So, you’ve booked a vacation for the family in New York City and
you’ve decided your main sources of transportation will be walking
and taking the taxi. Taking the taxi to transport you and your
loved ones seems simple enough, but there are certain and efficient
ways to do things so that you can quickly get a taxi and quickly
and safely reach your destination.
Knowing Which Cabs are Available
If you’re in a pretty busy area, it may be hard for tourists to
tell which taxis are vacant and which ones aren’t. An easy way to
tell if a taxi is vacant is by looking at the sign on top of the
taxi. If the numbers on the sign are illuminated, the taxi is
vacant. If the sign’s numbers aren’t lit up, the taxi driver is
already transporting people.
Hailing the Cab
Simply standing on the curb and staring a taxi driver down will
not cause him to stop. You must stand at the curb and hold your arm
straight outwards and pointing up. This is the universal sign
language for taxi drivers to pick you up.
Speak Clearly and Loudly
When you’re telling the taxi driver about your destination,
speak clearly. You don’t want to end up wasting money on travelling
to a place that the taxi driver thought you meant. Be extremely
clear and well-heard about where you’re going. This also helps him
to hear you over the traffic and from the inside of the taxi.
Don’t Smoke in the Taxi
Even though it may be tempting to smoke if you are a smoker,
it’s strictly against the law. You’ll get a ticket if the taxi is
stopped by the police. It’s also impolite.
Watch the Meter
It’s important to watch the meter so that you can cover the cost
of the ride. It’s also important to make sure that the meter is
clicking over every 4 or 5 blocks or so. If it clicks any faster or
more frequently, that’s illegal.
Take the Receipt
The receipt will have your taxi number on it as well as a number
to all in the case that you have to report anything. This includes
items that may have been left in the taxi.
Exiting the Cab
Exit the cab on the side closest to the sidewalk. This minimizes
risk of injury. It’s not required that you tip the driver, but if
you feel that you should, it doesn’t hurt.
