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News Flash: Cabbies Can Be Decent People
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Apr 28, 2010
Modified Apr 28, 2010
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By
Jaya Saxena
Published Apr 28, 2010
Modified Apr 28, 2010
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Despite what most Gothamist commenters would have you believe, New York cab drivers are on the whole decent, honest people just trying to earn a living like everyone else. In the wake of the recent cabbie scandal, one Daily News reporter set out to see how many drivers really take tourists the long way to their destinations, and it turns out most are pretty helpful.
Pretending to be a tourist with a British accent, the reporter hailed 12 cabs on the corner of 33rd and 8th Ave and asked to go to Macy's—just two blocks away. Half of them pointed out that it would be easier to walk, while others drove her directly to the department store while telling her it was close by. "It's just one block, but in New York, sometimes people hail a cab just to go three blocks because they're just too tired to walk, that's why I didn't ask you," said one driver. Just one of the 12 took the "tourist" out of the way, driving her nearly 20 blocks before dropping her off in front of Macy's.
One of the nicer drivers even let her go free after driving a block. Though he initially accepted the fare, at a stoplight he pointed out the destination was around the corner and let her skip payment on the $3 fare. Despite the information to the contrary, 57% of Daily News readers said in a poll that they still believe most cabbies aren't honest and just want to make as much money as possible.
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Jaya Saxena
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