What’s the Best Outer Borough For A Fare?
by Brian Diedrick
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In light of recent proposals to set up official yellow-cab taxi stands in Queens and Brooklyn, we thought we’d see what the drivers themselves think of outer-borough fares. (It’s like a cabbie-generated map of gentrification!)
Saeed
Where I hailed him: Midtown East
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 8
Previous profession: Cashier
One of the best is Williamsburg. The other one is Park Slope — down to Flatbush and around Fourth Avenue. Things have really picked up this year. Every day this year it gets easier and easier to pick up fares in these areas. A lot of new bars and restaurants are opening and people don’t have to go into Manhattan — they just want to
stay in their own neighborhoods.
Harold
Where I hailed him: Williamsburg
Where he hails from: Bangladesh
Years as a cabbie: 3
Previous profession: Baggage screener
The best area is Fifth, Sixth Avenue down in Park Slope and Clinton and Henry Streets. The second best area is Queens Boulevard. The third would be Bedford Avenue. The amount of fares in the outer boroughs is definitely increasing. Before it was hard to get a fare in the boroughs. Now if we wait for one or two minutes we can easily get a fare.
Wayne
Where I hailed him: Greenpoint
Where he hails from: Queens
Years as a cabbie: 2
Previous profession: City worker
Williamsburg and Greenpoint are good. When I would take a fare from the city into Brooklyn I used to either just go right back into the city or over to one of the airports. Now, though, I’ll just go over the Williamsburg Bridge and I can almost always pick up someone heading into the city. I start up in Greenpoint and head down Driggs down to North 7th or so and then turn over onto Bedford. That’s my route.
Hector
Where I hailed him: Chelsea
Where he hails from: Dominican Republic
Years as a cabbie: 8
Previous profession: Minister
Anywhere in Queens is ok. In Queens, I can usually find a fare. Astoria, Long Island City, places like that are good for me. Brooklyn — not so much. Sometimes I get a little angry if someone asks to go to Brooklyn. You’re ok though.
Hanif
Where I hailed him: Greenwich Village
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 4
Previous profession: Student
Staten Island! No. Not really... No outer borough is good for picking up fares really. It’s too unpredictable. You never know exactly where to go, and sometimes you pick up people who want to go somewhere in the same borough. Yes, like you pick up someone in Williamsburg and they want to go to Greenpoint. You make $6 when you wanted to make $25, but what can you do?
Akash
Where I hailed him: West Village
Where he hails from: India
Years as a cabbie: 2
Previous profession: Retailer
You know, Brooklyn Heights in the morning is actually pretty good. I’ll take a fare over the bridge and I’ll usually get someone coming in on the way back. After the morning — forget about it. It’s dead. Otherwise, Long Island City is actually the best place for me to bring a fare back to Manhattan. It seems like I always get someone when I’m over there. You wouldn’t think it, right?
