Getting a Taxi/Cab in New York City?

[Adam]

Being a tourist - is it how it works in the movies - you just stick your hand out by a busy road and a yellow cab will stop for you?

[soccerref]

Yes, New York cabbies are crazy.......they'll do ANYTHING to pick up a fare.

Just stick out your hand and a cab will stop for you.

Good luck and happy travels!

[Stuart]

Yep. Exactly.

[soothsayer]

do like marilyn monroe did, lift up a skirt show some leg, if you want better results.

[gopher646]

Yep, pretty much. Whatever you do, you don't need to shout out "TAXI!" That's only in the movies and only tourists do that.

There is a light on top that will tell you if it's in service or not. Just get out in the street and wave your hand out, one of them will stop.

[Raven]

Just wave your hand.

110

[farfel]

yes, but you still have to "read" the cab before you stick your hand out. there is a lighted sign that sits on top of the roof of the cab that tells you if the cab is available. the sign is made up of the cab's 4-digit ID with smaller words on either side of it saying "OFF DUTY".

if you see just the 4 digits lit up, then the cab is available for hire and just go flag it down.

if you see the 4 digits AND the "off duty", lit up, then, he/she is off duty, not picking anyone up. this could be a shift change, going home, back to the garage, getting lunch, gas, etc.

if you see the sign not lit up at all, then the cab is already carrying a fare.

having said all that, this really does hold true 90% of the time, meaning that it wouldn't hurt you anyway to try to get whatever cab you see. cabs may occasionally change their status at random. the lit numbers are pretty obvious and can be seen a few blocks in advance, and can give you a general feeling of how busy the cabbies might be.

[VinnyBrooklyn]

If there is a hotel nearby go to the parking attendant and he will fetch you a cab. Throw him a buck and you have a cab. Most cabs hang out at hotels just for this purpose.