Cab Etiquette Rules That Everyone Should Know

By Go City Expert

This article was originally published in www.newyork.com on July 14th, 2016 [spacer height="20px"]
New York City is the land of cabs — 13,237 at last count — and catching one is only half the battle (see our story, 6 Surprising Tips for Catching a Cab, for more on that aspect). Once you’re in and on your way, there’s a lot to know about what to expect from your ride and how to behave if things start to go wrong. Read on for our four handy tips for navigating the interior yellow cab experience with style and aplomb.
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Is it ever acceptable for a cab driver to refuse you service? Technically, the answer here is yes, but only if the trip will take more than 12 consecutive hours, which is illegal, or if the light on top of the cab is off, indicating that the cab is off duty. Otherwise, drivers are obligated by law to drive you to the destination of your choice within the five boroughs. Most New Yorkers wait until they’re safely inside a cab with the door closed before revealing their destination, especially if it’s to an outer borough. Can you insist that a driver hang up the phone if he’s in the middle of a hands-free call? It’s happened to all New Yorkers. You jump in a cab happy to be on your way, but the driver is yapping away on his mobile, blasting music or ignoring the comfort of the rider. Once you’re inside a taxi, you have rights. Too hot on a summer day with the windows rolled up? Request the driver turn on the air conditioning. Can’t hear yourself think from the cell-phone chatter? By law, drivers should not be using mobiles, smartphones or other such devices while driving (even hands-free), so don’t hesitate to ask them to get off the phone. What’s the right amount for a tip? Tipping is a way of life in New York when it comes to restaurants, hotels and taxis. In most American cities the tip threshold is lower than in the Big Apple, around 15 percent according to many surveys. But, hey, this is New York and everything is better, bigger and more expensive. That doesn’t mean you can’t tip 15 percent or whatever number you think is fair, but it’s important to remember that 20 percent is the general rule. If you pay by credit card, there are automatic gratuity settings of 20, 25 or 30 percent gratuity, although you can add any amount. If a cabbie has been incredibly helpful and friendly, it’s always good to show your appreciation, especially if he or she helps you with unwieldy luggage. If they are flat-out rude or get completely lost, tip at your own discretion.
Cab driver NYC

(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Is it acceptable for a cab driver to tell you to stop talking on your cell phone? Legally, a driver can’t make you hang up your phone, but as a rider it’s common courtesy to avoid loud conversations and rude conduct. “I think drivers overall appreciate being respected for their professionalism and the service they provide. Driving a taxi is incredibly difficult, and requires great patience and skill, and the more passengers convey their understanding of this, the more drivers value it,” says NYC TLC Commissioner/Chair David Yassky. The best advice is to treat your driver with respect, and you’ll likely earn their trust and get to your destination quickly and safely. Is it rude to pay with a credit card if the driver asks you to pay in cash? Taxi drivers love taking cash just like every other New York business, but don’t let that stop you from pulling out the plastic. All New York taxis are required to take credit cards, so if a cabbie tries to tell you the machine is broken, don’t take the bait. Another common trick is for a driver to say that he (or she) has already hit the “cash” button, but don’t let that fool you either — switching from cash to credit is as simple as pushing a button. After the transaction, ask for a receipt. That tiny piece of paper can come in handy — it has the official medallion number on it, which is important if you lose something or need to file a complaint. What do you do if a cab driver refuses to comply with your requests? As a paying passenger you have rights, including the option to get out of a cab at any time. If serious issues arise, write down the medallion number, which you can find located on the license plate, hood of the vehicle, on top of the taxi, and on your receipt. You’ll need this to submit an official complaint online at nyc.gov or by calling 311. What’s the best way to acknowledge a driver for exceptional work? A nice tip is more than enough to show your gratitude, but if you’d like you can also commend a cabbie for going above and beyond the call of duty on the same website that the city uses to track complaints.
For more New York City tips, visit www.newyork.com.

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Valentine’s Day Itinerary

February 5, 2020 Ah, Valentine’s Day. The holiday actually began as a Western Christian Feast Day in honor of two saints named Valentinus. It became associated with romantic love in the 14th century—although no one is really sure where that association came from, or why. Today, there's a lot of pressure surrounding the holiday. It needs to be perfect! Or at least, very, very good. It needs to be incredibly romantic! Yet, effortlessly casual. It needs to be quintessentially New York! Well, that part we can help with. We’ve got the Valentine’s Day itinerary that ticks all the boxes. The romance part of it is up to you. Tartine Start off your day with a lovely breakfast/brunch. The West Village has all the right vibes, and many places there actually serve breakfast, as opposed to brunch, where patrons often can't actually eat until around the time the rest of would call lunch.. You might consider heading to Tartine (their website says they thrive on love, so there you go.) Go traditional, with Eggs Benedict, or maybe French toast with homemade brioche and smoked bacon. The more adventurous might want to try the Tunisian breakfast, with poached eggs, wilted spinach, chickpeas and Sriracha, or perhaps just a latte and croissant. Mais oui! Top of the Rock After that, why not a stroll uptown? (OK, it’s February, so perhaps a very brisk stroll.) The Top of the Rock Observation Deck is the perfect place to take in New York from on high. They have indoor and outdoor viewing decks and unbelievable views of the city. On a clear day, you can see, you know. It's quintessntially New York, and a perfect part of your Valentine's Day itinerary. The Rink at Brookfield Place From there, take advantage of one of New York’s great outdoor winter activities--ice skating! (It is winter, after all.) Head to the Rink at Brookfield Place, with plenty of public skating sessions and spectacular city (and Jersey) views. Plus it’s small-ish (and thus cozy.) You can also dip inside Brookfield Place itself for refueling. Maybe Blue Ribbon Sushi? Or the For Five Café—the coffee is from a micro-roasting facility in Queens. Yes, Queens. For more of a scene, check out the rink at the Winter Village at Bryant Park. It’s louder, more crowded, and quite fun, plus you can always run into the glorious main branch of the Public Library on Fifth Avenue if you get cold. Photo courtesy The Rink at Brookfield Place Museum of Sex If you’re feeling frisky, perhaps head to the Museum of Sex as part of your Valentine's Day itinerary? The museum actually presents a wide array of exhibitions designed to look at the history, evolution, and culture of human sexuality, such as a current interactive exhibit that charts the history of the carnival. Courtesy of Museum of Sex Central Park Zoo If it’s not too cold, you can head to the Central Park Zoo. There’s nothing more romantic that gazing at a red panda. (No, seriously, there’s a high aww factor.) Make sure to watch one of the animal feedings, and pose for some pics with your faves. It’s a beautiful spot in its own right, with more than six acres and a panorama of the city spread out around it. Did you know that the zoo's precursor was first open in 1864, and was the first public zoo in New York City? It’s also appeared in countless books and films, like Madagascar. Just some trivia in case a quiet moment stretches on too long. Central Park Carousel As long as you’re in the park, why not head to the carousel? No matter your age, it’s hard not to be charmed by this iconic landmark, which has been around for almost 150 years. Four carousels have been on the site since 1871; this one was built by a Brooklyn firm in 1908. It too has appeared in literature and films, like the classic Catcher in the Rye. And at $3 (yes, $3) a ride, it’s arguably one of the city’s best deals. Romantic and thrifty—a winning combination. One if by Land, Two if By Sea If you’re lagging, and the day is waning, it’s time to briefly part and reunite for dinner. You can go old school at One if By Land, Two if By Sea, a beautiful restaurant as well known for proposals as it is for the food and the ambience. It’s got the ambience and the candlelight and the classic white tablecloths, and it's supposedly haunted by the ghost of former owner Aaron Burr. (Yes, that Aaron Burr.) They have a special Valentine’s Day menu (both lunch and dinner), with such choices as lobster gnocchi, pan-seared scallops, and Beef Wellington. We told you it was old school. Looking for something less traditional? Try the incredibly cool Llama San, known for its mix of Peruvian and Japanese food known as Nikkei. (The menu is so minimalist that it basically contains no information at all.) The food combinations are often unusual and unexpected—think aged duck over cilantro rice, with a banana slice and nasturtium leaf. Yes, that is an actual dish. And finally, wind down your evening with a nightcap. Depending on where you are, you might check out the underground speakeasy-style Little Branch in the West Village. It's too cool for a website, but you can’t go wrong with the classics, or you can try a winter-perfect Penicillin, with scotch, ginger, honey, and lemon. It’s a drink and a cough drop! Photo courtesy One if by Land, Two if by Sea With this array of choices, your Valentine’s Day itinerary has a lot going for it. And if it doesn’t work out the way you planned, well, as the ballplayers say, there’s always next year.
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The Best Way To Experience New York

This post originally appeared in World Within Her a travel blog focused on sustainable travel and a vegan lifestyle. "New York is a cosmopolitan city, full of wonder and culture, but when you’re visiting for such a short time, what’s the best way to see the city and cram in as much as you can while not spending a fortune?" THE NEW YORK PASS This is where the New York Pass came in handy. We picked them on our first day there. The pass allows you to get into 90+ major attractions, and, yes, we are talking about the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, The Met, The Whitney, along with walking tours of the different neighbourhoods. The price varies, depending on how many days you want the pass for; for one day it’s $109, if you buy the three-day pass it works out as $80 a day. I hear you say it sounds a lot, but most attractions in New York have about a $35 entrance fee. Needless to say I took full advantage of seeing the major museums; The Moma, The Met and The Guggenheim along with Top of the Rock, the Empire State Building and the New York City bus tour. These were all incredible to say the least, as you can see in some of my photos below. What I really enjoyed doing were the walking tours, which were included in the pass. I did the meatpacking district tour, which I recommend highly to learn about its history and why Samantha from Sex and the City that made it so popular. I also did the Soho, Little Italy and China town tours. It’s such a great way to find out how the city has evolved and why the neighbourhoods are so charming. TWO BOOTS Right now, let’s talk about good vegan food.We all know that when you come to New York, it’s inevitable that you will gorge on food, because the food here is SO GOOD! Pizza is high on the agenda. I went to Two Boots in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It’s a well-known pizza place among the locals; they offer vegan and non-vegan pizza and, my gosh, the vegan pizza is incredible. It didn’t feel like I was missing out and it certainly tasted better than any vegan pizza I’ve had in London. I’ll even go as far as saying better than those in Rome! I’ve been told it’s due to the New York water... The crust is like no other. BY CHLOE By Chloe is one of the most talked about vegan restaurants in New York, so naturally on our second night, we headed on over to the one on Bleeker Street. Like any hot spot in New York, it was packed with a massive queue when we arrived there were no tables available, so I do recommend going at non-peak times otherwise you will struggle to find a seat. We waited 15 minutes until two seats became available, it was great to see so many healthy options on the menu. I went for the Kale Cesar salad, which came with shiitake bacon, avocado, maple wheat croutons and a Cesar dressing. It was a generous sized portion, which was to my liking it had a lot and tasted great, the shiitake bacon tasted scrumptious and it didn’t leave me wanting the meatier bacon. My friend had the quac burger, which entailed black bean quinoa, sweet potato patty, corn salad, quac tortilla strips, chipotle, aioli with a whole grain bun. Before I could blink she had eaten it, it was bursting with flavour with a lot of juiciness to tuck into. I can certainly see why By Chloe was put on the map! B&H [caption id="attachment_988" align="alignright" width="980"] Photo Credit B&H[/caption] Photography lovers you would have heard of the B&H flagship store in Manhattan, I can only describe it as being a kid in a candy store. We were very lucky to be given the grand tour by Jonah, who showed us the four floors, packed with photography and film equipment, computers, drones and printers and a hell of a lot more! From this tour I got a really good sense of how important every customer is to B&H, Jonah talks about the different process that are in place to make a customer have a good experience, from the above the head electronic baskets and the big demo stations to the knowledgeable staff available. The staff in store do not work on commission, so are free in selling you a cheaper product if is indeed better performance wise than its more expensive neighbour. They have a used section, if you so want to head over and get yourself a bargain, I myself own a few secondhand lenses. B&H also have events, seminars and workshops in store along with offering street photography tours led by professional photographers. My friend and I were very lucky to have a private street photography tour organised by B&H, portrait and street photographer Derek Fahsbender. He took us to Brooklyn for the street tour to commence, we walked around Bushwick and Williamsburg, which is highly recommended for the street art and the trendy hipsters, along with some colourful characters. People here have more time to stop and talk unlike the hustle of Manhattan. We ended up talking to a lot of the people we photographed, getting to know them and finding out what they would recommend from a local perspective to a tourist. Below are some of the photos taken on the day. Enjoy. All Photo Credit: Nyla Sammons
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Experience the Legendary Christmas Spectacular with the New York Pass

[spacer height="20px"] The Holiday Season has finally begun and this December, we are teaming up with Radio City Music Hall to help create the perfect Christmas for some lucky New York Pass customers. Between now and December 31st, we will be giving away a package of 4 free tickets to the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City RockettesTM each week on social media. The winners will be selected randomly from New York Pass orders placed this month, to be eligible customers must: Purchase between December 1st and December 31st Be in New York City between now and January 1st and be flexible with ticket dates (dates cannot be changed) Ticket Dates: December 7th, December 13th, December 23rd and January 1st. If your order fits within these criteria, you can get lucky and win your free tickets! Winners will be drawn randomly, privately contacted and announced each week on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, so don’t forget to follow us! Terms and Conditions apply. Happy Holidays from the New York Pass!
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