Cab drivers make me crazy! JFK to Park Slope insanity

8thandprez · June 2006

There was a healthy discussion on this board recently about the best way to get from JFK to Park Slope via car. I was, and remain, a forceful proponent of the Belt > Conduit > Atlantic > Eastern Parkway route.

Well, last night I had the joy of a midnight taxi ride from JFK to PS with a driver who claimed to have driven the route "hundreds of times" but only via freeway! I found that incredibly hard to believe, but he had no idea how to get to Conduit and we had to talk him through every turn and lane change along the way (a real let-down since I just wanted to sleep).

He claimed that the fastest route was the Van Wyck > Grand Central Pkwy > BQE > Flatbush! I nearly peed my pants laughing at this.

For fun, I plotted out the various routes that cab drivers have tried to sell me on over the years on the GMapPedometer. Here are the results:

Van Wyck > Grand Central > BQE > Flatbush
22 miles

Belt Pkwy > Gowanus Expy > 8th Ave
25 miles

Belt Pkwy > BQE > Flatbush
28 miles

Belt > Conduit > Atlantic > Eastern Parkway
12 miles

My guess is that, especially late at night in light traffic, the freeway routes could be faster. But since you pay by the mile and run the risk of getting stuck in traffic and paying by the minute while stopped, I remain dedicated to the Belt/Conduit/Atlantic/EParkway route. Long live BCAEP!

carnivore · June 2006

Subject: Re: Cab drivers make me crazy! JFK to Park Slope insanity

8thandPrez wrote: There was a healthy discussion on this board recently about the best way to get from JFK to Park Slope via car. I was, and remain, a forceful proponent of the Belt > Conduit > Atlantic > Eastern Parkway route.

Well, last night I had the joy of a midnight taxi ride from JFK to PS with a driver who claimed to have driven the route "hundreds of times" but only via freeway! I found that incredibly hard to believe, but he had no idea how to get to Conduit and we had to talk him through every turn and lane change along the way (a real let-down since I just wanted to sleep).

He claimed that the fastest route was the Van Wyck > Grand Central Pkwy > BQE > Flatbush! I nearly peed my pants laughing at this.

For fun, I plotted out the various routes that cab drivers have tried to sell me on over the years on the GMapPedometer. Here are the results:

Van Wyck > Grand Central > BQE > Flatbush
22 miles

Belt Pkwy > Gowanus Expy > 8th Ave
25 miles

Belt Pkwy > BQE > Flatbush
28 miles

Belt > Conduit > Atlantic > Eastern Parkway
12 miles

My guess is that, especially late at night in light traffic, the freeway routes could be faster. But since you pay by the mile and run the risk of getting stuck in traffic and paying by the minute while stopped, I remain dedicated to the Belt/Conduit/Atlantic/EParkway route. Long live BCAEP!

I've had multiple cabbies try to insist on their own routes, despite the clear right to pick your route in the taxi riders bill of rights. I've only had one who insisted to the point of actually ignoring my directions and taking a different route. If any of you get to that point, I recommend that you do what I did- insist that the driver turn off the meter until s/he gets back to the route you specified. My driver refused to do this, so I just noted what was on the meter and subtracted everything that came after that. Plus I didn't tip.

When I get a nice cabbie that actually follows the route I specify, I generally tip over 20%. That way, I figure the nice guys get subsidized by the assholes out there.

boygabriel · June 2006

Subject: Re: Cab drivers make me crazy! JFK to Park Slope insanity

My guess is that, especially late at night in light traffic, the freeway routes could be faster. But since you pay by the mile and run the risk of getting stuck in traffic and paying by the minute while stopped...

I feel like this is the eternal debate when giving cab directions: whither the highways of new york.

If I'm taking a cab from Manhattan back to Brooklyn I never know whether to take the FDR. If there's no traffic you can go 50 mph, if there's traffic it could take 30 mins to get onto the Brooklyn Br alone.

sigh.

anonymous · June 2006

no such thing as a Freeway in these parts, sir. Around here thems are called Highways. 8)

idlewild · June 2006

Subject: Re: Cab drivers make me crazy! JFK to Park Slope insanity

Boygabriel wrote:

My guess is that, especially late at night in light traffic, the freeway routes could be faster. But since you pay by the mile and run the risk of getting stuck in traffic and paying by the minute while stopped...
I feel like this is the eternal debate when giving cab directions: whither the highways of new york.

If I'm taking a cab from Manhattan back to Brooklyn I never know whether to take the FDR. If there's no traffic you can go 50 mph, if there's traffic it could take 30 mins to get onto the Brooklyn Br alone.

sigh.

It depends what part of Manhattan you're leaving from.

alafairnadia · June 2006

Subject: Re: Cab drivers make me crazy! JFK to Park Slope insanity

Idlewild wrote: [quote=Boygabriel]

My guess is that, especially late at night in light traffic, the freeway routes could be faster. But since you pay by the mile and run the risk of getting stuck in traffic and paying by the minute while stopped...
I feel like this is the eternal debate when giving cab directions: whither the highways of new york.

If I'm taking a cab from Manhattan back to Brooklyn I never know whether to take the FDR. If there's no traffic you can go 50 mph, if there's traffic it could take 30 mins to get onto the Brooklyn Br alone.

sigh.

It depends what part of Manhattan you're leaving from.

and what time it is! if the NYPD has their "decoy" vehicle up on the BB, you're totally fucked. it kills a lane of traffic and all bets are off. they usually put it up there around 11 p.m., though I've seen it as early as 8 p.m.

I suffer repeat offenses by cab drivers taking the FDR from fricking midtown west (my soul weeps in pain, I tell you. WEEPS) but since I'm not paying them (they're from work, billed to clients) it's not worth the battle to insist that they take the manhattan bridge and drive down 2nd ave. every single time I have to take one of these cars (multiple times per week) just to save 5 minutes. I only care when it's my cash.

snootyusher · June 2006

Going west on Atlantic Ave, where can you turn onto Eastern Pkwy? The only spot I can think of is after that overpass by the L train (I think), but there is no *legal* left turn there.

8thandprez · June 2006

snootyusher wrote: Going west on Atlantic Ave, where can you turn onto Eastern Pkwy? The only spot I can think of is after that overpass by the L train (I think), but there is no *legal* left turn there.

You can't turn directly onto Eastern Parkway from Atlantic, but if you go to the next light (Rockaway Ave) you can connect.

See the map here.

8thandprez · June 2006

Anonymous wrote: no such thing as a Freeway in these parts, sir. Around here thems are called Highways. 8)

:roll:

I'm originally from Florida, where they're called Interstates. Lived 6 yrs in Seattle, where they're Freeways.

Here, they're Expressways, Highways, Parkways and Turnpikes. I'm sticking with Freeways!

anonymous · June 2006

"free love on the free love freeway, the love is free and the freeway's long!"

someone finish this lyric for me!!

carnivore · June 2006

Anonymous wrote: "free love on the free love freeway, the love is free and the freeway's long!"

someone finish this lyric for me!!

Wikipedia wrote: I got some hot love on the hotlove highway, I ain't going home cos' my baby's gone.

snootyusher · June 2006

aw, carnivore cheated... (guest was me, apparently got logged out...)

oneasternparkway · June 2006

Just playing around on google maps, it looks like Linden Blvd to Conduit might be a good option for those in South Slope or Winsdor Terrace. Has anyone ever attempted such?

Note: I think Linden runs West-East, so would only work heading out to the airport.

idlewild · June 2006

Unless they changed the timing of the lights on Linden Blvd, forget about it. From Windsor Terrace you have to get to Caton Avenue (Caton turning into Linden after Flatbush) . Caton is one of the worst crosstown streets in Brooklyn. The traffic is heavy and the lights are retarded. After you cross onto Linden Blvd you have to deal with heavy two way traffic and more retarded lights until you get to the Kings Highway/Remsen Avenue/Linden Blvd. triangle of death. The lights are really screwed up there. You are essentially playing "beat he clock" to get to the other side of Linden. After the triangle it is smooth sailing. Especially in the service road. In fact along the way, if they are still open, you might want to pull over and have a hot dog at Coney Island Joes or pick up a bag of freshly steamed crabs at The Shack. Both of them being in the Linden Blvd service road. In short, just take Atlantic Ave or Eastern Parkway on the way there and back.

j0518 · June 2006

i've studied this topic with great care through many a cab ride home from JFK.

Conduit>Atlantic>Rockaway>Eastern Pkwy is easily the best and cheapest. i stayed quiet while a cab driver did the Van Wyck>LIE>BQE>Flatbush route and wound up paying $20 more than usual. it's horrible.

how about cabs versus calling Arecibo to pick you up? still haven't figured out which one i prefer there...

8thandprez · July 2006

Came home from JFK at 1am last night and our cabbie declined our request to take the Conduit/Atlantic/EasternPkwy route because he "doesn't like the black areas." :shock:

As an alternative, he suggested Belt>Pennsylvania>Linden>Rockaway>EasternPkwy.

It was actually quite fast, cost less then our preferred route, and, according to the GMapPedometer, is only 13 miles.

idlewild · July 2006

He doesn't like the black areas but he takes Pennsylvania to Rockaway and Linden? Kind of like an anti-semite going to Ratner's for dinner. You're lucky you didn't get caught up in Belt traffic. But hey whatever works.

meganlibrarian · July 2006

Subject: Re: Cab drivers make me crazy! JFK to Park Slope insanity

8thandPrez wrote: There was a healthy discussion on this board recently about the best way to get from JFK to Park Slope via car. I was, and remain, a forceful proponent of the Belt > Conduit > Atlantic > Eastern Parkway route.

I live on Sterling, so I'd think that I'd not even have to ask the cabbie to switch to Eastern Parkway. Is this insanity? I don't drive in NYC, so I've really no clue if asking the cabby to go Belt > Conduit > Atlantic > Vanderbilt is nuts or not. Anyone?

(I'm glad for this topic reemerging, as I need to forward directions to my sister for her cab ride from JFK to my home a few weeks hence.)

idlewild · July 2006

Taking the Belt westbound is fine as long as you get off the Conduit exit. Anything past that and you're asking to be caught in traffic from Pennsylvania to the Knapp st. exit. Then you have to deal with back up from Coney Island to the Verrazzano. Then! You have to deal with back ups on the Gowanus from the 65th street merge to 38th st and/or the Prospect Expressway. Taking the Conduit exit off the Belt then taking Conduit to Atlantic and then E.P. is the way to go. The lights aren't synched like they used too be but you will make it to PH or PS within 25-40 minutes.

anonymous · July 2006

Subject: Taxi crap

Jesus... this topic should be banned. There are two options:

1. if you don't have the nuts (nuts in the abstract) to tell a cab driver which way YOU want to go then sit back, be quiet and enjoy the ride.

2. Assuming you do have nuts but are not an anal complainer... you could just let the driver go whatever way they want... we've all come from the airport to home before... you tell the cab driver this is what I'm paying and that's that... let him driver whichever way he wants.

You don't hear the driver tell you how to increase sales, raise your kids, paint a house, or do whatever it you people on this board do for work.... therefore he shouldn't have to listen to your crap...

meganlibrarian · July 2006

Subject: Re: Taxi crap

guess wrote: Jesus... this topic should be banned. There are two options:

1. if you don't have the nuts (nuts in the abstract) to tell a cab driver which way YOU want to go then sit back, be quiet and enjoy the ride.

2. Assuming you do have nuts but are not an anal complainer... you could just let the driver go whatever way they want... we've all come from the airport to home before... you tell the cab driver this is what I'm paying and that's that... let him driver whichever way he wants.

You don't hear the driver tell you how to increase sales, raise your kids, paint a house, or do whatever it you people on this board do for work.... therefore he shouldn't have to listen to your crap...

The bulk of this topic discusses different routes for getting from JFK to the Slope area - you seem to be advocating people shutting up, paying the driver an obscene pile of cash and taking 45 minutes for a 20 minute drive. My money's too dear to me to accept that option. Lemme guess, "guess" - are you a cab/livery driver or simply made of money?

anonymous · July 2006

Subject: taxis

Hey meganlibrarian.. I not made of cash, nor do I drive a car..

I suggest telling the driver how much you intend to pay and let him do his job... I mean you don't pay for a meal based on good it was, nor do you pay for a shirt based on how much you wear it... you agree on a fair price beforehand... if one person is not down with the plan then they don't have to continue.

carnivore · July 2006

Subject: Re: taxis

another guest wrote: Hey meganlibrarian.. I not made of cash, nor do I drive a car..
I suggest telling the driver how much you intend to pay and let him do his job... I mean you don't pay for a meal based on good it was, nor do you pay for a shirt based on how much you wear it... you agree on a fair price beforehand... if one person is not down with the plan then they don't have to continue.

Have you ever been in a NYC yellow cab? See, they have these things called meters...
By driving a car with a NYC TLC medallion on the hood, these drivers are bound to observe the Taxi Riders' Bill Of Rights:

www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/passenger/taxicab_rights.shtml wrote: As a taxi rider, you have the right to:
*Direct the destination and route used;
*Travel to any destination in the five boroughs of the City of New York;
*A courteous, English-speaking driver who knows the streets in Manhattan and the
way to major destinations in other boroughs;
*A driver who knows and obeys all traffic laws;
*Air-conditioning on demand;
*A radio-free (silent) trip;
*Smoke and incense-free air;
*A clean passenger seat area;
*A clean trunk
*A driver who uses the horn only when necessary to warn of danger; and
*Refuse to tip, if the above are not complied with.

Part of the reason some people take a yellow cab in the first place is that they want to be able to choose what route to take. If the drivers don't like it, they can drive a livery cab instead of a yellow one, negotiate a price and take whatever route they want.

Cab drivers make me crazy! JFK to Park Slope insanity

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