The average cabbie knows the ins and outs of NYC’s roadways better than any of us ever will. In fact, we almost always walk toward the wrong avenue when we get off the subway, which is not something we’re proud of. Every now and then, our cab drivers get a little confused, too. How do they handle it?
george
Where I hailed him: West Village
Where he hails from: Chicago
Years as a cabbie: 4
Previous profession: Actor
Depends on the circumstances. If it’s something that is easily fixed and isn’t noticeable, I won’t say anything. If it’s a big mistake, and I can’t hide that I’m lost or something, then I might have to say something. If I’ve taken someone far out of their way, I guess I might turn the meter off early or something. I wouldn’t want to pay extra for something like that, but like I said, each time might be different.
JOHN
Where I hailed him: Gramercy
Where he hails from: Queens
Years as a cabbie: 30
Previous profession: Bartender
Yeah, it happens. If it’s my fault I’ll just estimate the percentage of the ride that is my fault and then I’ll knock that off the price. But that doesn’t happen a lot. I don’t make that sort of mistake very often.
DAVID
Where I hailed him: Union Square
Where he hails from: Israel
Years as a cabbie: 1
Previous profession: Studying to be a doctor
This hasn’t happened to me. You have the radio, you have the customers. If you’re not sure about something, you have them to ask. Usually the customers don’t mind, and it’s better than having a problem.
MUHAMMED
Where I hailed him: Chelsea
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 8
Previous profession: Truck loader
When that happens is when you are coming from the airport. Sometimes also when people are drunk and they can’t give you directions, but then it is not your fault. Once I had a man that I picked up from the airport. He was not from here, but he was going to somewhere in Brooklyn, I think, and his directions were not very good. So he didn’t know, and I didn’t know the area well. So I gave him a little bit of a discount because it took more driving than it should. But usually it is not a problem.
NAME WITHHELD
Where I hailed him: East Village
Where he hails from: Senegal
Years as a cabbie: 15
Previous profession: “Oh, a lot of things”
No, that’s never happened to me. I haven’t made any mistakes like that.