NY Visit - Taxi app?

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 8:37am

On our upcoming NY visit, we're likely to be needing cabs because of my husband's mobility problems. (..and we have issues with Uber) In SF, we regularly use an app called Flywheel which works great. 

On our visit last May, I did some research and tried Arro. When starting, it showed MANY cabs within the immediate neighborhood, but after requesting a ride it spent forever searching for a taker before I gave up. (I tried this twice) It appears that the cabs all are capable of using the apps, but the drivers don't participate.

Knowing that these things can change quickly, does anyone here have experience with iOS taxi apps in NY?

[haterobics]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 8:47am

I never found one easier than the analog method. And obviously Uber.

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 9:04am

Is Lyft widely used? 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 9:06am

I've used Lyft a few times, and even out here in Astoria it's not been a problem.

[superyan]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 9:11am

MarkBearSF said: "On our upcoming NY visit, we're likely to be needing cabs because of my husband's mobility problems. (..and we have issues with Uber) In SF, we regularly use an app called Flywheel which works great. 

On our visit last May, I did some research and tried Arro. When starting, it showed MANY cabs within the immediate neighborhood, but after requesting a ride it spent forever searching for a taker before I gave up. (I tried this twice) It appears that the cabs all are capable of using the apps, but the drivers don't participate.

Knowing that these things can change quickly, does anyone here have experience with iOS taxi apps in NY?

 

"

I love Via - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/via-smart-shared-rides/id657777015?mt=8
It's $5 anywhere in the city and $2.50 for an additional person. It's rarely faster than mass transit, but you get a nice comfortable Suburban type vehicle.
My referral code is yan6z8. It's similar to the others where you get $10 or $20 free if you use it.

Gett - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gett-nyc-black-car-app/id449655162?mt=8
It's also good and and inexpensive. I think it's $10 in most places in the city.
My referral code is GTYANPE.

Lyft - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lyft-taxi-app-alternative/id529379082?mt=8
Same as Uber.  My code is YAN226998
The shared rides are cheapest, but can take a while depending on the route.

Uber - Uper Pool is $5 during rush hour.  

The Subway is the fastest way to get around more often than not.

 

[boonanas]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 9:13am

FYI... attempted to use Lyft after a show a week or so ago... the estimated charge was over $200 due to surge prices.  You may experience that a lot around the holidays.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 9:13am

I find Lyft to be generally cheaper than Uber, so that's a plus.

[superyan]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 9:15am

There is also Juno, and a few other ones.  If you aren't in a hurry, use Via.  You get 2 free rides and you'll be comfortable.  Gett also don't have surge pricing.

 

[Dave13]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 10:50am

In NYC, not sure why you would use anything else other than a regular cab unless you are looking for luxury. Typically, you can get a regular cab within seconds around Manhattan.  

[superyan]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 10:53am

Dave13 said: "In NYC, not sure why you would use anything else other than a regular cab unless you are looking for luxury. Typically, you can get a regular cab within seconds around Manhattan.  

 

"

Yellow cabs are getting to the point where they are expensive enough that it's not worth it unless you are in a pinch (at least for me).

 

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 11:04am

I agree, as long as it's not a surge/peak price I generally pay less using Uber or Lyft. Lately I've been using Lyft more since Uber changed their privacy policies and will track you for "up to five minutes after your ride" if you're using location services.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 11:19am

It also isn't so easy to hail a cab in certain places at certain times of day, which is why I vastly prefer Uber or Lyft. I tend to use Lyft more because it is slightly cheaper than Uber but I've never really had a bad experience with either. 

[superyan]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 11:22am

AEA AGMA SM said: "I agree, as long as it's not a surge/peak price I generally pay less using Uber or Lyft. Lately I've been using Lyft more since Uber changed their privacy policies and will track you for "up to five minutes after your ride" if you're using location services.

 

"

I was upset about that also.  At first, I just disabled all location services for the app.  It made it a little clunkier to use, but then I rolled it back to the version that doesn't do that and am careful not to update it.

 

[MinnieFay]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 11:29am

boonanas said: "FYI... attempted to use Lyft after a show a week or so ago... the estimated charge was over $200 due to surge prices.  You may experience that a lot around the holidays."

 

$200??  Where were you going?  Minnesota???

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 1:27pm

I've also seen the yellow cabs advertising an app called Curb, which I haven't tried.

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 1:43pm

In general, we prefer to use cabs. I'm not a fan of "sharing" apps and what they've done to the economy in SF (to say nothing of the street congestion). I'll occasionally use Lyft, but especially dislike Uber because of their corporate philosophy - perfectly demonstrated by the middle finger they just gave the California PUC who told them to register for the self-driving car program before putting them on SF streets (which, among other things would require them to report accidents and self-driving mistakes)

On our last NY visit, we were able to hail a cab quickly on 44th near 6th (no surprise). However, in the drizzle, it took almost 20 minutes to catch a cab on 2nd near Union Square on a Saturday afternoon. 

We just used Flywheel on Sunday afternoon in SF. A show had just let out downtown near SF Union Square. There were others trying to hail non-existent cabs. We got matched with one immediately that was around the corner (It took about 3 minutes for it to arrive because of one-way streets and slow traffic, but that's city life). We were able to track its progress. When we got in the cab, the others were still waiting. When we arrive, the payment and tip are all taken care of. It has all the convenience of a ride sharing app, while using real, regulated taxicabs. In SF, all the cabs use Flywheel. (Yellow cabs also use the Yello app, but it's limited to them.) It is more convenient than hailing a cab if they aren't flooding the streets. 

Updated On: 12/20/16 at 01:43 PM

[JPeterman]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 2:52pm

neonlightsxo said: "I've also seen the yellow cabs advertising an app called Curb, which I haven't tried"

Curb is fantastic.  It used to be called something like Way To Ride.  Now it is in Phliladelphia and New York and it is renamed Curb.  Super convenient, super fast.  They are taxi cabs, not a car service like uber.  You hail a cab with the app, see a map which shows tons of cabs around you,  a cab driver accepts the job usually in 1-20 seconds, and you pay with your credit card which is in their system already.  Yes it is easy to hail a cab if you are near a well traveled street, but when you are on a small street in the middle of the winter, Curb is a life saver.  I don't live in NYC, but I have the app on my phone and use it religiously whenever I am in the city. It works for sure in Brooklyn and Manhattan, and probably the other Bs but I have only used it in those two.

 

Updated On: 12/20/16 at 02:52 PM

[Anakela]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 2:57pm

boonanas said: "FYI... attempted to use Lyft after a show a week or so ago... the estimated charge was over $200 due to surge prices.  You may experience that a lot around the holidays.

"

That's nothing... :)

Uber customer in Philly gets surprise charge of $28,000

[boonanas]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 2:59pm

MinnieFay said: "boonanas said: "FYI... attempted to use Lyft after a show a week or so ago... the estimated charge was over $200 due to surge prices.  You may experience that a lot around the holidays."

 

$200??  Where were you going?  Minnesota???

 

"

North Jersey... normally its around $60... surge pricing was over 100% of normal ride pricing.  CRARAAAZZZYYY

[Jed2]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 6:12pm

Depending on how bad his mobility is, Accessible dispatch are great. My partner is wheelchair bound and we used their 'wow' (wheels on wheels) app for three weeks whilst in NY at least 4 times a day and found them to be perfect. A completely wheelchair accessible Cab arrived every time!

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 6:12pm

JPeterman said: "neonlightsxo said: "I've also seen the yellow cabs advertising an app called Curb, which I haven't tried"

Curb is fantastic...."

Thanks, I'll download it.

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 6:18pm

Jed2 said: "Depending on how bad his mobility is, Accessible dispatch are great. My partner is wheelchair bound and we used their 'wow' (wheels on wheels) app for three weeks whilst in NY at least 4 times a day and found them to be perfect. A completely wheelchair accessible Cab arrived every time!"

Thanks Jed. Not quite at that point yet, but walks > 2 blocks are difficult. We're staying at the Marriott Marquis, so we'll be close to all the theatres, but will probably do a cab to the Frick Collection to avoid the walk on either end of the subway in addition to walking around the galleries. (Of course, no problem getting a taxi hailed at the hotel, but will also need one for the trip back.) Also perhaps for Sweeney at the Barrow St Theatre (I need to check the subways near there).

Updated On: 12/20/16 at 06:18 PM

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 7:25pm

Barrow Street is quite close to the 1 train so the subway might be doable for you (and potentially faster than a cab through midtown). 

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 8:06pm

perfectlymarvelous said: "Barrow Street is quite close to the 1 train so the subway might be doable for you (and potentially faster than a cab through midtown). "

Cool. And we don't need to worry about dinner nearby since we'll be having meat pies!

[JPeterman]

Posted: 12/20/16 at 10:23pm

Another great thing about Curb ... even if you just hail a cab the old fashioned way, once you are in any cab, you can open the app and your phone syncs with the cab.  You can pay and tip with your phone app, it is so convenient.  And again, this is for any cab, not just one you called to come pick you up with the app.

 

I know this may sound weird, but I also like the idea that there is a cyber trail of your movements.  In other words, if something was to happen to you, they could trace your most recent destination via the Curb app.

 

And of course the reverse is true, if you are in the process of committing a crime, I would not recommend using the app.

Updated On: 12/20/16 at 10:23 PM