topic Re: Taxi or Uber? in Travel

Taxi or Uber?

beach-mom — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 18:21:04 GMT

I'll be in NYC on a weekday. It's too far to walk to many of the places I want to go, and the subway is not an option for most of them. Is it better to take a taxi or Uber? My stops are about 20 minutes apart - by car. TIA!

Re: Taxi or Uber?

MalteseMomma — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 18:27:25 GMT

I'm old fashioned. I would never use uber if I am alone,I'm afraid........MY cab company knows their drivers !

My whole family are uber users.I pray my taxi company stays in business...........

Re: Taxi or Uber?

ALRATIBA — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 18:30:57 GMT

Really depends on where you are when you need a ride.

Some places it's difficult to flag a cab.

One of my friends swears by Uber. I'm a taxi rider.

Re: Taxi or Uber?

haddon9 — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 18:32:07 GMT

While Ubers are easy to use, a taxi can be easier...you just hail one that's available going by.

Re: Taxi or Uber?

fthunt — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 18:34:02 GMT

TAXI

Re: Taxi or Uber?

2blonde — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 18:36:34 GMT

@ALRATIBA Just out of curiosity, is an Uber very much cheaper than a cab?

Re: Taxi or Uber?

ALRATIBA — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 18:38:32 GMT

@2blonde wrote:
@ALRATIBA Just out of curiosity, is an Uber very much cheaper than a cab?

@2blonde

I asked my friend the same thing .... she said it's the same as a taxi. It's charged to her credit card ... she just has to carry cash for the tip.

Re: Taxi or Uber?

2blonde — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 18:39:30 GMT

@ALRATIBA In that case, I think I'd rather take the cab!

Re: Taxi or Uber?

judy0330 — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 18:43:39 GMT

You can try to use a taxi but have Uber as a backup. I have found that taxis aren't as plentiful as they used to be. We got out of Lincoln Center one night and were shocked that there was not a single taxi anywhere in sight. After waiting for 15 minutes we used Uber. Now we only use Uber in the city.

Edited to add that there is an option to tip using your credit card which is how we always do it.

Re: Taxi or Uber?

ALRATIBA — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 18:48:07 GMT

@judy0330 wrote:
You can try to use a taxi but have Uber as a backup. I have found that taxis aren't as plentiful as they used to be. We got out of Lincoln Center one night and were shocked that there was not a single taxi anywhere in sight. After waiting for 15 minutes we used Uber. Now we only use Uber in the city.

@judy0330

Just last Thursday we were out to lunch in my neighborhood. After lunch, I waited with my friend as she waited for her Uber ... about 20 cabs passed us while we were waiting.

Same thing a couple of weeks ago .... one driver cancelled on her (after waiting 10 minutes for him) and it was another 10 before the next driver showed up. Then she had t contact Uber for a refund for the charge for the no-show.

Re: Taxi or Uber?

judy0330 — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 18:53:22 GMT

@ALRATIBA We have never had anything other than good experiences with Uber in the city. I don't know anybody who still uses cabs -- especially younger people. Cabs are sometimes plentiful and sometimes not. We would still be standing in front of Lincoln Center if not for Uber.

Re: Taxi or Uber?

Bhvbum — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 19:00:43 GMT

In a big city I never ever take a taxi or Uber. It is either the metro/tube or the city bus. If you have to get from point A to point B fast there is no substitute for the metro.

That said, I decided to take Uber to the airport in a big city, made my appointment for 6:30 a.m.

As I was waiting I got a text saying that now based on the time there would be a surcharge that literally doubled my fare, did I still want the Uber?

I had no choice but that is the last one I took. Beware of surcharges during rush hour, etc.

Re: Taxi or Uber?

ALRATIBA — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 19:03:07 GMT

@judy0330

I use cabs exclusively, but I live in a section of Manhattan that has plenty of cabs. The street is a main street off the FDR.

Same thing coming home. I've lived here since 1994 - never had an issue catching a cab.

Re: Taxi or Uber?

ILTH — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 19:13:24 GMT

@beach-mom wrote:
I'll be in NYC on a weekday. It's too far to walk to many of the places I want to go, and the subway is not an option for most of them. Is it better to take a taxi or Uber? My stops are about 20 minutes apart - by car. TIA!

Either. Both. Also, Via.

Also, get a MetroCard. You might find you can take buses if you can't hail cabs.

Time of day, day of week, weather and all kinds of unexpected events can make it impossible to get a cab or to get anywhere on time.

@beach-mom

Can I ask where your locations are and if they're time-sensitive appointments?

That would color my answers.

Re: Taxi or Uber?

Tori3569 — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 19:15:18 GMT

I live in NYC and would definitely take a taxi if I needed to, as do most of my friends and family.

As someone who drives in the city, I see Uber from a different perspective. Some, not all, are a menace on the roads as far as I’m concerned. Again, not all are poor drivers and aren’t always able to communicate clearly.

I feel more more comfortable in taxis here. I have used Uber in Texas and Florida however, due to availability, but much easier than here.

Have a great time.

Re: Taxi or Uber?

judy0330 — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 19:18:59 GMT

@ALRATIBA You have never had a problem catching a cab in 25 years??? That's great! I really have no interest in fighting with you. All I suggested was that if the OP wanted to take cabs she should have Uber as a backup. Period.

Re: Taxi or Uber?

ILTH — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 19:33:08 GMT

@judy0330 wrote:
@ALRATIBA You have never had a problem catching a cab in 25 years??? That's great! I really have no interest in fighting with you. All I suggested was that if the OP wanted to take cabs she should have Uber as a backup. Period.

@judy0330

LOL. I wish I knew her secret, too. I was born, here and lived here my entire life. Getting a cab is a crapshoot.

Many nights I've stood for over 1/2 an hour trying to get a cab home from work or wherever. Or, trying to get to work in rain or snow. Or trying to find a cab while wandering around neighborhoods below the grid (Wall St., TriBeCa, etc.-- especially at night). Many times, after having waited so long, I've had to take the bus, trek to the train or walk home (30+ blocks).

Bad weather makes getting a cab very difficult.

ETA

@Tori3569

I drive, too,

Half the cab drivers don't know the city any more than Uber drivers. I have to give them directions. But, I do take cabs. There are 2 surcharges, now, so the prices went up dramatically.

Re: Taxi or Uber?

Lipstickdiva — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 19:46:34 GMT

I flew in to Newark and took a taxi to NYC. Then I took an Uber back to Newark. It was cheaper to Uber back to the airport than taking a taxi and the taxi was disgusting. I barely think it was road worthy.

However, in the city, it was easier IMO to grab a taxi for the most part. Trying to get an Uber from a busy area was a nightmare. The driver was never where we were. We always had to make multiple calls asking where they were and walking blocks to get to them. The only time an Uber worked was from my friends apartment because he pulled up right in front of her building and she was on the upper west side, out of the chaos.

Re: Taxi or Uber?

Alison Wonderland — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 20:13:11 GMT

I'm a #DeleteUber supporte, so I prefer a local ride share, Lyft, or a cab.

We have several local rideshare services in Austin and they pay their drivers more than Uber or Lyft and they fingerprint drivers.

Re: Taxi or Uber?

Mz iMac — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 20:41:09 GMT

@beach-momWhich section of NYC are you going to that taking the subway is not an option?

To answer your question, me personally I would hail a cab if the subway is out of the question. I have never in my life had any problems hailing a cab in NYC or in the surrounding boroughs.

I would never use Uber by myself. Uber does not have a good reputation in my neck of the woods.