New York Minute

TAXI PLEASE....
Okay, what's up with the yellow cabs? Specifically I'm talking about the ones in the car line up at LaGuardia Airport, actually Kennedy too for that matter. Let me 'splain. It seems that every time I hop in a yellow cab with a Brooklyn destination the cabbie feigns ignorance on how to get there. **boggle** At which point I have give explicit directions on how to navigate the highways/streets to get to my destination including how to get out of the taxi lane and onto the highway..

I feel ...

(1) if you (cabbie) are bold enough to drive out of Manhattan to pick up customers you should be ready and prepared to drive to anywhere in the TRI-STATE AREA -that's NY-NJ-CT for you non-new yawkers.

(2) If I have to give detailed instructions, I should be given a discounted fare. 25% seems fair.

Damned cabbies.

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DRIVING IN THE CITY

For those who don't know New York City is the most highly regulated city when it comes to traffic laws. Things that you wouldn't even thing would be illegal are in this city of mine.. e.g...

1. NO right turn on red!
2. NO talking on your cell phone while driving unless you are using a hands free device.
3. NO horn honking unless there is implicit danger.

Now rule number 1.. eh its just necessary, new yawkers barely stop at a red light, allowing turns on red would probably wipe out 5% of the pedestrian population annually.

Now rule number 2... I guess I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer because I didn't completely absorb this concept. About a year or so ago, I was driving in NYC talking on my cell phone. Realizing that the handsfree cell phone law was well in effect I put my cell phone on speaker as I enjoyed my leisurely ride into the city. Halfway through my journey, I pulled into a tollbooth way to pay the toll which was being operated by a police officer (post 911 precaution). I gave the officer a friendly smile as I handed over my toll fee, while continued to talk on the phone. He interrupted my conversation by asking me for my license and registration. Again clueless, I said to him, "oh wow, this is new. Is this some sort of new security procedure?". He then informed me that I was breaking the law by talking on my cell phone and driving. I course pointed out to him that the call was on speaker. He in return said, "Ma'am the law is that you must ride hands free of a cell phone. Your cell phone is in your hand and you are holding it up to your head". **insert shocked embarrassed expression here** Good news he let me off with a verbal warning. Lesson to be learned... a nice friendly smile can get you out of almost any jam.

Now rule number 3 really boggles my mind. How in the world can it be enforced. Don't honk unless there is imminent danger? huh? Its New York!!! Just breathing the air is dangerous. Moreover, horn honking is part of the local culture. Since this law has been in effect I must admit the streets of New York are noticeably more quiet. However, I feel like the general village idiot gets off easy with this law. I think the law needs to be amended to be something like, "NO horn honking unless there is implicit danger or the driver in front of you is clearly an a--hole". Not that I have road rage or anything. :-) But a tap of the horn is part of my driving technique...