This is the third part to the crazy evening in the last two posts. In NYC there are no shortage of crazy cab stories. I have plenty. I will have plenty more as long as I continue to live in this city. This is just one...
So it was taking Jamie, Jamie's friend & I a really long time to catch a cab. Even after all the helpful banter from the random bipolar/psychopath. Her friend finally came through and secured a cab. Catching a cab at 3 am in Manhattan, especially somewhere popular on a Friday or Saturday night is like trying to catch a fish without bait or a pole and in the dark. (Crap my Midwestern roots just poked through.)
When we got into the cab, we informed the driver that there would be 2 stops (totally a common thing in NYC) and the cab driver informed us that he couldn't do that. We were like well there are still 2 stops. The cab driver started going on and on about how he had to finish his shift by a specific time or he would be fined. I have no idea if this is true or not. We tell him that the first stop is on the way to the second stop and it won't take any extra time. He argues something about not being able to turn left on 1st ave. So we tell him he doesn't haven't to turn left because he can just drop Jamie and her friend off at 1st and keep going straight to FDR to go uptown. Hell if it will save you from being fined, Mr. Cab Driver, we don't even need to stop. Let's just open the door and push them out. Save even more time. Since you are being SOOOOOO nice.
So problem solved, right?
Ha! This entire exchange was happening while the cab was careening between lanes, doing wheelies on turns, etc. It was some very reckless driving, near accidents, and all while he is arguing with us and telling us how he is going to be fined. He relentlessly let us know how he was going to get in trouble. Then when he dropped Jamie and her friend off (or like I said they didn't get the door shut before he peeled off again), he was barreling down the Upper East Side along the FDR bitching the whole way.
Then he says something to me to the affect of asking me if I could be dropped off at 96th St, which is a good 8 blocks from where I asked to be dropped off at. I was texting Jamie the whole time and told her what he was asking. She told me to tell him that it was illegal to drop someone off other than where they were asking and if he didn't comply that we had his medallion number and would report him. So I repeated this to him and he just shook his head and grumbled some more. I am wearing heels and not comfortable ones either!
Now here is a moment of weakness for me. This entire hellish car ride in my head I was indignantly saying, "This guy is definitely not getting a tip from me!" I was adamant in my determination BUT then I started to feel bad about the possibility that we could have been getting him in trouble and at least he was nice enough to pick us up?!?!
I know, I know. Still a naive Midwesterner at times and sometimes I am a complete sucker... I now realize: NO, it was his job to pick us up. When he picked us up, he was agreeing to take us where we wanted to go. PERIOD. We were paying him for a service and he was ungrateful, argumentative, condescending and reckless.
Alas, I did tip him only $1 but I promise to stand my ground next time.
You live and learn, kids.
-S
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