Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Video: Man Gives Out 14 Hours Of Free Cab Rides
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Sep 28, 2011
Modified Sep 28, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Sep 28, 2011
Modified Sep 28, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
You remember Mark Malkoff, right? The man who visited 171 Starbucks in a day, lived in an IKEA, and rode a Big Wheel trike down 42nd Street? The comedian's latest stunt is a bit more involved—over the course of 14 hours, he raced all over the city in a single taxi to pick up passengers who requested rides via Facebook and Twitter. The passengers didn't pay, because Malkoff somehow convinced a cabbie to leave the meter running for 14 hours straight, eventually racking up a $468.10 tab. In the process, he manages to end a stranger's relationship, get a shave, and possibly find true love. The taxi, meanwhile, suffered the indignities of being filled with popcorn (literally) and getting plastered with Tony Danza's face. The video:
When we asked Malkoff where this idea came from, he explained: "With the current state of the economy a lot of my friends in NYC that are either unemployed or cutting back financially have stopped taking cabs. I figured since so many other New Yorkers were in the same situation giving out free cab rides for a day would be a nice gift."
His favorite passenger was Lisa Birnbach, the author of the Preppy Handbook. "She tweeted me for a cab ride from her Upper East Side apartment to a meeting in Chelsea. She randomly saw on Twitter that I was offering cab rides. I had no clue until she got in the cab she was a public figure and a well known author. The ironic thing was of course that she easily could have afforded the ride."
And what became of the poor cab driver? "As of now I actually haven't tipped the driver anything!" says Malkoff. "That's horrible, I know. I'm definitely going to give him something. I'm still asking myself what is customary to tip on a $468.10 cab ride." Might we suggest something a little above and beyond the standard 20 percent?
Tagged
free ride
mark malkoff
taxi
video
Jamie Feldmar
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
Before they attempt to fend off LeBron James and the 76ers on Tuesday, the Knicks will have a chance to show off their winning mentality through their tunnel fits.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 12:43 p.m. ET
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .