It seemed like everyone was driving like a stroke victim tonight. Either they were on the phone and swerving all over the place, like the asshole above, or they were drunk. Depending on my mood, it can really make me crazy getting caught behind all these fuckfaces who don't know how to drive, and I sometimes find myself wishing I had something other than a camera to shoot them with.
Speaking of murder, this girl got into my cab tonight and was like, "Oh wow, a female driver. I'm so relieved. I stopped taking cabs since that cabbie murdered that girl by the Belt Parkway." She was, of course, talking about Imette St. Guillen, and referring to the week-old headlines that suggested a livery cab driver was behind the slaying.
I half-jokingly said, "Oh, I doubt it was a cabbie. It's all just part of the campaign of hatred against us." She asked me what I meant, and I elaborated, saying, "It just seems like every time something bad happens to someone, a cab driver is always somehow implicated. I once read an article about a guy who lost his leg after getting hit by a regular car and the author suggested the car lost control because a cab must have been speeding nearby, even though there was no evidence to that effect. It was ridiculous." And it's true, every time I read the paper, cabs are mentioned in what seems like every other article, no matter how remotely they might be connected to the story, and they're usually referred to in a negative light.
I reconsidered this woman's fear, which I originally thought irrational, as I was walking home after my shift just a little while ago. The streets were relatively deserted when, a block from my building, a silver livery cab pulled over right next to me. Two men were in the front and the passenger rolled down his window and said, "Taxi? Taxi?"
What the fuck? Did these guys actually think I was gonna get in the car with them? I was just walking on the sidewalk, clearly not looking for a cab. Would they have approached me all unsolicited like that if I was a guy? It made me so mad that, after a 12 hour shift, I suddenly had to worry for my safety a block from my house. They were still rolling alongside me, so I summoned all my anger and yelled, "Do I look like I want a fucking taxi?" They peeled out down the avenue and I continued home.
Maybe the killer was a cab driver after all.
69 comments:
Like there is a bad side and a good side to everything, this profession also has its share. Come to think of it, taxi drivers can be the most harried lot of New Yorkers. Where else do they take it out? For how long will patience cloak the simmering protest? It does vent out... As for the good part, they are immensely helpful at times. You always get them to their places. Right?
You know Melissa, with all the extra profanity lately, you might be suspected in the next case of cabbie carnage. Keep cool baby ... :)
Years ago there was a movie, "The Bone Collector", I think, about a taxi driver who murdered people. Your typical teen date movie (yawn).
young lady,
I hope you got the tlc plate # of the livery car....
"...You know Melissa, with all the extra profanity lately, you might be suspected in the next case of cabbie carnage. Keep cool baby ... :)"
I think your mum is posting again... LOL
Hi MP's mum!
Catching a cab in Sydney Australia is a real problem some drivers can barely navigate around the city.
And many (ethnic drivers)have a minimum grasp of the english language,there needs to be a standard set world wide similar to London cabbies involving a driving test and knowledege of the citys streets.
There has also been similar assaults in Australia by cab drivers(but most are very helpfull).
G-D forbid me that I should never ever accidentaly cut YOU off, with my town car.
The girl was murdered by an ex con bouncer not a cabbie.
Not from NYC, just a fan...
What's a livery cab??
Those guts troll for anyone, male or female. I'm not a huge fan of the livery bunch, but I don't think they neccesarily singled you out because you are a woman.
Sorry Jake, I gotta disagree with you.
Yes, males get solicited by livery cabs but at a much, MUCH lower rate than females.
It's not the same and the psycho-sexual politics of it aren't either.
So, I was definitely in Atlanta earlier this week and had an experience with a cabbie (one who's English was lacking). I was at the airport and needed to get into the city. I told him where I needed to go and he asked me if I new how to get there. (of course I didn't, that's why I am taking a cab). It was a major place in Atlanta, Emory University. Luckily, I had the address in an email I had printed, so I gave him that and proceeded to almost lose my life 3 separate times due to his scary driving! Ach!
However, I would have to say that a NYC cabbie couldn't have possibly killed someone as they have nerves of steel and strikely good moral character as is evident from this amazing blog! =+)
lighten up you cunt they thought you were cute sheeesh
Wow!
You handled those fuckers better than I would have. I would have gone psycho-bitch on them...yelling all kinds of profanities. Also at the top of my lungs yelled, "I am woman here me roar!" If people think your insane they leave you alone...give it a try it works every time. Oh and to the fuck face above...who fucking cares if a couple of fucktards thinks she is hot...they were rapists plain and simple.
Take Care,
Steph
gee, i hope this blog isn't begining to attract sick puppy's....
Yeah,I would have told them to leave. Nothing scarier than someone stalking you while your going home. Stay safe out there NYC is crazy. I don't know about going psych-bitch on them like Stephanie said up there but it was a good thing you didn't find out if they were rapists.
I gotta agree with the words of anonymous who mentioned your recent profanity. I've read your entire blog and it seems that recently your choice of words is detracting from the sweet storys you write. Which.......hello? are yours to write. But you've got a bit o' a fan base going on.
'Nuff said.
Sorry about your day! BIG SMILE!!!
MP your an adult right? You didn't start this blog in hopes that bunch of losers get swept in your life because they don't have one...cuss away baby because at least you say what you mean!
Oh you were correct they were definately trying to get you into their cab & do all sort of terrible things to you! Women certainly get harrassed all the time by men in cars ... cabs or not ... if your walking especially alone you are prey.
Not Paranoid - Jill in Baltimore-
You had every right to be apprehensive about two males approaching you in a remote area. I, too, hope you recorded their tag number. If doesn't sound like they were innocently trying to pick up a fare.
I enjoy your stories however you wish to write - it's your story, your voice. Thanks for sharing.
I have only rode in a cab once, in Washington DC. It smelled like piss, it cost $5 to go one block (or so it seemed) and he asked me to sit up front with him (I was 15.) Where I'm from, if you dont own a car your shit outta luck, because everything is layed out far between in our town. I'm planning a trip to NYC and I'm actually stoked to take a cab again.. because I'd get lost without one anyway. Being a bank teller, I see the good and bad in everyone, and it too can be a dangerous job.. but you cant be scared to live your life, and you cant judge a group of people based on their profession or one bad experience. People, in general, are good.
i hope u carry pepper spray with u at least if ur out walkin at 4am
Heya Catherine!
Lol, I'm not her mom, but I sure wouldn't mind if she called me "daddy" :)
-t
Catherine from Australia said...
"...You know Melissa, with all the extra profanity lately, you might be suspected in the next case of cabbie carnage. Keep cool baby ... :)"
I think your mum is posting again... LOL
Hi MP's mum!
I could not even imagine what it must be like to live in such a large city. Last year in the town that I live in, The city started a bus line. You know you can catch the bus and go where ever you want? Well the busses will hold about 10 people each and they will not travel to the "South side" or the "West side" of town where they are truly needed. The place where the lower income people can afford to live, however if you live on the east side of town they will practically drive up to your front door and pick you up. It never crossed my mind that taking a taxi or a buss would not be safe. I guess that it is because of the size of the town that I live in. I don't think I could make it in a city as large as NY. I think what you did was brave and the old saying of don't talk to strangers and don't except rides from people you don't know are reputable.
first off, I love your blog, I used to live in ny my whole life till I moved down to miami, and let me tell u, cab drivers are the worst fucking drivers in the world, the only thing thats worse than them are the blind 90 year old drivers down here in miami. I still go to new york a few times and have had a few close calls with new york cabbies cutting me off and stopping on a dime with several cars behind them to pick up a passenger, so we do have a point when we try to blame cab drivers for nearly being killed while driving in the city.
Never thought about the negative images of cab drivers, but you drive home a good point (no pun intended). They often are portrayed as bad drivers who speak bad English. Even that stupid-ass movie about the cop and the taxi-cab driver had a cab driver who was a bad driver. Anyway, keep up the good blog. Really enjoying it.
As for today's posts:
Since I live in California, I have to assume that a livery is a car that delivers liver. Not sure, but that's my best guess.
And for those of you who don't like the language - Shut da fuck up.
Glad you posted about this.....every since I had heard about that murder....I kinda worried about you!! Stay safe! We all think you are one cool chick.
I have just recently tapped into your blog and I love it. I admire the strength and character you have, stay safe and continue the enteries, and what the hell it is your blog so write as you choose.
Oh, it's true. Cab drivers are responsible for everything bad in history. In fact, didn't I read somewhere that JFK was shot by a cab driver?
I am also a woman yellow cab driver in NYC, American, white and I speak perfect English. I have been driving for 26 years this year, not a cab, but driving in general, and I can't stand the way that many New Yorkers, including the "oh so upstanding NYPD" believe that just because we drive a yellow cab we MUST certainly be idiots. Just today a jerk who flashed a badge at me (but of course didn't let me inspect it) claiming to be a cop in a personal car actually yelled me at me for "cutting him off", when in fact it was HE who was trying to cut in front of me with NO blinker and the horn blaring. I think his exact words were, "That's why I fucking HATE yellow cabs...." The cops are disrespectful and degrading, although some can be human, but overall this is a messed up city with messed up rules and I can't wait to get out of here, which will be this summer, THANK GOD. I wish, just once, that someone would alert the city as to the tremendous help the yellow cab industry is to the people of NYC - I pick up 30 - 40 folks a day and bring them to work, safely and timely and bring their kids to school and bring their behinds to eat and play and whatever. Not all of those yellow cars are foreign men with bad smells and bad English.
Kudos to you on this Blog - I read it every time you post, because usually I can identify with what you had to put up with that particular evening.
Be safe.
Your tone has changed . . .are you having a ghost blogger? or are you getting a bit stressed? Hope all is well with you - your blog is a pleasure to read.
Isn't censorship an interesting thing.
YOU have created a blog, mainly for your own satisfaction, place it in the blogosphere and the people choose to read it or not.
Then for some reason these readers seem to think they have the right to tell YOU what and how you should write it.
My view is that readers can make as many comments as they like about the content of the story but the writing style belongs to you.
Swear, blaspheme, tell tall stories as much as you like, it's your blog and I love it. fuckem
This happened to me once here in STL. I was walking alone in a rough part of town because I'd missed a bus and figured I might as well walk to the Metro, and this cab pulled up next to me started driving very slowly alongside me, and the driver leaned out and said, "Hey, Miss, do you want a ride? You really shouldn't be out here alone. It's dangerous." He had a creepy look and a creepy tone and he wasn't looking me in the eye, and I told him no thanks, but he kept following me for several blocks trying to convince me. I was more scared of him than I was of the street I was walking on, for sure.
I still take cabs when it's convenient, though. I've had some amazing conversations with cab drivers, male and female.
Having been a cab driver in a big city many years ago, I can vouch for many people's attitudes towards cab drivers.
One thing that used to piss me off was when someone accussed me of going the long way so I could run up the fare. That was bullshit as I just wanted to get them to where they were going, hopefully make a good tip and move on as quickly as I could to the next customer. The theory being that more customers equalled more tips !
I aslo would not pick up drunks or one or more well dressed black dudes. Both were trouble. the first because they often stiffed me, the second because they were the most common robbers, etc.
A lone black guy, a lone black woman, a black guy and his gal, fine, no problem with picking them up.
Gays and prostitutes were also good customers. Wouldn't give me a hard time, treated me politely abd always gave a good tip.
Little old ladies and students - cheap as shit.
Real old wealth - good customers.
Newly rich - a pain in the ass !
Just a few observations.
Cab driving ain't easy and most work long hours. They do their best to serve you. So tip them accordingly !
sillyputty, inkyhack, and anyone else who hasn't heard of livery cabs before: In NYC, a livery cab (as opposed to a yellow cab, or taxi) is a cab that is not legally permitted to pick up fares from the street. Drivers of livery cabs are supposed to pick up only those people who call the livery company for a car. But livery cabs nonetheless pick up fares off the street in areas that yellow cabs don't frequent (e.g., the outer boroughs, Manhattan north of 125th St. or so).
I think that while the livery cabs themselves are regulated (they have special tags/plates), the drivers aren't.
I'm annoyed when I walk the streets in my neighborhood at night and a livery car honks at me to see if I want a ride, but what M.P. experienced is clearly worse.
Wow, chivalry is not dead.
"Then for some reason these readers seem to think they have the right to tell YOU what and how you should write it."
Quit projecting your feelings of insecurity on her, because she sure doesn't need them. -ma
honey experience is the best teacher you have been on the road a short time and you have a lot to learn you got a little exposure from a/p and now you are a expert on the nyc cab driver your attitude as a cab driver is not a healthy one and that attitude can get you in trouble so while you are trying to take advantage of the nyc cabbie to get that hit show be careful
"caus you got loaded again and your handsome when your high" hey baby your kinda cute what do you mean i make your stomach crawl dont't run away darling
Cab drivers get a bad rap because they can out drive anyone on the road. They know where they're going and how to get there which frustrate all the non drivers.
Also cabbies are EVERYWHERE! So if there is a crime scene, yep, there was a cab in the area, but that doesn't mean they were involved. Did you know there is a Taxi in almost every movie?
Oh, one more difference between livery cabs and yellow cabs in NYC: Livery cabs don't have meters.
"your attitude as a cab driver is not a healthy one and that attitude can get you in trouble so while you are trying to take advantage of the nyc cabbie to get that hit show be careful"
You're just jealous that you didn't think of it first.
And 100% of the time, those who criticize people for using profanity go to movies or listen to music that is filled with it. Hypocrites. No one holds a gun to your head and forces you to read this blog. You don't like it, or her, or her language - don't come here. Simple, no?
Finally, even if two guys driving in a car think a woman is cute, it doesn't give them the right to harass her.
your piece makes me wonder: are NYC cab drivers licensed by the city and/or the state? and do they undergo background checks? inquiring minds want to know. for the record, I wouldn't survive a NY minute in NYC.
FYI...THE YOUNG LADY THAT TOOK THE LIVERY TAXI LAST WEEK.WAS RAPED IN THE SAME ARE WHERE MS IMETTES BODY WAS FOUND.POLICE ARE TRYING TO MAKE A CONNECTION.......MICHELLE YOU WERE WAY TO CASUAL WITH THE YOUNG GIRL WHO GOT IN YOUR CAB ....EVERYONE IS NERVOUSE RIGHT NOW.....AND PLEASE TELL ME YOU GOT THE TAG # ON THE CAR...........A FAN
Many of you say you couldn't handle NYC for a minute, but let me tell you something. I'm a farm girl, raised in a very small town. The love of a good man has brought me to Manhattan and sometimes its surprising how natural the adjustment can be. I still have my "fish out of water" experiences but everyday a little bit more of me becomes a "New Yorker"!
Someone found love in NYC!
Someone found love in NYC!
The same will never happen to me :-0
your pretty cool, very interesting blogs......im from cali and i read stuff, keep up the good work
I almost never take cabs. Quite frankly they're fairly expensive for a lot of us living in a very expensive city.
Instead, I have decided to throw myself to the mercy of the NYC subway system. Believe me, there's a story every time I ride the subway.
Good luck to you, though. Driving a cab in NYC (especially at night) is a dangerous job.
What the fuck?
If you don't like it, leave! God, all you complainers really remind me of people I deal with at my job.
Just like all those dingbats that call in and complain about what is shown pn TV and blame the service provider for creating this. Or want us to completely remove it just because they personally do not like it.
M.P I don't envy you your job. Fuck what others say! It's YOUR blog and you'll put here what you want.
Personally, I love reading your entries. There's usually always something I can either laugh at, or relate to since I deal with the most insanely clueless people on the phone every day!
Keep up the AWESOME work!
M.P you go girl!!! you write what ever you want to and screw all those people that have a problem with the way you say it....I am sure all of them have used profanity in some way over the course of their life they just like to complain about other people..My question to them is if they have such a problem with you swearing why are they sitting here reading it???Love your blog and can't wait til your next post!!
This is my first time EVER responding to any blog at any time (and last), but I only have 3 things to say:
1) Your blog is hilarious - a way to experience NY without actually being there...keep up the great work...
2) These people who respond frequently obviously have nothing better to do with their time...but it's funny to read anyway...
3) I am reminded regularly that Colorado is the best place in the world to live...wouldn't trade it for anything...
It is easy to live vicariously on the mean streets of NYC without ever having to leave home. I'd rather read about it than be there.
Paranoia........will destroy ya
PERFECT paranoia is PERFECT awareness ;-)
Fuck Colorado. What kind of an idiot compares nyc to Colorado. You have to be really fucking stupid to even try to compare the two. Stay in colorado you belong there. Please just do the world a favour and shut the fuck up with your small town comparisions with the capital of the world.
you need a can of pepper spray in those type of emergencies!!
WOW! M.. you've attracted quite a new crowd lately.. LOL! Been with you for a while and want you to know I enjoy your blog as much today as the first time I read it.
To the anonymous jerk up there who called you a cunt... I dare you to do that to her face and then I'll read when she writes about you on this blog after she kicks your ass for calling her that!
M becareful out there, and keep up the good work. This is your blog, write how you choose. [ii]} cheers!
HI M.P GLAD YOUR WELL.REALLY HOPE YOU GOT PLATE #.POLICE INVESTIGATING THE YOUNG LADY WHO WAS PICKED UP IN LIVERY TAXI IN BLIZZARD LAST WEEK.SHE WAS RAPED IN AREA WHERE IMETTE YOUNG LADY WAS FOUND.....SOUNDS STRANGEEEE FOR SURE..TC
when someones daughter gets knocked up they always blame it on the cab driver.
Imagine how hard it would be to find a taxi in NYC if there were no "ethnic" (what the hell does that mean anyway?) drivers?
It took me 20 minutes on Saturday night at midnight as it is...
lol - screaming those livery guys the F away from you is AWESOME!! you are one cool chick!
Where I'm from, plenty of women get hassled/raped/murdered by cab drivers, mainly because most cabbies in my country are driven by uneducated low life M#@H*RF*@#KERS!
I think the world would be a better place with more women cab drivers.
To the individual who responded to me (the one in Colorado)...
I love how you use profanity to justify your sad existence in your dirty, overpriced, overcrowded so-called 'capital of the world.'
I will just sit here and enjoy my clear, smog-free air, the beautiful Rocky Mountains, the awesome ski resorts an hour from home, the free-flowing traffic, my cheaper mortgage (for about 3x the space), the big backyard and more sunshine than almost anyone.
You stay there and I'll stay here, and we'll both be happy. Kiss, kiss!
"Be who you are and say what you feel 'cause people who mind don't matter, and people who matter don't mind.'" -
— Theodor Seuss Geisel, American children's author (1904-1991).
Cabbies murdering passangers. I find that hard to believe. Down in my parts (Baltimore), it's the other way around.
Those were great instincts. In the woods,when you feel threatened by a wild animal, you make yourself appear larger and make lots of noise. That's also what they teach kids when it comes to stranger abduction. Obviously you have great street smarts, my gut instinct tells me something was not right in that situation. Start carrying some mace or some protection girl.
Congrats on the book deal! Love your blog. Hope I hail your cab someday when I'm in the city. Stay strong, stay safe. -- Va. Girl
huster...mmmmmmmmm!
As a former employee of the American Stroke Association, I feel morally compelled to comment on your first line.
Fucking Hilarious.
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