How to outmaneuver your competitors on the curb.
If you’re the second cab-needing party to the corner and don’t want to simply wait, it’s entirely acceptable to cross the street (as long as it’s two-way). Asking about sharing a ride is a rarely used but effective technique.
And if your predecessors aren’t pregnant, carrying luggage, or otherwise visibly mobility-limited, walking against the flow of traffic to gain a positional advantage is permissible under the “it’s a jungle out there” ethos—but you must walk at least a block before putting your hand back up; otherwise, the other group is within its rights to chase you down, call you a jackass, and attempt to jump in the cab in front of you.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
L. Will 10.08.08 at 12:49 pm
As a cab driver, when I see 2 different people waiting for a cab, I don’t pick up the first one I see. I pick up the person who looks like they’re going somewhere convenient for me. If they have luggage and it’s 4:30 pm I’ll pass them by and even go an extra block to avoid them. It’s all about the money.
Gil Avineri 10.13.08 at 3:02 pm
As a cab driver who is dedicated to social justice, I’ll pick up the person who looks like they would have a hard time hailing a cab, or truly need one. Examples: the elderly, minorities, blue collars, etc.
JQ Public 10.21.08 at 4:47 pm
You should run over the guys who steal cabs from people. They don’t belong in our society anyway.