10/31/2007:

Taxi BS

I was just thinking about the ludicrous selections that the cabbies make at the “one fare per cab” taxi stand in downtown Hoboken.

You know how they ask you “where are you going?”, and you might say “5th and Adams”, but the last person that got in was going to 14th & Hudson, and they won’t take you? They like to keep the fares in similar areas (which is understandable if you want to be efficient). But that pisses customers off, doesn’t it? Especially since by law, they’re not supposed to do that.

However, here’s an idea I suggest all taxi customers start implementing in the meantime to see how it affects taxi stand behavior:

Change your destination mid-ride
Pay careful attention to what the previous person said. For example, if the last person that got into the cab said “14th & Hudson” (but you really want to go to 5th & Adams), just make up an address that’s nearby. For example, you’d say “13th & Bloom”. He’ll let you in the cab. Then when you’re a few blocks from the PATH, remind the driver you meant to say 5th & Adams. He cannot “kick you out” of the cab. That is illegal. He’ll probably drop you off first. Or worst case scenario, he’ll drop you off last. But that won’t be much of a big deal if it’s 10 degrees outside and you’re freezing cold.

If the city doesn’t enforce the “one fare per cab” rule, and the selective fare acceptance pisses you off, then follow my suggestions. Uptown customers might have a longer ride if they try to bum-rush a downtown cab.

Either way, no customer should be refused based on their destination. So if you hate getting dissed by a cab, then play them back they way they’ve played you for countless years.

Hoboken Taxi

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