Penn. Station is at 7th avenue between 33rd and 31st streets, Central park South is 59th street, In case you don't know about it. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Hurdle:</i></b> Times Square which is almost middle of the route, but mostly not a trouble at 11:00 P.M in the night.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Stupidity:</i></b> At W46th street, not have stopped at any red light yet driver heard Passenger asking why is he going through Times Square? "Where I have picked you up, this is the shortest way to Penn. Station" driver explained. "since you have taken fucking scenic route, we are getting off right here" he was perhaps too intoxicated to take driver's word.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Result:</i></b> get your money and never argue with stupid people, they will learn themselves by paying more.<br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Jay Baraichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11697109714213412375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-34254807459259972032010-09-02T11:17:00.002-04:002010-09-02T11:38:54.626-04:00Once upon a time ..So, Mr. President was here to mess up traffic in NYC and making it harder for people like myself to earn their living, Midtown east was a big mess on past Wednesday due to street closures. I tried to stay away from east side but every time I managed to get out of that traffic mess on east side, next fare had taken me right back in midst of that mess.<br /><br />I was cursing down on 7th Avenue in hope to stay away from east side and spotted two men hailing for cab on corner of west 48th street, in front of <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?client=ubuntu&channel=fs&oe=utf-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=Lace+Gentlemen%27s+Club&fb=1&gl=us&hq=Lace+Gentlemen%27s+Club&hnear=Manhattan,+New+York&cid=12877515166355760522">Lace Gentlemen's Club</a>, they were tourists from U.K "hello! where are we going?" I asked them and could not get their destination due to their accent, I asked them again and all I could understand was 2nd avenue and east 46th street, good enough for me.<br /><br />If I have to categorized my best fares, tourists are almost always are amongst my best fares.<br /><br />But these two guys were acting weird, I turned on West 48th street from 7th avenue to go towards east side, they tried to shout at every single girl on that street, throwing sexual remarks towards them, which again was fine with me, ride itself turned out not that bad as 48th street was clear, we made it to 2nd avenue in about 8 minutes.<br /><br />Upon turning south on 2nd Avenue, I asked them the name of the place they were going to, "<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=2372641372502014593&q=Don+Veitia&gl=us&cd=1&cad=src:pplink&ei=G8J_TK6FHojeyAWWg6WvCQ&sig2=TRPq4aRi9y_B_lw0144Fgw">Don Veitia</a>" they told me and then asked me "How far are we?",that moment I was stopped at east 47th street stop light in third lane, looking for their given destination, "One block" I replied.<br /><br />They opened the door and ran away, leaving back door open and green light with coming traffic, Great! isn't? There I used my cab driver's God given skills to block all traffic behind me and turned on to 47th street, I got out to close the back door of my car when I spotted them hiding behind a pillar of <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?client=ubuntu&channel=fs&oe=utf-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=One+Dag+Hammarskjold+Plaza&fb=1&gl=us&hq=One+Dag+Hammarskjold+Plaza&hnear=Manhattan,+New+York&cid=15791394440123041610">One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza</a>.<br /><br />Now if you have read my previous post, my school of thought is, if they are going to jump the fare at least give them hard time, so in future they think twice before doing the same thing. I decided to give them a chase. I started walking towards the pillar they were hiding behind, and when I came closer they started running and I ran after them. I choose one of them(weaker one) and after about quarter of block managed to grab him and brought him back to my cab and demanded the fare, strange thing was the other coward never showed up again during this whole thing, Instead a gentleman New Yorker, who probably was getting off his work, helped me to take him to my cab, and this idiot kept asking him, what he had to do with all this?<br /><br />And guess what? my next fare was also from U.K, going to <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&gl=us&g=885+2nd+Avenue%2C+New+York%2C+NY+10017-2201&q=Affinia+Manhattan&btnG=Search+Maps">Affinia Manhattan</a> and we had great talk about upcoming <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket">cricket</a> series between U.K and Pakistan.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Note: Yes I know I'm lazy, post was meant to be posted way earlier :) </span>Jay Baraichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11697109714213412375noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-53079935938725196332010-08-09T05:37:00.003-04:002010-08-09T05:58:44.176-04:00MontrealAfter getting ripped off by four passengers in a row last week, I needed break also my mom kept asking me to take her to Canada to visit my aunt, as Ramadan is expected to start from either on Wednesday or Thursday it was better to visit Canada before that, so here we were in Montreal this weekend.<br />I love the serenity here, everything, even traffic seems to be much calmer and at peace than back home, I even was little lost and to get from left to right lanes, I did it like NYC cab drivers way, atleast twice and no one even honked at me. I love Montreal.Jay Baraichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11697109714213412375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-47582789418523233802010-08-07T05:16:00.003-04:002010-08-07T05:20:40.527-04:00What is going on?Does anyone else have observed increasing fare jumping incidents? Last year I had three fare jumpers, but this week alone I had four of them, will write briefly later about all of them. Oh God why me? Two of them were class acts and two old fashioned(open the door and run away).Jay Baraichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11697109714213412375noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-46707586824340465652010-07-30T11:44:00.001-04:002010-07-30T11:46:13.930-04:00Summer heat<center><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/4843999862_be0708cc33.jpg" alt="Summer" /></center>Jay Baraichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11697109714213412375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-70161994373592623012010-06-23T15:26:00.000-04:002010-06-23T15:26:49.998-04:00Pissed offWorst thing that can happen to a taxi driver on his job (criminal activity is not considered here) is someone vomit in the car, it simply means end of your work shift and cleaning up your car. It mostly happens during night shifts and to make things more worst car washes do not clean inside of your car during night, and driver ends up cleaning that mess up himself. Only once one guy threw up and cleaned up the car for me, it was so nice of him.<br />
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But what happened on past weekend has no match, it is undoubtedly a winner. Someone just decided to use back seat of car as their toilet and had a piss in my car, I suspect it was my last job during that night and hence can tell it was a girl picked up from meat packing district and went to columbia university on upper westside. When I go to filling station, I check my backseat to make sure no one has left any thing behind. and What I saw was so gross, backseat was wet and there was pool of piss onto the floor.<br />
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Girl why couldn't you just ask me to stop for you, many many times people have asked for the same reason and believe me most cab drivers wont have any problem stopping instead having their backseat turned into toilet.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-87851578465661382812010-06-17T05:48:00.000-04:002010-06-17T05:48:41.613-04:00Appreciation DayToday is Taxi Driver Appreciation Day, free breakfast will be served to Taxi drivers at Sheraton Brooklyn between 8 A.M to 10 A.M.<br />
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Let see how many drivers actually make it to Brooklyn during morning rush hours. Riders don't forget to appreciate your driver today.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-40514199826228131792010-06-16T17:49:00.000-04:002010-06-16T17:49:18.403-04:00Bronx Zoo.<center><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4699081776_b9cb54bee3.jpg" /></center><br />
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In taxi business knowing hot spots for potential fares can raise income of driver dramatically, especially night shift driver need to know at slow times where he has more chances for getting fares, such places includes bars, clubs and after economic fall down few financial institutes, who instead of taking designated black cars take yellow cabs instead. But finding a spot which is not popular among other drivers is the real deal, because if lots of drivers know about certain spot you will end up lining up for passengers, which is again is not that bad at 3:00 A.M in the morning, but if you have discovered some spot, best thing is to keep it to yourself.<br />
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I start working from The Bronx, which is a borough north of Manhattan, everyday I have to pass through <a href="http://www.bronxzoo.com/">Bronx Zoo</a> while going towards Manhattan, once I got hailed and took passengers to Brooklyn from there. Everyday when crossing Zoo I spot <a href="http://www.taxihack.com/taxis/5p18">5P18</a> sitting in front of Zoo's entrance with his offduty lights on, hassling for the passengers which may go to Manhattan or Queens, he is also from Pakistan.<br />
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This Sunday when I was going to Manhattan, I spotted 5P18 and decided to have some words with him, and he asked me why don't I pick up passengers from here and suggested to wait here 10-15 minutes, "you will get fare going to Manhattan" he told me.<br />
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Now there are two kinds of drivers, one of them are the ones who you will find sitting in front of hotels, bus terminals waiting for passengers for longer trips, even in busiest time you will see them sitting on those spots, which always make me wonder because if they drive they will get fares in same or maximum next block during rush hours, I call them airport hunters. Then there are drivers who keep driving during there whole shift, stop means, break either to use lavatories or to eat, except these they won't stop and wait anywhere, they are the ones if someone hailed them and tell them hey wait here for 2 minutes I gotta get my belongings/wife/kids etc but they drive off for next Passenger instead of waiting, because they can not wait.<br />
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I'm among the latter category, 5 minutes of standing feels like half an hour to me, but anyway I decided to wait in front of Zoo in hope to get some fare, 5P18 got his share to Manhattan and left with in two minutes, I spotted about 20 or so people standing next to my cab waiting for bus <a href="http://www.bronxzoo.com/plan-your-trip/directions.aspx">BxM11</a>, which eventually will take them to Manhattan. This bus doesn't work like all other MTA buses instead bus comes there, wait for about half an hour for the passengers and then leave. I was unfortunate enough bus came very shortly, and started picking up EVERYONE, leaving none for me. I waited about 30 minutes there and got fed up.<br />
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Next day same story, 5P18 got the fare and I have wasted 30 or so minutes, bus doesn't seems to leave until last person comes out of Zoo. Now I decided not to stop there, that spot is not for me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-89483621304402087462010-06-14T09:00:00.000-04:002010-06-14T09:00:06.687-04:00Shochu Bar<center><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4692348461_d57eca7b63.jpg" /></center><br />
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I believe this is on West 51st street between 9th and 10th Avenues.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-65012177075125292642010-06-13T13:00:00.000-04:002010-06-13T13:00:02.240-04:00Love your President.<center><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4692353495_cae92ddde4.jpg" /></center><br />
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I have spotted this truck upon entering in Manhattan from Bronx at 128th street and 2nd Avenue intersection, So please love your president.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-55634992556728035012010-06-12T16:50:00.001-04:002010-06-12T16:58:13.700-04:00Camel JockeyYesterday I picked up four ladies from Time Square and they were heading to <a href="http://www.sobs.com/">SOB's</a> on Varick Street. Times Square is becoming more and more hassle for cab drivers as one lane is closed for construction and one lane is almost always blocked with NYPD's vehicles, while we were stuck there, girl sitting on front passenger's seat started interviewing me.<br />
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They were visiting from Nashville and it was their first day in New York, she questioned me where am I from? I told her I'm from Pakistan, then she asked "Do they have cabs in Pakistan?" and I replied jokingly " No, we use camels there", but she took is seriously and proceeded to ask "What do they feed camels with?" I started laughing.<br />
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But the winning question came afterwards when she again asked me what do people pet in Pakistan and I said Pets, she asked "do you have Buffalos In Pakistan?" with following question "Do they eat buffalos?" and the best question was "do they make ham burger with buffalo's meat?<br />
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But they had the best and sexiest accent for sure.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-25723772659512840062010-06-03T12:30:00.001-04:002010-06-03T12:30:01.588-04:00Learn English<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4574139122_73ea064a2e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4574139122_73ea064a2e.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">229 W 36th street</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3416/4574136210_1136cd8f81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3416/4574136210_1136cd8f81.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Empire Hotel , W 63rd street/Broadway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-43707094283842026192010-06-03T04:50:00.000-04:002010-06-03T04:53:06.920-04:00Tragic story<div><blockquote></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(70, 70, 70); line-height: 16px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.708em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: left; font-size: 1.083em; "></p><blockquote><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.708em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: left; font-size: 1.083em; ">Derrick Bird, 52, went on a shooting spree that began near Whitehaven and ended when he shot himself.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.708em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: left; font-size: 1.083em; ">It is being reported he may have been involved in a dispute over a will, and police have confirmed solicitor Kevin Commons is among the dead.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.708em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: left; font-size: 1.083em; ">Eleven people were injured as he drove around shooting indiscriminately.</p></blockquote><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.708em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: left; font-size: 1.083em; "></p></span></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/england/10222188.stm">BBC News - 'Family row' may have sparked Cumbria killing spree</a><br /><br />I don't know why people take matters too far, my condolence to the victims's families, may they all rest in peace.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-55292895394542885972010-04-30T04:53:00.000-04:002010-04-30T04:53:48.169-04:00GPS data and Drivers<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3505/4564613381_a353c3c6ab.jpg" /><br />
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GPS data as collected by TLC should have been beneficiary for the drivers, especially when they are the ones who actually are paying for GPS devices installed into NYC medallion cabs hence they must gain some benefits from this technology.<br />
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I was pretty sure or at least I was assuming we the drivers have few benefits with this technology, for example number of times when passenger complained about the fare price, I handed them their receipts and told to call 3-1-1 in order to place a complaint, by doing so I was assuming that GPS should have recorded the pick up time and address, route taken to destination and drop off timing and address and in case of him/her calling to file a complaint, TLC will look into that data.<br />
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Once I had an incident, I picked up a guy and girl from E 97th street, it was my first trip on Sunday evening and he told me to go to 116th street and St. Nicholas avenue. I took right onto E 97th street then followed by another right onto third avenue, upon reaching at E 116th street and 3rd avenue intersection he told me to stop there, I stopped the meter he paid by credit card, and ride was over fine, nothing happened. Next day my day partner started calling me about 11 a.m, I was asleep and I sleep like semi dead person kind of way, after many tries he called my home and have someone to wake me up. Finally when I spoke to him, he told me our meter has been locked and I have to call our management in order to unlock the meter, when I called the management I was told that I dropped off one passenger at 116th street and St.Nicholas ave on Sunday evening at 5:28 P.M and when the passenger was taking his stuff out from the trunk I drove off with his luggage inside and with open trunk, first I told her that I have Ford Escape, I really can't drive with my trunk open knowingly then I asked her time and day again, upon realizing incident happened just day before, I recalled the jobs and told her it never did happen and she asked me then why did the passenger call? "I don't know, what I know is I did not go to St. Nicholas Avenue yesterday, did you check my record from the GPS?" I asked her, when she checked the record I was right, our meter got unlocked. What I guess is happened the guy I dropped off on third avenue, after shopping took another cab to his destination, this incident might have happened but with another cab, not with me, but when that passenger pulled up the receipt he pulled the one I gave him earlier that day. This incident increased my faith in GPS and made me less worried of backseat bitting.<br />
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But this is not the case, GPS apparently records only pickup time/drop off time and relative addresses only, it means passenger can take you to the court and tell the judge that you have taken him to Manhattan, took two bridges from JFK to drop the passenger in Brooklyn, and you have to prove that it did not happen that way. Good luck fellow drivers.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-89181356981038927092010-04-25T07:44:00.006-04:002010-04-25T07:55:04.976-04:00Rule number oneIf we talk about flawless rules or laws, in my opinion they must be dead ends, what I mean by this, if you steel you will be prosecuted regardless of circumstances, if you break red light you will be fined with additional points on your record etc, and flawed rules or laws are the one with wide open options, unfortunately TLC have many flawed rules, for example TLC rule states driver can refuse a fare if he has concerns about his safety or feels threaten, but it does not explain what conditions can qualify for safety risks and leaves it wide open unto driver's judgment and his intelligence, so basically driver has to profile people based upon their looks, neighborhoods they are heading to, way they dress or talk to driver, to decide if he should or should not take the fare. Based on his intelligence if he refuses the fare he then may has to face service refusal charge in TLC court, which is amongst one of the most serious charge against driver, and his license can be suspended upon proven guilty of the charge. So after some experience many drivers make their "in this situation do this, in that situation do that" kind of their own rules which varies from making sure at beginning of the ride if the subject has fare money to dropping subject in nearest busy street instead of his exact address.<br />
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Although I never have refused any person till date, but unfortunately I had to boot three people out of my cab last year. And yes I have made my own rule for that situation which is " No matter what I'll never service a person, who is abusive towards me, period." You are a street thug or president of united states, if you break my rule you will end up thrown out of my cab, no negotiations in this case.<br />
So I had first incident of this year where unfortunately I had to tell the guy "get the fuck out" tonight. It was suppose to be a very short ride, I dropped one gentleman at LIRR Station and as expected in busy Saturday night spotted this indian guy hailing for cab on the spot.<br />
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After my fare got out of cab, he jumped into front passenger seat and three others occupied back seat of my cab, two back seaters were black male and one black female.<br />
They were heading to Pasha, which is located on W 46th street between 11th and 12th Avenue, as I started heading towards their given destination, they started talking to each others. They were all doing their residency somewhere in New Jersey, they are future doctors, and were in town for party. One of their friend was stuck in Penn. Station at Newark and was not able to catch his train to join them. So far so good, I took W 33rd Street from 7th Avenue towards 10th avenue, upon approaching on 10th avenue we found ourselves in heavy traffic, so guy in front told me to turn on 34th street, from 34th street he wanted to go up 11th avenue and I told him this will take us to Lincoln tunnel and back onto 10th avenue again we better take 12th avenue as you are heading to W 46th street between 12th and 11th avenues, and street is east bound. But unfortunately we find ourselves in heavy traffic on 12th avenue again, I was trying to cut traffic in taxi driver's way, when he told me to take right on 40th street, I took right and after that he again wanted to turn left on 11th avenue, which was impossible as 11th avenue is one way street at that intersection, whole traffic mess around all streets was due to Lincoln tunnel's traffic and now we were sitting in midst of that traffic, cutting off other vehicles when I made it to 10th avenue, he told me to turn left again. At this point I asked him in pleasant way was he a cab driver? he replied in negative and then I asked him is he New Yorker? he replied in negative again, after that I told him he didn't have to tell me on every turn I know my route in this town, it was a notion to remind him that he can tell me once how he wanted to go and I'll take that route.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/happy-gimp/4550796924/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4550796924_c5d10dd7b8.jpg" /></a><br />
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"I know where you coming from" he told me and continued " by telling me you know your route" he completed his first sentence and kept on "this is how you fucking make money by taking people into traffic, I know it" I looked towards him if he is joking? but he had I-am-the-boss-you-fucking-scumbag expressions on his face, which translated into hate. I pulled over and told him" چوتیے (Choot e yeh) it is too hard for your brain to think how a cab driver makes his money, you better get out of my cab right now" he paid and got out and three back seaters were looking strangely as they even did not know what have happened between front seaters. I drove off and knew it is almost impossible for them to hail another cab at this location and that was enough for him in rain.<br />
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<img style="float:left; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4550797128_9348c9ab23_m.jpg" />But the question remains, what should driver do if passenger gets abusive or disrespectful towards him? most will say just finish your job and forget, but in all above situations when passenger got abusive or disrespectful towards me, I felt distracted, my head boils and I can't pay attention on driving which make me more vulnerable toward having an accident, I don't know what other drivers say but this is what I do and after booting them out of my cab a cigarette break is must to get over anger.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-68867672807691883312010-04-22T15:26:00.001-04:002010-04-22T15:28:05.126-04:00Drunk and homeless.<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4530181907_c50b20e03b.jpg" /><br />
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This man was drunk on Saturday night, he passed out on Prince street in SoHo.<br />
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<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4530809980_8820712049.jpg" /><br />
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This homeless man was sleeping in Midtown east part of Manhattan.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Downtown, New York, NY, USA40.723401513253641 -73.99613857269287140.719336013253638 -74.003434072692869 40.727467013253644 -73.988843072692873tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-20835623061509543492010-04-21T08:08:00.001-04:002010-04-21T08:09:48.637-04:00AccidentAlthough <a href="http://www.schallerconsult.com/taxi/safercabs.pdf">study suggests [PDF]</a> lowest salary and excessive regulations are direct cause of bad drivers, but I always find more taxi cabs involved in accidents on busiest day, perhaps drivers might trying to beat the slow week in those nights.<br />
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These two drivers were trying to make their week in one night and crashed at central park south and 7th avenue intersection, on busy Friday night.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-38087134153305554932010-04-02T06:07:00.000-04:002010-04-02T06:07:39.581-04:00No Underwear Subway RideHere we go again New York, after successful campaign of <a href="http://improveverywhere.com/missions/the-no-pants-subway-ride/">No Pants Subway Ride</a> now we have <a href="http://laughingsquid.com/improv-everywhere-no-underwear-subway-ride/">No Underwear Subway Ride</a>, When are we going to have <i>Fucking Subway Ride</i> Or <i>Orgasm Subway Ride</i>? Perhaps a very good reason to take a cab so you won't have to confront psychopaths like that.<br />
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Are you guys get fooled? Or offended?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-18209750804194930452010-04-02T05:18:00.000-04:002010-04-02T05:18:51.061-04:00Pothole InspectorThree weeks ago hurricane-look-alike weather left potholes every where in NYC, some were real huge to call them pothole, this pothole stayed for more than a week on E 28th street in Murray Hill area between Park Avenue south and Lexington Avenue.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/happy-gimp/4483852566/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4483852566_0ea2f438b8.jpg" /></a></center><br />
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And these two girls were taking pictures of that pothole from every angle possible, one of them even stood inside of the hole.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/happy-gimp/4481328434/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4481328434_1b1dd5d347.jpg" /></a></center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-43361812820855387272010-04-01T06:02:00.001-04:002010-04-01T06:10:25.668-04:00The Octagon, Roosevelt Island<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/happy-gimp/4481326326/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4481326326_5420d791ed.jpg" /></a></center><br />
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I dropped off my last passenger in Roosevelt Island, which is small island between Manhattan and Queens. Although I been to Roosevelt Island many times but never had chance to go up northern part of Island, My fare lives in this building and I asked him specifically if this is residential building? because to me it looked like temple or church with lights on, "it is called <a href="http://www.octagonnyc.com/">The Octagon</a>" my fare told me and asked "isn't it beautiful?" Yes indeed it is.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741845696234388766.post-82505189326552155202010-03-31T20:50:00.001-04:002010-04-01T05:45:27.045-04:00CabSenseI wanted to write about this yesterday but as usual overslept. I'm sitting at JFK taxi hold lot right now and writing this post using IPhone, it makes more sense as I'm going to tell news about mobile technology.<br />
Taxi and limousine commission alongside with Sense networks has launched a new <br />
App called <a href="http://www.cabsense.com/">CabSense</a> yesterday, this new App will get your position from GPS on your mobile device and then show cabs using GPS data from yellow cabs GPS system, it will tell you how many cabs are available in the area using 5 stars for maximum chances to 1 star or no cab for lesser chances of available cabs.<br />
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App will also guide where to go nearby to hail cab, and upon shaking your iPhone it will also whistle for the cab -- hmm just hail me please -- anyway good App, technology on its best.<br />
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Only concern is when drivers went on strike for installing GPS into their cabs, they told TLC will monitor them and it is against constitution, TLC said it will only record pick up or drop off addresses, from this App it is clear that was not true.<br />
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Good thing for drivers is they can also browse the map to look for better chance of getting jobs, it might help us not to cruise empty for half hour or even an hour, if driver is not having good luck finding fares, Open the App and look for less competitive location instead of <br />
trying on 6th Avenue.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3