[aitchem]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Funny that most people are commenting on the NY taxi cabs

You never know which direction a thread is going to go.

I was actually going to comment on that as well. I lived in NYC for a few years, and seldom took cabs, but the few times I did, they seemed fine.

I think I've taken more cabs in Vegas though, and every single one of them has been a character, to say the least.

Basically, I'd rather take a NYC cab than a Vegas cab, if I were to have my choice

When I lived in NYC I would only take a checker cab. Are they still around?

[Displaced Brooklynite]

Actually Nissan has the new contract for the NYC Taxi cabs:

Nissan Wins NYC Taxi Of Tomorrow Contract - PSFK

[Tiger Beer]

Shifting this conversation to Orlando though...

Not that I know Orlando at all, as I've only been there once, and it was just several hours of driving around.

One thing I certainly noticed is that despite Orlando having a reputation of not having a downtown, it seems that it certainly does have one. Technically Vegas has a downtown as well, but the Orlando one is more appealing on a comparison basis.

That being said, I don't think anyone would be moving to either city specifically because of their downtowns though - at least I don't think so.

[Swigchow]

Originally Posted by DavieJ89

Im going to write how I truly feel about Las Vegas now, no homesickness will be injected into this post

Overall I think Las Vegas is a very good place to live, to set this post on a positive note, I'll point out all the things I like about Las Vegas

-The sunny weather (who could complain about that?)

-The grocery store choices. So much variety here, as opposed to FL which is either Publix or Walmart

-The easy navigation around town. The grid system is great, makes the city very easy to navigate. What has thrown me a few times is that a lot of roads cut off in certain places and continue on somewhere else (ex. Buffalo ending at Washburn Road, continues further north at Deer Springs)

-The beautiful mountains. After a year they still captivate my attention.

-The affordable cost of living. Makes it fairly easy to move here and "make it" if you have a job

-The public parks. I'm impressed with the amount of beautiful parks there are. Sunset, Lone Mountain, and Centennial Hills Parks all come to mind

-The availability of jobs. Its not as hard to find a job here as much as people say (look at how many I've had since moving here)

-The outer suburbs. Anywhere newer in Vegas are the best and most beautiful neighborhoods. Summerlin, CH, and Aliante being my faves

-The variety of radio stations

-The casinos, always great to place a bet here or there, then have dinner and then catch a movie all in one place Red Rock is my favorite

-The higher education system. At least when it comes to CSN, I've heard nothing but good things

Now for the Cons of Vegas

-The economy is too dependent on tourism, making LV more susceptible to recession, and is usually hit harder than other cities

-The public ed system. I was never a student in CCSD but if what I hear is true (like the 41% grad rate in HS) than they need to fix things fast

-The traffic congestion. If its not an accident, its road construction, and if its not that its the interminably long red lights (Flamingo and Maryland)

-Beggars, prostitutes, drunkards, addicts and other general dregs of society, every city has them, but the population of them seems much higher here than other places

-The taxi drivers. Just as bad as the ones in New York

-The poverty rate here. I know its most likely because of the economy, but its really sad. I see so many single mothers pushing strollers, and so many food stamps and wic users when Im in line at Vons

-The ghetto neighborhoods. There's so many of them out here, it seems like you have to live on the outer suburbs in order to live in a good safe neighborhood. (always remember to look for good neighborhoods north of Craig, West of Rainbow, or south of Russell)

-The job market. Even though I listed Jobs as a pro, its a double edged sword. The problem isnt finding a job, the problem is finding a stable one that pays enough, or finding 2 PT jobs that are willing to be flexible with your schedule

That gives me a total of 11 pros and 8 cons IMO

Writing up a positive and negative list is a good ideal. However, after a year you should have an overall feeling of your life in Las Vegas. That "gestalt" may override the number of pros and cons and really should be the basis of future moving decisions.

Btw, I am impressed with your brazenness in moving across country at such a young age. Good Luck to you!

[Robustus]

I agree that the Taxi drivers here are bad, but for a different reason. They seem extremely timid to me, and like they're often not paying attention; like they're just out for a lazy drive, and don't care if they could be getting to their destination 90 seconds faster if they just put in some effort... Coming from NYC, I'm amazed every time I'm in a slow line of traffic only to find out that the offender is some taxi-cab merely going the speed limit. I expect cabbies to push the tolerance of the law and their vehicles. I just don't know what to expect from taxi drivers around here. While you definitely have to be more on-point and expend far more effort driving in Manhattan/Brooklyn/LI, I certainly prefer it.

To the other comparative points:
Again, traffic in Vegas seems trivial to me. I guess it's perspective (though Davie - iirc, you spent time on rt84 between Hartford and Waterbury CT. I hate that road too).

There are far more "ghetto" neighborhoods (on a % basis) for huge spans of NYC and any Northern NJ city (or Hartford and Waterbury CT, adjusting for size, for that matter).

[dynimagelv]

Originally Posted by Robustus

Coming from NYC, I'm amazed every time I'm in a slow line of traffic only to find out that the offender is some taxi-cab merely going the speed limit. I expect cabbies to push the tolerance of the law and their vehicles. I just don't know what to expect from taxi drivers around here. While you definitely have to be more on-point and expend far more effort driving in Manhattan/Brooklyn/LI, I certainly prefer it.

.

There is NO Land or WORLD or FLAGS that can compare with a NYC Cab on a run....absolutely thrilling

[las vegas drunk]

Originally Posted by DavieJ89

Taxis on and around the strip make driving hell for me. So two can play this game, I drive the same way they do whenever I see one. I'll cut them off, Ill slam on my brakes for no reason, just to see how they like it (evil face)

What gets me even more is ever since gas prices went way up I see a LOT of mopeds around. People use these little toy scooters as if they're an actual mode of transportation most of these people wont go more than 35 mph on their scooters (which impedes traffic), and they selfishly use parking spaces for cars. I'm sorry but a tiny little 150cc moped in a car space is just plain selfish. Park your little toy on the curb and tie it to the bike rack where it belongs! And stay off the roads, didn't their mothers ever tell them to keep their toys in the yard

I swear the next moped I see in a parking space built for a car I'm going to move that moped out of the way and take that space

Wow Davie, what happened to you? You used to be such a nice guy.

[justthe2ofus]

Originally Posted by DavieJ89

What gets me even more is ever since gas prices went way up I see a LOT of mopeds around. People use these little toy scooters as if they're an actual mode of transportation most of these people wont go more than 35 mph on their scooters (which impedes traffic), and they selfishly use parking spaces for cars. I'm sorry but a tiny little 150cc moped in a car space is just plain selfish. Park your little toy on the curb and tie it to the bike rack where it belongs! And stay off the roads, didn't their mothers ever tell them to keep their toys in the yard

I swear the next moped I see in a parking space built for a car I'm going to move that moped out of the way and take that space

Whoa, dude. Know thy enemy

Nevada laws state that if a scooter is 50cc or less, there is no need for a motorcycle endorsement, a helmet, no license plate, no insurance
AS LONG AS the driver doesn't exceed 30 MPH.

Also, we're almost 90% sure that parking on the sidewalk gets you a ticket. definitely if there's a plate on it.

From what we've seen, and even in Miami Beach, where we had 125cc Yamaha, there are no scooter parking zones, and believe you me, they'd
get used if they were offered. The only city I know of that has scooter parking is Key West.

Even as a former scooter owner, we view 50cc's with skepticism, and extreme caution. Kind of like a scorpion. You're better off staying clear.

[Tiger Beer]

Also Davie, just briefly viewing your Orlando thread....you had 5 car break-ins?

[Danknee]

Originally Posted by DavieJ89

What gets me even more is ever since gas prices went way up I see a LOT of mopeds around. People use these little toy scooters as if they're an actual mode of transportation most of these people wont go more than 35 mph on their scooters (which impedes traffic), and they selfishly use parking spaces for cars. I'm sorry but a tiny little 150cc moped in a car space is just plain selfish. Park your little toy on the curb and tie it to the bike rack where it belongs! And stay off the roads, didn't their mothers ever tell them to keep their toys in the yard

I swear the next moped I see in a parking space built for a car I'm going to move that moped out of the way and take that space

Most people parked in a "car space" drove there alone, what is the difference between that and a single person on a scooter?

I prefer sport bikes personally (BMW 1000rr, yes please), but a scooter has as much a right to occupy a spot as a single driver, gas guzzling, SUV does.