Your Biggest Rookie Mistake as a Cabbie?
by Marian Lorraine
Our biggest magazine rookie mistake was trying to print a holographic image of Rudy Giuliani on our cover. It ended up looking like the racist Mickey Rooney caricature of the Japanese neighbor in Breakfast at Tiffany's. That day, everybody lost.
JOSEPH
Where I hailed him: East Village
Where he hails from: Upstate
Years as a cabbie: 2
Previous profession: Student
I took someone to New Jersey once, and he said he had money inside his house, but he ran through the backyard of someone else's house first and got away. I try not to pick up drunks now, unless it's a girl and she looks like she's in trouble. Better I not get paid than she gets in trouble, you know?
SAMBOUL
Where I hailed him: Soho
Where he hails from: West Africa
Years as a cabbie: 1
Previous profession: Deli clerk
Honestly? I remember my first couple of days, a customer gave me directions for a short cut but I lost them. He was so mad at me! In school they give us so many rules, like signaling. But no cab drivers really signal. The cops can't catch all the people who don't signal. It's a rookie mistake not to signal, and if you get caught it is dangerous and expensive. Also a rookie mistake is leaving too much space between you and the car in front of you. People jump in between if you do that. Every mistake can cost you money, you learn that very fast. Also, talking on the phone. Terrible mistake. Terrible fines.
Bakhbar
Where I hailed him: Grand Central
Where he hails from: Turkey
Years as a cabbie: 3
Previous profession: Hardware store clerk
I got lost a few times when I started out, and used to make dumb decisions about which route I should take. Like, I would know that some tunnel or bridge would probably be backed up with traffic, but I'd go that way anyway, take a chance on getting a big tip. I'd try to be nice and be a friend and tell them, "Don't worry, I know the deal here, I'll get you there faster than anyone else," and then everything would be jammed. It makes me look shitty and the customers get pissed because they think you're just trying to drive up the fare by putting them in traffic.
IRSHAD
Where I hailed him: East Village
Where he hails from: Bangladesh
Years as a cabbie: 15
Previous profession: Always a cabbie
If you know driving you will never make a mistake. Not if you're good. If you see an arm out, a hand, you pick that person up. If he has no money you send him to jail. But you have to pick them all up. You can't choose. A rookie mistake is thinking you can choose.
