This is just an FYI...this is not regarding all Taxi drivers...this was my personal experience . After leaving a meeting in Manhattan I decided to take a taxi back home to Bayside Queens. I was casually dressed, not jacket and tie, but definitely NOT dressed like a "hood or thug". Just Khakis pants and a nice shirt. I stood on 57th street trying to get a cab, none would stop...granted I do not usually take cabs because I normally drive. So after watching people get picked up and I was not I walked up to two gentlemen who were carrying briefcases who I overheard them talking about getting to JFK. I said to them would you mind hailing a cab for me, at first they looked at me like I was crazy, then I told them I have been here 30 minutes and not one cab would stop, keep in mind you see cabs every minute. They agreed and the cab literally cut across 2 lanes of traffic to pick them up. As the cab stopped they opened the door and said "we need to get to queens", he said fine,. As I was about to step in the driver said "im going downtown" I was like WTF....? And drove off. So there we stood... these gentleman were befuddled. So one said "try it on your own" 15 more minutes of cabs zipping by. But when they stepped out instant taxi, and they never actually hailed. They said I could ride with them and told the taxi to drop me where I wanted to go.
I explained that I am a retired Police officer and I had never felt so disgusted to live in NY than I did at that moment.
And yes I am a black man, and in my 20 yrs of service I never ever used someones skin color to paint them in a negative light... its a terrible feeling, at least I made 2 friends from Colorado...thanks guys for helping out., guess I will drive my car more and add to the city congestion.
And yes I paid for my fare and left a tip. read more