Note that taxicabs in New York City are yellow and the ones that private individuals can hail on the street are called “medallion taxicabs.” These cabs are allowed to pick up passengers in response to what is called a street hail. You may also call and arrange to have a cab pick you up from your location and take you to another location as well, but this is not as common as it is more complicated.
Hail a medallion cab in New York City’s five boroughs by simply raising your hand or standing by a taxi stand. Drivers may not refuse to take a passenger to any destination within the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester and Nassau Counties or Newark Liberty International Airport.
Look at the lights on the top of the cab to see if a cab is available. If the center light indicating the medallion number is lit then the cab is available. If the cab is off duty this will be indicated by the inscription on either side of the medallion and will be lit, and if the cab already has passengers no lights will be lit at all.
Keep in mind that a maximum of 4 passengers is all that may be carried in a cab, with 3 passengers in the backseat and 1 passenger in the front seat.
Pay tips of about 10 to 20% of the cab fare. You will also be expected to pay the tolls for bridges, tunnels and highways, even if the cab has an E-ZPass to use the express toll lane.
