By driving in Manhattan, one will soon come to conclusion that city has become very bicyclist friendly, and I like this idea so much that offered my partner instead of taking subway or commuting in car to change shift, we should buy a bicycle, it is fun and also healthy activity for the rider and to the environment.

But with increasing bicycle ridership in New York City, with more and more bicycle designated lanes in the city, I feel to see riders obeying any traffic laws, except for major intersections, majority of cyclist do not stop at red lights, few of them will pause, look around and then will continue on their way.

Once I had a fare going to Leroy and Hudson street, we were going south of 7th avenue south and I had to turn right onto Leroy, this particular block has very limited street lights and is very dark on 7th avenue south, also I was driving in right most lane, still before turning as an habit I looked into side mirror, everything seemed fine, as soon I made turn a bicyclist slammed into my car, he also had audacity to tell me don't you have fucking eyes, dude I don't have eyes on back of my head but you certainly do, don't you? I lost my tip on that fare for sure.

In another incident in East village, I was coming onto a cross street and had green light, upon reaching on intersection a bicyclist who had red light, doesn't bother to stop and thanks God I was attentive and had good breaks, otherwise It could be fatal and accident would have put me on front page of Daily News, after all only cabbies do make mistakes not otherwise around.

My question is, is city going to enforce any traffic laws to the bicyclist? because numerous times I have noticed them breaking lights in presence of the police, police seems too busy to look onto cabbies mouth if he is talking or not?

Labels: Bicyclist, Manhattan, NYPD, Traffic

It was a rainy Tuesday,work was fine in the evening but during rush hours i went back and forth to brooklyn, so could not avail the good chance in city. Later in night it turns into ghost town, no cars no fares either.



Even on cold freezing and rainy day, construction workers were still working on Madison Avenue, I have seen NYPD traffic wardens in rain coats before, but this was first experience to see some one covered in full yellow suit.



This how New York is, rain, snow, day or night we have to work, and work hard too.



These kind of scenes always sadden me, we live in a city where sixty amongst top hundred richest people of world reside, still some one have to sleep in freezing weather and rain in the street.It saddens you more when you know majority of these homeless people are war veterans.
Photo was taken in Korea Way A.K.A K-Town, W 32nd street between 5th and 6th Avenues.

Labels: Brooklyn, K-Town, NYPD, Taxi Business, Weather

So tonight top news was Tiger Woods's apology in my cab, everyone, especially ladies were keen to comment on whole thing, I did not know that there were at least 15 women were involved in this whole scandal until one female passenger made me aware of that and added "One of the girl got pregnant and aborted the child without letting Tiger know, that was a million dollar baby right there, if it was me i would have that baby come out and live happily ever after" She said. I never understand why do women go for a married man if he has money? Why is money becoming more valuable than values them self?

Work was fine as it should be on Friday night, I had good luck tonight and was able to get few extra bucks in tips than what I usually get in tips, there were few fares who paid 100% tips, but later on that night I went in guilt mode. Around 10:00 P.M., I dropped one fare in Park slope, Brooklyn, On my way back while I was stopped at red light off the Manhattan Bridge, I spotted one fare on north bound Crystie street, this is the spot, where no other cab would come. On green light I drove to the lady, who was may be in her 60's. She had some luggage across the street and wanted me to make u-turn and pick up the luggage and drop her off to the Fung Wah bus stop, which is only one block away from there. I told her I can't make a U-turn, "I can wait here until you bring your luggage to this side of the street, or hale another cab on other side of the street." I told her.
"No empty cab is coming to other side of the street" she said, "and luggage is heavy for me" she completed her sentence. I was not ready to take a chance as that is hot spot for the police, I apologized to her and kept on my way north, later on I felt guilty of not doing that for her, I should have taken the chance.

Around 11:15 I got another fare going to little west 12th street, in Meat Packing District, I took 9th street to cross the town, turned on Greenwich street from Christopher street.Most cab drivers know Greenwich street and Washington Street in meat packing district can really turn into nightmare with excessive Stop signs if they fail to pay attention, which by the way act as taxi traps for cab drivers.
As as stopped at stop sign on Bethune street, I started talking to the passenger if she wanted to go around Washington street and come back on little west 12th street or she wanted to get off on 9th avenue, upon crossing the Bethune street I noticed police car rushing from Bethune street onto Greenwich street behind me,with flashers on, my first thought was " he might be looking for way", I moved to right side of the street, police car came behind me, which assured me I got pulled over.
"Your license and rate card" officer told me as he approached my car, I gave him my license and rate card and asked "what did I do wrong, Officer?"
"you were on the phone and did not stop properly" he answered me.
"I was talking to the passenger officer and I did stop there more than 30 seconds while talking to the passenger" I told him.
Then he said, yeah you were stopped but when you came into motion there was one pedestrian on cross walk which you ignored.
End of the story, he took my license came back after one minute and did not issued any tickets, good enough.
So yeah my night went great, Thank God.

Labels: meat packing district, NYC, NYPD, Taxi Tales, Ticket, Tiger Woods