Hailing a cab

Since we live in a place where a private car is the norm I haven%26#39;t had the need to get a cab. I know that the bellman at any hotel (mine or other) will hail a cab for me (with a tip of course). But if I am not near a hotel do I just put my arm up (in Los Angeles you call for a cab)? Is is harder if it is raining? (One friend said that you hold up a twenty dollar bill and a cab will stop). Or do I go to the nearest large street and wave? Can I go up to a doorman at a nice apartment and ask for help?

I know this sounds naive but my nightmare is being stuck in the rain with my daughters and being well...stuck.

Hailing a cab

Yes, you simply raise your hand.

If the lights atop the cab are off, that means it is occupied. Wait for the next one.

This is much more efficient that the tried-and-true tourist approach of waving your arm willy-nilly until a cab stops for you. Many people actually ADVISEa this approach because it is ';too complicated'; to look for a roof light. But honestly, your arm just gets tired, and everybody laughs at you behind your back.

Read all about the finer points here in this link from the FAQ:

HOW DO I HAIL A TAXI? Taxis and rental cars:

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60763-s304/New-York-鈥?/a>

Scroll down about halfway.

Hailing a cab

The only time I have had a hotel bellman hail a cab for us was when we were at the SOHO Grand, and it really was not neccessary as taxis are EVERYWHERE!

Do not hold up any money at all...they will stop for you regardless.

Just stand on the edge of the street (I usually stand on the end of the block) preferably in the direction the traffic is flowing (one way streets) and hold up your arm when you see a taxi coming that has it%26#39;s light on on the top of the taxi. If the light is off, the cab is already in use and not available.

Also, remember to enter and exit the cab at street side...do not open the door that is on the traffic side of the street. You will see the sign instructing you to do so in the taxi.

It is a simple thing to do and after the first cab ride, you will know exactly what to do.

And of course, if there are no cabs, just head for the subway!

Yes it is more difficult to hail a cab at certain times, and rain can be one of them.

No, I don%26#39;t believe holding up a bill of any denomination will significantly increase your chances of getting a ride - cabdrivers are businessmen, so they have incentive to pick you up if they are on duty. Besides, they are obliged to drive passengers anywhere in NYC, so depending on where you are going $20 may or may not be a good fare for them.

But you won%26#39;t be stuck, at least not anyplace in Manhattan. We have a fabulous new invention known as the subway. And you don%26#39;t even need to put your arm up.

I recall that ellebud has mobility difficulties.

HI, I grew up in LA near Robertson %26amp; Pico, about a block from the BH border.

As the others say, hailing a cab is easy, just raise your arm ar a corner or even in the middle of the street. If it%26#39;s raining it can be VERY hard to get a cab, though. Also, this advice is petty much for the major streets, if you%26#39;re at a nice restaurant on a side street, you may have to walk a block to one of the avenues to get to a street with a lot of cabs.

But truly, you should take the subways whenever possible. I take my kids (now 12 and 10) on the subways all the time and have for years. They enjoy it, it%26#39;s generally much faster than cabs and it%26#39;s certainly cheaper. It%26#39;s also amazingly safe, there is hardly any crime on the subways. You%26#39;ll enjoy them, too

Thank you all! BYW...Teaneck New Jersey...to prove how small the world is my mother had a dear friend who live(d)? in Teaneck on a street called Red Road I believe. And as for Pico Robertson...I don%26#39;t know how long ago you left but does the Beverlywood Bakery sound familiar? The area is very busy and quite Orthodox now.

Is the idea of asking an apartment bellman (with a gratuity of course) to assist, if necessary, a no no?

And yes, you guys have great memories...my right foot is out of the cast but I can%26#39;t go downstairs quickly, and in the rain...well, I have to take one step at a time...slowly. I guess it is sort of like arthritis. I imagine that New Yorkers wouldn%26#39;t be thrilled walking behind me..............

I think you are worrying too much. There are people with mobility issues who get cab and buses all the time- and people here can be very patient with the bus situation. They all have lifts- if you ask for the driver to lower the lift, he or she will, making it easier for you to get on and off the bus. Some subway stations have elevators- not enough of them, though. So far as I know, most building doormen will be amused if you ask them to hail a cab for you, but might do it anyway to be polite- but so will perfect strangers. I%26#39;ve hailed cabs for people who have barely spoken English, and made sure the driver was given proper directions. I know others have done it too.

Hi

just returned,taxi%26#39;s every where every minute of the day 100%26#39;s.just pop your arm out. you%26#39;ll be fine.

Don%26#39;t you hate it when you%26#39;ve just hailed a cab and open the door when some other person jumps in and yells ';sorry, first come first served!'; or ';I hailed it first!';