Anytime four New Yorkers get into a cab together without arguing, a bank robbery has just taken place. …………………….. -Johnny Carson
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In the 1982 comedy Tootsie, Dustin Hoffman, dressed as soap opera sensation Dorothy Michaels, flags down a Manhattan cab. When a businessman tries to jump into the vehicle, Hoffman slams him over the head with his shopping bags. Finding a cab in New York City sometimes can be tough, but it doesn’t have to get physical. Hailing a cab is a bit of a ballet ~ a step off the curb, a lift of the arm. See Cameron do it.

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Flagging down a cab is so romantic and cinematic …and complicated.
Why do so many New York taxis seem to drive by without stopping for you? The answer is ~ it’s all in the lights. The roof lights, that is.
A cab is….
Available: when just the center is lit, highlighting the medallion number
Off Duty: when the “off duty” lights are lit
Occupied: when no lights are lit, the cab already has a fare.
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Here’s a visual for the Lego-minded by the outlandishly great Christoph Niemann.

Now for the complicated part ~ getting a cab when it’s raining. Best bet? Head to a hotel. A hotel generally has a taxi stand and the staff there can can raise a cab much easier than you can. It’s worth the price of the tip.

So if/when you need that ride uptown or down, keep these rules in mind ~
- Stand on the side of the street that has traffic going in the same direction that you want to go.
- Street corners are good places to hail a cab or, better yet, stand between parked cars, in between traffic lights.
- Step a foot or two off the sidewalk and into the street. Wave your cash in the air, if you dare. This is NYC, after all.
- Stick your arm out like you mean it.
- Look the driver in the eyes. (With a little luck, you might find yourself in the Cash Cab.)
Here’s a quick primer ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmglEMVsxQU
So, you’re in the cab. Now what? If you’re close to your destination and see someone up ahead hailing a cab, ask the driver to stop next to them, get out and walk the rest of the way. Everybody wins ~ the driver gets another fare and someone gets a cab. Maybe next time, it will be you. :)

Soon, though, we’ll have Get Taxi. http://mashable.com/2012/08/01/taxi-services/
I’ve got the app on my phone. It’s up and running in London, Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem, and Moscow.
Hey, Taxi! Welcome to the digital age.
Toni 10/5/12
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