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No longer a requirement to have passed a English proficiency exam to obtain your NYC Hack license to drive a cab. This sounds dangerous to me. I am all for equal oppurtunity but is it just me this sounds like trouble?
In London, TFL, (Transport for London), wants to make it a legal requirement that private hire drivers speak English, Uber are fighting it in the courts.
Probable reason being that they take on anyone who's just stepped off the boat, Uber are not interested in whether you can communicate with the slave at the wheel, they just want their chunk of any fares he picks up.
Just do what I do, stand at the kerb, look for a yellow TAXI sign and raise your hand.
All you'll need to say is blank street, or X hotel, or station, the driver will just nod, and go straight there, but after all he'll be a real taxi driver, not a pale imitation, cheapest is not always best.
I would think the opposite. One of the reasons they're doing away with the requirement is because Uber doesn't require it and taxi companies are losing drivers to them. Same thing with the geography test that was eliminated recently as well.
I'd guess that cab drivers who have little knowledge of N.Y.C. would only be a pain to someone from Podunk, Idaho, or a foreigner.
A street-wise native New Yorker would be all over them like a cheap suit.
I'm a born and raised Londoner, brought up on a diet of black cabs, with drivers that know the city like the backs of their hands, but I'm observant, and like to think that I can pick up on things and remember places.
Quote:
Originally Posted by samyn on the green
They all use waze now to navigate. Their heads are empty with little to no knowledge, they just follow the directions of the mobile phone controller. Collectively this illustrates well the reduction in intelligence brought on by technology.
If I land at J.F.K. around 2.30 p.m. and I'm visiting a friend who lives on W.113th. at Amsterdam, Manhattan, I'll politely as I can, say to the driver, "W.113th. at Amsterdam, please, take the Van Wyck, Grand Central Parkway then the Triborough Bridge, okay?"
I hope he'll say, "Sure, you got it", but if he veered toward the Belt Parkway, I'd say, "I told you the Van Wyck, take it, or drop me off, and you'll get f**k all, and if you don't like it, call the cops."
It's never happened, I just hope that I'd have the cojones if it did.
Conversely, if I'm aiming for Park Slope, I'll say "12th. Street, Park Slope, please, will you take the Belt, Conduit, Atlantic Ave., then Eastern Parkway, then I'll tell you from there."
So far it's all gone right.
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Originally Posted by DoomDan515
Another reason for me to use Uber instead.
Keep thinking you're doing the right thing Dan.
I bet real taxi drivers are all broke up at losing your $.
I'd guess that cab drivers who have little knowledge of N.Y.C. would only be a pain to someone from Podunk, Idaho, or a foreigner.
A street-wise native New Yorker would be all over them like a cheap suit.
Actually Podunk is a town in Texas lol.
I am guessing a cab driver with little knowledge of NYC would be a pain to anyone from anywhere who is not familiar with NYC.
I am guessing a cab driver with little knowledge of NYC would be a pain to anyone from anywhere who is not familiar with NYC.
Makes sense?
Thanks for the info on Podunk, TX., I'd always thought of Podunk as a description of any generic one horse town.
Your assertion that taxi drivers with little knowledge of NYC would be a pain to anyone from anywhere who's not from NYC is true, but denizens of Podunk, or foreigners are covered by your description, no?
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