Yes, I had a small puppy with me. The cab stopped and then sped off as I tried to get in and sit down. He screamed “No Dog. No Dog.”

I wanted to kick his door in as he almost made me fall down as I was almost in the car.

Of course its frustrating for folks who want a cabride to the outer boroughs. But, putting myself in a cabbie’s shoes, they have good reasons for refusing rides:
1 – first, they ARE out to make a living. First they have to pay the cab-owner, and then after that’s paid, the rest of the fares are theirs (as well as the government’s.) So taking someone OUT to the other boroughs, brings the likelihood that coming BACK to Manhattan means fewer pickups – less income.
2 – There are risks going to outer boroughs – refusal to pay for the ride, and worse – cabbies become crime victims – even shot to death.
3 – Unfortunately, more often blacks are refused rides because its mostly blacks that have killed cabbies.
Bottom line – if assured income, and assured safety were guaranteed, more folks would be driven to the outer boroughs.

If you are black an live in Brooklyn as I do, you just try not to let it get to you! It has been like that for years and it has not changed. The only thing that has is the birth place of the drivers.

Many a time I had been refused a ride to Brookyn from Manhattan. Cabbies need to know NYC and that includes the outer boroughs. Especially since most of them live there anyway and not in Manhattan. I offer to tell the cabbies the way if they don’t know how to get to my destination.

Funny,now some whites are seeing what blacks go through.They still don’t really get it though! Now it’s an issue because they can’t get to Bklyn or the Bronx’s.White’s never had to go too those area’s till they found out Blacks are payin less rent in those area’s.NOW IT”S Sooooo COOL to say they live there.

I never ask i just get in and once i am inside i tell them where to go. If they say they don’t know how to get there i guide them.

Black cab driver and white customer. Could’nt possibly be discrimination, only white people are guilty of that.
The class of taxi drivers in this city is disgusting. They are rude, vulger, unkept and have no fear in telling a customer to beat it (and thats being mild).
When I had taken the test for a hack license years ago you had to know your way around and carry a map which is only plausible for a driver.
Like everything else in this city, it is all going to hell./

Yes i have been refused many times, especially at nights.

I moved from Manhattan to Long Island City and I thought it wouldn’t be a problem for the taxi to drive me to LIC…and all they have to do is go across the Queens Bridge and I’m home.

This article does NOT give us this info: How do we file a complaint? What information do I need from the taxi to file a complaint? (without an altercation with the driver of course).

this is news? im a black man in new york this hAS BEEN HAPPENIng all my lifde

Was in Brooklyn last weekend and got turned down by 3 consecutive cabbies not wanting to bring me to another Bklyn destination (BAM). And it was close to the Manhattan Bridge, so was on their way back to the city!

PEOPLE! If these cabbies don’t want to do their job, remember the numbers on the cab and CALL 3-1-1!

If a cab has his Off Duty lights on and is looking for a fare you should report them to 311.

hey uptown punisher, why don’t you learn how to write in english before you start accusing people of being illegal immigrants

It’s been going on for decades…end the government monoploy..medallions and things will change..

I was once with my 70 year-old mother (who has limited mobility w/ Parkinsons disease) on a Thursday night. We had just gotten out of a play in mid-town and it was raining. NO CAB…out of probably 20 or so would take us back to Brooklyn. My poor mother had to ride the D train all the way home. Although we made it I felt like slapping each driver that said no and sped off…Jerks

i don’t know how many times i was refused a ride, while waiting outside grand central station. generally i need to go to brooklyn, and the drivers refuse point blank. it’s been mentioned that because i dress like an orthodox jew (long sleeves, longer skirts… that the mostly moslem drivers feel that they’re allowed to discriminate.

the situration is even worse every time obama comes to town (why can’t he just stay in washinton, where he belongs, and get some work done??), and when the un goes into session. those times it’s next to impossible to get a cabby willing to go to an outer boro. they’ve even told me that they don’t worry about enforcement, they view it as a joke. if the city were really serious about enforcing taxi regs, then they would have inspectors out, on the streets, every day… and they’d go to spots like grand central and the port authority… and request outer boro stops. but, they don’t. the inspectors, such as they are, stay in their cushy little offices, and never hit the streets, so they never have to actually see the violations and violators.

Although I hate current nyc taxi drivers, I don’t blame them for not wanting to go to a dangerous area of NY ! It’s a jungle out there !

Hate those TV in the Yellow Cabs, it distracts the driver and annoys riders. Taxi drivers work like slave mules and make money for City, TLC, NYPD, Taxi Garages, Manhattan Gas Stations and everyone at the administrative level of Taxi business takes the money. High unemployment rate in the City and US, many try being taxi drivers, but soon realize that they are working like slave mules in dangerous/stressful environment without any employment Benefits, working/living 12 hours shifts in a cab for 6 or 7 days. Try being cab driver, then you will have respect for those people. Every month Some smart people try to make working yellow Mule’s life harder.

@Rosemary

this has nothing to do with knowing manhattan inside and out. its about crossing bridges and going to other neighborhoods late at night when MTA has decided that it no longer wants to take anyone anywhere anymore. i have heard plenty of stories of cabs not driving people to the bronx (where i live) and one driver specifically said it was because he would not get a fair back. this is why they stick to manhattan because if you are driving to one part most likely someone wants a ride in the opposite direction

I always have a problem when i want to go to Brooklyn from Manhattan. If i tell the driver before hand, 9 times out of ten they say no and drive off. Some off them will not even open their doors until you tell them your destination. It is quite annoying and discouraging.

OMG – this has been happening for years. What New Yorkers need to do is step inside the cab and request to be driven to your destination. I especially feel bad for the tourists – it makes NY look bad because of there attitude and not wanting to drive here or there.

NY cab drivers need to make it a point to know Manhattan inside and out.

Well if cabbies must pick up all passengers, then universities should accept all applicants! Country clubs should admit all applicants! Right is right! Cab drivers are just small business people, yet the authorities never go after the big guys, the ones who have historically discriminated against people of color, the poor and others!

If you don’t want to go out of Manhattan get another job. Nuff said.

why should anyone be surprised with all the arrogant foreigners driving cabs these days its no wonder why they pick and choose where there willing to go……I say boycott the taxis and use mass transit until they learn the job and improve their manners………..

This is one of the silliest things I’ve heard of. A taxi driver should be able to refuse a ride if he does not stand to make enough money or believes his safety is at risk. I bet you if fares were raised to go to the outer boroughs, it would not be a problem. Safety is also important. If the mayor (or police, for that matter) is not willing to go to an known unsafe community alone, then why should a cabbie?

Cabbies make an average of $10-12/hour and are independent businessmen. They should be able to refuse a fare which is not economically feasible and which endangers their safety.

I sometime feel cabbies are treated like crap because they belong to the lower rungs of society.