New York City By Taxi

Only government-licensed yellow taxis are permitted by law to pick up passengers without previous arrangement. Let’s Go does not recommend hiring a non-yellow gypsy cab. A cab is on duty if the light on the roof is lit; if it is dark, the cab is already taken. If you can’t find taxis on the street, call a radio-dispatched cab (see Practical Information, for phone numbers). Keep in mind that taxis allow a strict maximum of four passengers per car.

The meter starts at $2.50 and clicks 40¢ for each one-fifth of a mile, or 20¢ per minute when the cab is not moving. A 50¢ night surcharge is in effect between 8pm and 6am. Bridge or tunnel tolls will be added to the total charge, and drivers might ask that you pay the tolls as you go through them. Cabbies also expect a 15-20% tip. Some drivers may illegally try to show the visitor the “scenic route”; glance at a street map before embarking to avoid being taken for a ride. Furthermore, an on-duty cab driver must take you to any destination within the five boroughs of New York City, no matter how far afield it might be.

Before you leave the cab, ask for a receipt, which will have the taxi’s identification number (either its meter number or its medallion). You need this number to trace lost articles or to make a complaint to the Taxi Commission (from New York ☎311, from outside 212-NEW-YORK; www.nyc.gov).