? for experienced New Yorkers....

[gecko]

What are some helpful tips for hailing a cab in NYC...? Any tips for getting noticed in the sea of cab hunters during peak times...?

Also, is there a way of knowing which ones coming down the street are occupied or unavailable...?

 

[next2naus]

why is this so hard for people. the light on the roof has three options, if its all lit: he's off duty. if the sides are lit and not the middle: he's got a far. if the middle is lit: he's available

get in the street like a local, know where you want to go by address and cross street.

look for other people hailing a cab, then proceed a half or whole block ahead of them and take the cab they were gonna hail.

get your streetside arm up in the air and make sure he seeing you, flail it around if you need to, make that 40yards of eye contact, point. and don't yell "taxi" unless you really have too.

 

[Benson32]

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[Mistadobalina]

Not anything more to add to Next's.

If you're desperate and need one, you can head into the side exit of a hotel and walk out the front and there'll be a cab guy working for the hotel that'll flag you down one. This works great at the downtown hilton. tip him a couple of bucks.

 

[evil horn]

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[midtown]

I'll throw in a few others.

Look for people being dropped off especially half way down the block on the street. You'll see an occupied (dark) turn on.

About 10% of the time an "off duty" cab will pull over and if you are heading his way he'll take you.

Note if you have a drunk friend heading to queens after you get dropped in midtown and the cabbie says he can't take her to queens ask him for his license number and tell him you are going to call the TLC. He'll take her.