Innovations in Taxi Cab Hailing

While waiting for the B75 bus that I often take from the Heights back to Carroll Gardens in the morning, I had the pleasure of taking in one of those New York moments that make the tourists return home ranting and fearful and make me happy to be here:

Scene: Corner of Atlantic and Court, I stand near the hideous corner drugstore, trying to figure out how I can dress up without dressing up for dinner tonight. In front of me, an older man, somewhat unwell looking, surly, and sporting a cane and a limp to match, is grumbling about getting to the city.

He spots a cab, and in it a driver wary of picking up someone who in addition to the warning signs above, begins to shout when he can't get in. In nearly 6 years I've lived here, I'm only now beginning to understand what the lights on the cab mean, so I can't say for sure, I think he was on duty, but wanted nothing to do with this fare.

The cab is at a red light, and the man walks away, then back to, the stopped car, pleading his case to anyone who will listen. "I just want to go to Manhattan!! C'mon!! You see this? Why won't he take me to Manhattan?"

Two overweight nurse type women, walking past him on the street, and one offers this, without missing a beat: "I'll take you to the candy shop." Sexy, I know.

I lose it, laughing, expecting that to be the climax of my morning urban tragicomedy. Hold please. It's not.

Man and cane, undeterred by the cabbie's initial rebuff, and not understanding that those two woman totally wanted to get on him, returns to yelling at the man in the car, demanding that he be taken to his destination. When that doesn't work, he shows his clear familiarity with current events.

"You see this?! Come on now, I want this guy's head cut off! Let's do that to him!!" Excuse me?

Then, my New York moment -- Cabbie has inexplicably changed his mind after hearing this, and consents to let the lunatic in his car. I hope the meter was running.

My bus ride was somewhat less exciting.