First, for the most part taxi drivers are honest. After you get your luggage, look for the signs that say taxis. There will be a taxi line outside of every terminal at LGA with a dispatcher. Do not take any car from a person that approaches you in the terminal. A taxi will hold 4 individuals, one in the front and three in the back. The fare will be about $25 to $30 plus $4.50 toll plus tip. Where on 48 Street are you going? You should tell the taxi driver that you are going to 48 Street between X and Y Avenues.

Give the cab driver the address and ask for an estimate on cost before you accept the ride if you are going a long distance, like from the airport to a hotel. Within the city rates are standard but please don't forget to tip these very patient people who are willing to transport us from one place to another in a very busy city. Have a memorable visit!

It is a little confusing to say that taxi rates are "standard" in New York City. Except for trips to and from JFK airport, taxi rates are metered, based on distance and also on time spent stuck in traffic. The time and distance are registered on the meter, and that is what you pay, along with certain surcharges based on the time of day and any tolls incurred. Because traffic is not always the same, a trip between the same two points may cost different fares at different times of the day. Since it is the passenger who tells the driver what route to take, the driver cannot "travel unnecessarily and run up the fare" unless you let him do so, and in any case short trips are more advantageous for the driver than long ones are, so he has no incentive to do that anyway.

Be aware that while some taxi drivers in New York City are skilled and articulate chauffeurs who know all five boroughs like the backs of their hands, a truly astonishing number of cabbies in New York City are very recent immigrants who speak nearly no Englsih, who are not at all familiar with American traffic laws or practices, and who do not have the first clue where your destination is even in Manhattan if you do not give him directions at every street corner. Many, if not most, will probably not recognize a hotel or a restaurant or a theater by name. Instead, you will have to tell them the exact address AND the cross streets -- and may have to navigate for them if it is a named street that is not in the numbered grid.

Most of the information you want about cabs can probably be found at this portion of the site of the New YOrk City Taxi and Limousine Commission:

nyc.gov/html/…passenger_info.shtml

Please note that the information given you by babzbab regarding a "set rate" to LGA is entirely incorrect. There is NO set rate to LGA; LGA trips are priced by the meter. The only set rate at present is FROM JFK, although fares TO JFK will within a few days also fall under the same set rate rule. However, even after the new addition to set rates takes effect, JFK is the ONLY airport at which the set rate applies.

Sorry, mamababbo and babzbeb - your information is not correct and/or misleading.

"...and ask for an estimate on cost before you accept the ride if you are going a long distance, like from the airport to a hotel. Within the city rates are standard"

DO NOT ask for an estimate. NYC yellow taxis run on a standard meter (which runs whether the cab is moving or idling.) You pay the meter (plus a tip). That's it.

(OK, I'll admit I've negotiated with taxi drivers in odd circumstances, such as one time, after a night out, it was some ungodly hour in the A.M., an off-duty cabby was going home, saw me waving my arms in vain, and he took kindly to me. He was going to Brooklyn anyway, but to another neighborhood, so he just said to give him X amount of money. Note: THIS IS NOT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.)

Also LGA is quite "within the city". New York City consists of 5 boroughs, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx and Staten Island. Taxi meters run the same no matter where you are in NYC.

If you are planning to go to New Jersey, Connecticut or Long Island, there are rules about that.

"There is a set rate from LGA to Manhattan... sorry I don't recall what it is... maybe $35, so you don't have to worry about drivers running up the fare."

There is NO SET RATE from LGA to Manhattan. There is a set rate of $45 plus tolls from JFK to Manhattan. But, it's a pretty good bet that it'll cost you $25-35 from LGA to Manhattan.

"You may have a problem getting driver to take 4, because someone would have to sit in the front (they don't have to take 4, but eventually one will take you). There are also mini-van type yellow cabs, and I'm pretty sure they charge the same price"

You will NOT have a problem getting drivers to take 4 passengers. They have to take up to four passengers. It's your problem if you don't like sitting up front. If the driver has stuff/papers on the front passengers seat, he'll move them. If he doesn't, politely ask him to do so. Taxis can NOT take 5 passengers.

As was stated, all official yellow NYC taxis run on standard meters, so it doesn't matter if it's a minivan or sedan.

I'll be right back - there was a previous post on how to hail a cab.

How to get a cab:

"I was going to get a NYC yellow cab at the airport, but the line seemed so long! Then, a nice-looking man offered me a ride in a luxury Lincoln Town Car! Wow! Should I go take a ride with this guy?"

NO. Unless you really want to be "taken for a ride", take ONLY yellow NYC cabs at the airports - unless you have reserved a private car service in advance, such as Dial 7, Elite or Carmel Limo.

Follow the airport signs to the taxi stand. These lines move farily quickly. The dispatcher will ask you where you are going, how much luggage, etc. She or he will give you a receipt explaining taxi rules and rates and direct you to the next cab available.

"I wanted to take a certain street, but the cabby said that wasn't a good idea. Is this allowed? Am I getting ripped off?"

Cabbies typically know the traffic situations and "back routes" better than anyone. Cabbies listen to radio traffic reports and talk to each other on the phone all day, so they're probably correct.

Many cabbies will check in and ask you if you're ok with a diffferent route. I usually say "go for it" if I don't have any reason to object.

However, you may insist on specific routes and the cabby is supposed to follow your instructions. For example, from LGA to Manhattan, the Queensborough Bridge has no tolls and offers a great view of the skyline. The Tirborough Bridge or Queens-Midtown Tunnel (both with tolls) might in fact bring you closer to your desitination, but if you want the Queensborough Bridge, say so.

The first time a cabby took me on industiral Greenpoint Avenue as a shortcut from Brooklyn to Queens, it happened to be about 2 A.M. and I thought I was about to become the next serial-killer victim on the next morning's news. Wow, was I wrong. That is the fastest, zippiest way to avoid the BQE traffic I have ever seen!

"How do you hail a cab on the street? Do cabs really stop in front of you when you put your hand up, like they do in the movies?"

Yes.

Stand on the curb and raise your arm, as if you want a classroom teacher to call on you. An open taxi will pull up to you.

"Can taxis pick up more people once I'm in the car?"

No.

They can do this in other cities, such as Washington D.C., (which I find really irritating) but not NYC.

"I've been standing on the corner forever and all the taxis are zipping past me! How can I tell if a taxi is available?"

Look for the roof light.

 

If the CENTER roof light with the taxi LICENSE NUMBER is ON, the taxi is available.

If the outer OFF DUTY roof lights are on, the taxi is off duty. Put your arm down and wait for the next one. ( If you're going to where the driver's garage or home is, you might have some luck.)

If ALL the roof lights are OFF, the taxi is occupied. Put your arm down and wait for the next one.

"Can I hail a swanky limo or Lincoln Town Car from the street? Since I've been standing here in front of this dance club, Town Cars are trawling by asking if I need a ride."

No. It is illegal to hail limos and livery cabs on the street. People do it all the time, but it is illegal. You can only hail yellow taxis.

If you want the fancy ride, call a car service. Restaurants, bars, clubs, etc, usually have car service phone numbers on hand.

Also, I think it goes without saying you shouldn't get into a car you didn't ask for, as nyc10025 already said.

"A cab pulled up to me and asked where I was going? I told him, and he said, No, and sped off. What nerve!"

When a cab stops for you, get in, greet the cabby, shut the door and then tell the driver where you are going. An on-duty cab driver has a legal duty to take you wherever you request.

"How come I need to know the intersections of where I want to go? Shouldn't cabbies know addresses and all the hotels in NYC?"

You don't need to know the intersections, but it will make life easier.

Also, you'll have a better trip no matter where you travel if you study a street map before you visit somewhere, particularly a big city. Clearly we all use the web and internet (we're reading this forum!). Therefore, check out some websites that have maps of NYC.

http://maps.yahoo.com/

http://maps.google.com/

"Hey, that lady just cut in front of me a stole my cab! What should I do?"

Deck her. ;o)

"Hey, that lady just cut in front of me a stole my cab! What should I do?"

Deck her. ;o)

Teehee, had to laugh at that one! :-)

Thanks everyone for the advice.

I was actually wrong about the adress. It is 248 E 50th. So if I tell the cabby this, he/she should be able to locate it?

I know a little about Manhattan (it's a grid and pretty easy to understand), but I don't think enough to navigate. We are not staying in a hotel, but an apartment.

Our flight lands at 9AM, and we are checking one bag. Do you think morning rush will be over by then and that the QB bridge will be better? Or with address given, use one of the toll bridges?

Thanks again in advance-THIS (getting to Manhattan) is the hardest part of the entire trip for me!

susapad - 248 E. 50th between what and what avenue, plus the name of the hotel would be helpful.

DO NOT FORGET to give the cross streets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As mentioned, most drivers are honest, so fare run up should not be a problem.

Poppa