ENTER 2010

Can anyone explain to me why the left turn unto Ninth Avenue (off 23rd Street) became restricted (at all times) in the past year? My understanding is that this sort of rule makes sense at intersections with exceptionally high volumes of pedestrian traffic, which make it harder to complete a turn, therefore creating a back up of turning vehicles, which in turn create vehicular congestion in general, along the road from which those vehicles are attempting their turn. My argument is that the Chelsea intersection in question does not render such a rule.

Further east, where turns are illegal throughout most of the day at Seventh and Fifth, I support the rule 100%. I also believe that since such traffic law idiosyncrasies require in depth knowledge of alternate routes, the only vehicles that ought to have any business traversing Manhattan are buses, trucks, taxicabs, delivery vans and bicycles. Private joy rides and clueless out-of-town plates would be banned from entering under a Quayobuleqistani mayoral term.

Sitting Duck

I heard from one driver, who has both seen it happen to a driver in front of him, and also has heard from another driver who had it happen to him:

Avoid putting your money in the door pocket. People are going around walking up to taxis from all sides and reaching in through an open window or opening driver doors if they're unlocked, then grabbing moneys.

So avoid making your money too plainly visible especially to the people outside your cab. And it may also be helpful to not roll your windows open enough to let arms reach in when you're at a red light. Lock your driver door, and your other front door. Also give yourself some space before the crosswalk when you stop at a light, so that you have some rolling room if you see somebody walking close to your cab. If they nervously run up to you, while trying not to get your attention, then you might want to wiggle around with the reverse and the drive, or something to freak them out.

I dunno, personally I try not to get to nervous about these kind of things, but be on alert as these criminals are out there.

Can't Run. Can't Hide.

On Taxicab Almanac's latest post I mentioned two specific spots, complete with photographs, in which we should be careful (24/7) not to get pulled over. Scroll towards the end of the entry. These include the stop sign on Greenwich at Gansevoort and the Left Turn off 42nd unto Third. Keep it as snug as possible. The more you resemble a tractor trailer, the more at risk you are.

What if there's a street hail on the right side? Unfortunately the city of New York would rather you pull over on the left, get out of your vehicle, and shout "taxi available" at the top of your lungs across the avenue. If it's rush hour and all the cabs are occupied and/or off duty, the prospective passenger will indeed come running across when traffic has become less voluminous. Makes no sense, I know. But we must protect our licenses no matter what. Rest assure they're out to slap yours right out of your hand, for good if they can help it.

SIDE NOTE FOR YONKERS:
I was up there the other night, dropping off a passenger I had picked up in Manhattan. I was travelling south along So. Broadway when I came to red light at Morris Street. The three cars in front of me all had their left turn signals on. The street was poorly lit and when the light turned green I proceeded to pass these hovering vehicles on the right, as is the absolute norm in NYC. All of a sudden, one of those cars lit up in bright colors and a siren.

The 3rd precinct of the Yonkers Police Department was on my ass for breaking a state law: "passing on the right" (as if it were a highway). Both officers walked over. One approached my passenger to ask if I had picked her up in Westchester County. The other wrote me a ticket, but advised me to plead "not guilty" and he would work something out with the judge (not show up?). So I'm not worried about this incident. However, my tip for NYC cabdrivers: WHEN OUTSIDE OF THE 5 BOROS, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE RIGHT LANE IS A FREE TRAVEL LANE. MY COP CLAIMED IT WAS A PARKING LANE. THE STREET WAS SO DARK HE COULD HAVE SPIT IN MY FACE AND TOLD ME IT WAS RAINING.

Tree Lighting!

Avoid congestion at Rockefeller Center, or at least be aware of the congestion.

from 7pm to 9pm the tree lighting ceremony will take place at Rockefeller Center. avoid 5th Ave in the 50's. I wouldn't be surprised if 6th Avenue also has congestion.

all buses in the area are also being rerouted which may cause additional congestion, so perhaps it may be better to avoid the whole thing?

Perhaps you will get more passengers hailing in Times Square if that isn't too congested? If that's bad get out and go west, 51st Street tends to run well west from 7th Avenue.

Special Outbound Midtown Tunnel Entrance Today Plus 7th Avenue headache @24th Street

The tunnel entrance outbound is being re-routed until 5:30AM Monday (NO TRUCKS)

7th Avenue crane operations at 24th Street are in effect until noon

These closures have been actually witnessed by both me and Gil. I apologize for the long list of closures posted yesterday that were completely erroneous for Saturday.

THE MIDTOWN TUNNEL ENTRANCE TODAY is located at 34th Street between 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue. You can also enter from 35th street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.

The detour signs challenge our logic and are very hard to understand. There will be heavy traffic congestion at 2nd Avenue almost certainly, but also traffic will build probably at 34th street, 36th street and a bulge of traffic nesting on the right side of 3rd Avenue may soon appear.

DO NOT TAKE 36TH STREET TO THE TUNNEL! Take only 34th Street!

As traffic builds, think of other routes, all other bridges, the 59th street bridge may have heavier back-up as spill over from the tunnel occurs.

Also 7th Avenue between 24th and 23rd Street is having a crane operation bringing the lanes down to two.

As usual try to avoid crosstown in the 30's. Drivers will be confused and angry. The Midtown tunnel is also limited to one lane in each direction.

This Weekend

From Gridlock Sam:

Two Manhattan-bound lanes on the lower level of the Henry Hudson Bridge will be closed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.

1 a.m. to 8 a.m. Sat. and Sun. Holland closed NYC bound, Lincoln only 1 lane NYC bound


And From the DOT Website. There are more streets closed noted at their website, but these appear to be the most important:

On Saturday and/or Sunday from midnight to noon: 7th Avenue will reduce to two lanes between 24th and 23rd streets for crane operation. During lifting only one lane of traffic will pass through.

From Saturday at 10pm to 10am on Sunday: Park Avenue Southbound between 47th Street and 46th Street will be closed southbound for crane operation.

On Saturday and/or Sunday from 8am to 4pm: Greene Street between Canal Street and Grand Street will be closed to facilitate crane operation.

On Saturday and/or Sunday from 6am to 6pm: 36th Street between 9th Avenue and 8th Avenue will be closed to facilitate crane operation.

From Saturday at 6am to Sunday at 9pm: 51st Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue will be closed to facilitate crane removal operation.

On Saturday from 8am to 4pm: 53rd Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue will be closed to facilitate crane removal operation.

And on Saturday and/or Sunday from 8am to 4pm: 53rd Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue will be closed to facilitate crane operation.

On Sunday early morning from midnight to 8am: 59th Street between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue will be closed Sunday to facilitate crane operation.

Also from 1am Sunday to 5:30am Monday, The Queens Midtown Tunnel will be only one lane in each direction.

Madison Square Garden

BY ALL MEANS NECESSARY: stop ONLY if you're right up against a curb when picking up or dropping off in the vicinity of MSG. That goes for both sides of 7 Av. between 34th and 31st. The cops there resemble Venus Flytraps. They blend in with the pedestrians on the sidewalk and then step right out unto the street with their hairy tentacles. Be especially careful not to copy what so many cabbies do and double park alongside the permanent cones of the taxi stand in front of the underground entrance to Penn Station.

HERE ARE WAYS TO DROP OFF PASSENGERS WITHOUT RISKING A TICKET:
From 7 Av: Drive all the way past the taxi stand on the right and then pull neatly into an available part of the curb before reaching 31st. There is always room there. And folks will often jump in your cab as soon as your door opens to let one out. To my knowledge this turn over is 100% legal.

From 6 Av: Turn left at the 33rd Street bay. Go straight past 7 Av and stop on the left hand side, just past the corner, but be ready to move if an extra-large bus is turning off 7 Av. This spot is best for riders of LIRR. And if your fare is trying to catch an Amtrak, just continue straight down until just before 8 Av and pull over on the left. Let them know the entrance on that corner is ideal for them. Again, you'll often get new fares on the spot. Just don't linger for one, because you're technically too close to an established taxi stand and if the authorities don't see that you just discarded a fare, they might write you up for some sort of illegal solicitation.

From 8 Av: Do not copy other taxis by adding to the massive dog pile at the northeast corner of 31st. Simply pull to the curb before crossing that intersection. Especially if you ease into an empty space just as the light turns red. That southeast corner is always free.

From 31st St: Easy! Just find enough space to pull over without double parking. I believe the entrance right in the middle of the block is ideal for users of NJ Transit. For Amtrak just pull forward until right before 8 Av. Just don't get in the way of the buses. For LIRR it's best closer to 7 Av. But the covered walkway midblock is quite a central entrance that serves all commuters well. The nice part about dropping off crosstown, whether it's 31st or 33rd, is that you can zoom forward and head downtown again without getting stuck while vacant.

From 34th: It's OK to pick up/ drop off from the bus lanes. Just make it snappy. And remember not to make illegal turns unto 7 Av or from 7 Av unto 34th. The main LIRR entrance is on that southwest corner. If you must head downtown from that section of 34th, you have to either go to 9 Av or 5 Av. If you must head uptown, you have to either turn at 8 Av or turn right at Park, another immediate right unto 33rd, and one last right unto Madison. Be very careful attempting U turns. I only do them if I can guarantee not to get in anyone's way and there must be no blue meanies on wheels visible from any mirror or window in the cab.

Sidenotes: It's common to get hailed from the bus stop area on the right side of 7 Av between 34 and 33rd. You must be very careful when stopping here. Be sure to clear the crosswalks, while remaining as far from the actual bus stop sign as possible. Absolutely no double parking here. If you do anything that clogs up any segment of traffic, the Venus Flytraps will no doubt capture you in the blink of an eye.

Also, be careful in front of the hotels on the left side of 7 Av. You can coast by nonchalantly with fingers crossed to hear the doorman's whistle blow, but otherwise do not stop unless you can pull all the way to the curb and you have a good reason for it (an immediate drop off/pick up).

Cops have been known to give multiple tickets on one stop in these areas. Don't ruin your day. If you can't play by the strict and ambiguous rules, just avoid Penn all together. It's not a necessary ingredient for a lucrative shift.

WONDERING WHERE THAT PATROL CAR IN THE PICTURE ABOVE IS HIDING?
Where else than the good old southeast corner of Central Park West and the 65th St. Traverse. He's got nothing but a red reading light on inside, giving him a somewhat demonic look. He's waiting for you to come straight out of Central Park using the turning lanes, but failing to turn.

LAST LITTLE TIP OF THE DAY BUT NOT LEAST:
Recently, I was dropping of a passenger on Lexington and 42nd. As always, I asked him if he preferred the right or left side of the Avenue. His response was that the last taxi he took to that same destination received a ticket on behalf of the ubiquitous meter maids who happened to be enforcing the signs all along the right side of Lexington in the low 40s and high 30s that say....

TAXI OPERATIONS ALLOWED ONLY ON THE LEFT FROM 7 to 1 WEEKDAYS. THIS IS NO JOKE. DO NOT PICK UP OR DROP OFF ALONGSIDE GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL. DO NOT COPY ALL THE OTHER CABS AND FORM A LINE AS IF IT WERE A TAXI STAND. IT'S NOT!

Gridlock Sam is now on Twitter

For any cabbies who have twitter on their phones, this'll probably be of some assistance:

http://twitter.com/gridlocksam

foreshadowing the future

Well Bloomberg has just won the race for mayor. He won by 50,000 votes. There are 40,000 cabbies in New York City, and many more FHV drivers. Imagine if we all voted, we wouldn't be persecuted by the mayor anymore. Water under the bridge now as we have 4 more years of rule by the richest man in New York.

This Weekend:
The Holland Tunnel will be open all weekend, no construction.

And in the future:
The Verifone GPS units have a new feature for group rides. This seems ultra scary to me, the technology is now in place for an entirely new way of taxi driving which hasn't even been approved yet. I do not want to have to be a mediator between strangers every time I pick up. And with one cab picking up a bunch of people, won't it be a case of more fares for less cabs, making some cabbies profits soar and others completely fruitless. And what will the policy be when a group of 4 people who know each other requests multiple stops, how does one tell strangers apart from friends? This feature shouldn't be used yet, as it isn't approved, but just the fact that it is there, is threatening enough.

The Present:
And that damn 50 cent extra on every NYC fare, has already maybe cost me a few extra bucks, in all fairness it won't really be much of a problem, but it's just one more number you have to deduct from your total at the end of the day. Is it just me or is the GPS getting more glitchy lately, the approval of credit cards is slower than usual, and more often it doesn't go through. The way to handle this is to:

1. Park the car,
2. shut off the engine,
3. open the hood
4. hit a silver reset button on the battery, and/or disconnect a fuse that is right above the battery
5. then after 5 minutes, put the fuse back in
6. Start the car up again
7. and wait for the system to reboot
8. log in to the system, hopefully everything will work.

Yes that will waste a good chunk of your time, and won't necessarily work, as sometimes it is a company wide glitch and all the taxi meters won't be working correctly at a specific time. Still the meters will accept the credit cards although they will be pending approval. If they get denied several hours later, you can complain to your garage, or your taxi meter shop, or to the company I suppose, and you should get your money from the transaction, as it's not your fault that the meter wasn't working correctly.

The one positive addition:

The one beneficial new feature on the Verifone, is a button to void the last transaction. Before the MTA surcharge, there was a button to void the last credit card transaction in the event that someone paid for the ride via credit card, and then changed their mind and wanted to pay in cash. Now that we have to pay 50 cents for every ride, if a person hops into a cab, and then decides to hop out, we can click the new void last ride button, and not have to pay an extra 50 cents for a ride that never took place. It used to be that when a fare would pay me less than the actual fare, I had to hit the payment refusal button, because I didn't want the IRS to miscalculate my earnings at the end of the year, but if you hit the payment refusal button it automatically assumes that you went to hunt down your fare beating customer and it signs you off the system. I'd then have to quickly sign back in to the GPS before my next customer to avoid having the meter lock.

this weekend!

didn't research anything yet, but you all should know it's halloween tomorrow, that means a big night saturday, maybe some pre-parties the night before too?

BUT also the New York City Marathon is on Sunday closing off a bunch of streets for long times like 1st avenue and many more throughout the city.

Oh P.S. I've heard November first is the first day where we will have an extra 50 cents surcharge for every single ride, which will then be calculated as a total at the end of the day/week what have you, and you will then have to pay the total from the new surcharge back to the MTA via your garage/broker etceteras. bleh.

WATCH YOUR TURNS (or lack thereof)

1. New No Left unto 58th off of Broadway.
DETOURS INCLUDE:
a.) Right on 57/Right on 8/Right on 58.
b.) Follow Columbus Circle around
to Central Park South (59th).
Then Right at 7 Av/Left on 58.

2. Cop trap on Broadway and 14th, still active during morning rush hours. Vehicles traveling downtown on the Left Turn Only lane will be ticketed.

3. New cop trap on westernmost Houston (before ending at West Side Highway). Left lane is coned off the entire block, to accommodate parked NYPD vans, while 2 (or more) officers on foot motion violators to the left. They seem to be enforcing wide turns off of Washington, as well as cellular use if caught (especially Yellow Cabs).

SIDE NOTE (reminder): on that last block of Houston (normally) the left lane is for Left Turns Only, while the middle lane is to go straight ahead into Pier 40 (and right turns as well), and the right lane is for right turns only. The dotted segment of these 3 lanes (for legal lane shifts) is only available the 1st half of the block. The 2nd half are solid white lines. So don't procrastinate. But then again, don't turn wide either, to align yourself early with the lane you need. Both ends of this spectrum are 'illegal'.

Between you and me, in a city this congested, a tactic like this, in that location, for bringing in revenue, is indeed a cheap shot. Motorists are forced to be so anal about the law, to avoid tickets, that it could easily unfold into a neighborhood-wide traffic jam.

Perhaps it's simply part of Bloomberg's plan to dissuade motorists from driving on Manhattan's streets, which is fine by me, but please give us hacks a break. We fit nicely into Plan GreeNYC! No? But the cops don't care and apparently neither does the mayor. Ironically enough, he just became the first mayoral candidate to win the endorsement of all 5 area police unions. Unfortunately, taxis are not excluded from transportation initiative #12, while in all other major cities of the world, taxis are cut slack in bus lanes, etc. etc.

GOING NYC

Yet another site for finding out where to scope for fares:
http://newyork.going.com/?src=g_nyc_t_manhattan-manhattan_weekend&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google

FDR Closure

From Gridlock Sam -

All lanes of FDR northbound Houston to 23rd Street will close midnight Friday until 8 am Sunday.

The northbound entrances at South, Pearl and Montgomery Sts. as well as the Houston St. southbound entrance will also be closed.

Just discovered a new website for the nightlife in NY: nyc.alltheparties.com

I drive day shift on the weekends so I jot down little lists like this

for the last of the crowds when I hit the streets between 4 & 5 am....

BRANCH                       226 E 54 @ 3 Av

MARQUIS                     289 Tenth @ 26th

DUVET                           45 W 21 @ 5 Av

RETREAT                      37 W 17 @ 5 Av

TWO 5TH                      218 E 125th @ 2 Av

L. POISSON ROUGE   158 Bleecker/ Thompson

ELEMENT                     HOUSTON/ESSEX

today's parades and street fairs:

Korean Times Parade:

• 6th Avenue from 40th Street to 25th Street -11am to 4pm

Formation of parade will be at: (before 11am?)

• 40th Street between Broadway and 5th Ave
• 41st Street between Broadway and 6th Ave

Dispersal of parade will be at: (after 4pm?)

• 27th Street between Broadway and 7th Ave
• 31st Street between 5th Ave and Broadway

Korean Times Festival:

• 32nd Street between Broadway and 5th Avenue -11am to 6pm

NIgerian Independence Day Parade:

• 2nd Avenue from 54th Street to 43rd Street -11am to 6pm

Formation of parade: (before 11am?)

• 54th between 2nd Ave and 1st Ave

Dispersal of parade: (after 6pm?)

• 43rd Street between 1st Ave and 2nd Ave
• 44th Street between 2nd Ave and 1st Ave

Nigerian Independence Day Festival:

• 47th Street between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue -11am to 6pm

NEW WARNINGS

ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON I WITNESSED SEVERAL EASTBOUND MOTORISTS ON DELANCEY ST. BEING TICKETED FOR THE $115 BOX BLOCKING VIOLATION UPON ATTEMPTING TO CROSS CHRYSTIE, BUT FALLING SHORT.

A NIGHT DRIVER SHARED HIS SAD STORY WITH ME THIS WEEK. HE WAS ON AMSTERDAM IN THE 80's, WANTING TO MAKE A TURN, BUT A GARBAGE TRUCK SAT DOUBLE PARKED IN THE TURNING LANE. SO HE DROVE AROUND IT AND ANGLED HIS CAB ABOUT 45 DEGREES TOWARDS THE STREET HE INTENDED TO TURN UNTO, WHICH WAS THE ONLY SPACE AVAILABLE BEFORE THE CROSSWALK. THIS WOULD SERVE AS A WARNING TO THE SANITATION GUYS IN CASE THEY DECIDED TO ROLL. HE PUT ON HIS TURN SIGNAL AND SAT THERE AWAITING THE GREEN LIGHT. ALL OF A SUDDEN A COP CAR BEHIND HIM WENT WOOP WOOP AND BLARED 'PULL OVER' ON THE MEGAPHONE. SO HE MADE THE TURN AND SAT TIGHT WHILE THE COP PROCEEDED TO WRITE HIM TWO TICKETS: ONE FOR RUNNING A STEADY RED AND ONE FOR IMPROPER TURN. DOES THIS SOUND LIKE A FISH NET OR WHAT?

WHEN TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ALONG WOODHAVEN BLVD. IN QUEENS, BEWARE OF A SUCCESSION OF RED LIGHT CAMERAS: AT JAMAICA AV, LIBERTY, AND PITKIN.

update- U.N. Assembly-- And this weekend's parades and street fares.

Sorry I've been slacking with the traffic updates. Since Labor Day I decided to just roll with it each weekend, either by finding each street closure in the early hours on Saturday and Sunday, or by stopping into the Apple Store and checking the DOT website during my shift. They have free wifi, and they let you use their computers, plus a bathroom 24 hours a day.

Really I wished that the street fairs and parades would stop after Labor Day, but they continued. And we had the Fashion Show closing down 6th Avenue in the middle of the weekday, two days in a row. Fortunately I wasn't driving those two days, but I could only imagine the torture.

In the coming days:

The U. N. General Assembly

I worry about the United Nations General Assembly. I've had two passengers this week ask me when it begins. They were worried about traffic, remembering that every year around this time, the traffic is a torture for one full week. The DOT website has a listing of specific streets with a construction embargo that begins this Friday at midnight--

This may or may not give a clue, some insight, into what streets will be randomly closed as diplomats enter and leave the U.N. and travel between there and their respective consulates. My guess is everywhere around 42nd street, and all around the U.N. If you're near an international embassy, that may be a problem too. But we don't really know what will hit us until we're out there.

-----From the DOT Special Advisory Page---

UN General Assembly Construction Embargo - September 18 - October 4, 2009

A special construction embargo is in effect for the UN General Assembly starting 12:01AM Friday, September 18 to 11:59PM Sunday, October 4, 2009, for the locations noted below. Only emergency work may be performed provided an emergency number is received from the New York City Department of Transportation. Any non-emergency permits issued prior to the date of this notice, and manhole openings, are hereby voided for those dates at the locations noted below. There will be strict enforcement of this embargo and violators are subject to be summonsed. The locations in Manhattan affected by the embargo are as follows:

• Area bound by East 57th Street on the north; 1st Avenue on the east;
• East 34th Street on the south; and 2nd Avenue on the west (All inclusive)
• Area bound by East 46th Street on the north; Vanderbilt Avenue on the east;
• East 45th Street on the south; and Madison Avenue on the west (All inclusive)
• Area bounded by East 51st Street on the north; Lexington Avenue on the east; East 49th Street on the south; and Madison Avenue on the west (All inclusive)
• Area bound by East 47th Street on the north; 1st Avenue on the east; East 43rd Street on the south; and 3rd Avenue on the west (All inclusive)
• East 34th Street from FDR Drive to 7th Avenue
• 42nd, 50th Streets from FDR Drive to 6th Avenue
• 48th, 49th, 51st Streets from Madison Avenue to 1st Avenue
• 52nd, 53rd Streets from 6th Avenue to 7th Avenue
• Battery Place from West Street to 3rd Place
• 1st Place from Little West Street to West Circle Cove
• 2nd Place from Little West Street to Battery Place
• Little West Street from Battery Place to 2nd Place
• West Thames Street from Battery Place to South End Avenue

This weekend's street fairs and parades:

These are not all the streets that are listed for closure, but I believe them to be the most important

Friday night and Saturday night:

86th Street transverse road

will be closed from 11pm on Friday night to 8am Saturday morning,

and will close from 11pm on Saturday night to 10am Sunday morning.

Saturday:

Parade

5th Avenue between 67th Street and 86th Street

The parade will begin around 11am, but give an hour or two early, from 67th to 70th streets. 67th-70th streets will probably be closed in those earlier times between 5th Avenue and Lexington Avenue, for the parade formation. The parade disperses at 86th street around 5pm. All transverses should be open, but the 79th street one might get backed up badly, actually all transverses might get backed up badly if you plan on driving east from Central Park West through the park. 79th could be backed up in both directions. I'd warn my passengers in advance, if they're going to the area.

Street fair

7th Avenue between 57th Street and 47th Street

will be closed Saturday between 11am and 6pm- However they can close the street as early as 9am.

Crane operations

West 11th Street between 5th Avenue and University Place: This street will be closed Saturday from 9am to 7pm to facilitate crane operation.

West 37th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue: This street will be closed Saturday from 6am to 4pm to facilitate crane operation.

West 44th Street between 9th Avenue and 8th Avenue: This street will be closed Saturday from 8am to 4pm to facilitate crane operation.

Saturday and Sunday:

The feast of San Gennaro

In Little Italy is continuing through this weekend- these are the streets that are closed-

-Mulberry Street between Canal and Houston--Hester Street between Mott Street and Centre Street--And Grand Street between Centre Street and Mott Street.

If the street carnival (San Gennaro) does get popular, which tends to happen later in the day, avoid crosstown in Little Italy/SoHo and Chinatown. Houston Street is the best way.

Crane operations:

West 51st Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue: This street will be closed from 6am Saturday to 9pm Sunday to facilitate crane operation. (Day/Night)

West 16th Street between 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue: This street will be closed Saturday and/or Sunday from 8am to 6pm to facilitate crane operation.

East 30th Street between Lexington Avenue and Third Avenue: This street will be closed Saturday and/or Sunday from 8am to 6pm to facilitate crane operation.

Sunday:

Parades

Formation: 41st Street between Park Avenue and 5th Avenue Route: Madison Avenue between 27th Street and 41st Street Dispersal: 27th Street between Park Avenue and 5th Avenue The above streets will be closed Sunday from 11am to 4pm for the Mexican Day Parade as permitted by NYPD.

Formation: West 111th Street to West 114th Street between 8th Avenue and Lenox Avenue Route: 7th Avenue between 111th Street and 142nd Streets; 142nd Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenues Dispersal: 142nd Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue The above streets will be closed Sunday from 11am to 5pm for the 39th Annual African American Day Parade as permitted by NYPD.

Street fair

8th Avenue between 42nd Street and 57th Street

will be closed Sunday between 11am and 6pm- However they can close the street as early as 9am.

Saturday - Sunday 8/29 -8/30

Check the DOT page, because some of the cross streets closed for crane operations look like they might be in trouble spots,

for example -

41st Street btw 7th and 8th aves

Murray Street west of the west side highway

58th Street on that little spot between 8th ave and broadway

47th Street btw 5th and 6th aves

67th Street btw Madison and 5th

etc.. etc... check the DOT page

Remember the Holland Tunnel as usual will be closed outbound on Saturday night and Sunday night from 1am to 8am. check the traffic reports on the radio as sometimes they open late.

Here are some street fairs,

Saturday:

2nd Avenue between East 57th Street and East 45th Street:

This street will be closed Saturday from 11am to 6pm for the Friends of Dag Hammarskjold Plaza Street Fair as permitted by the Mayor's Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO).

Sunday:

Amsterdam Avenue between West 76th Street and West 86th Street:

This street will be closed Sunday from 11am to 6pm for the Concerned Citizens-Amsterdam Avenue Festival St. Matthews/St. Thomas Neighborhood Center as permitted by the Mayor's Street Activity Permit (SAPO).

Broadway between West 57th Street and West 47th Street:

This street will be closed Sunday from 11am to 6pm for the Big Apple Performing Broadway Festival as permitted by the Big Apple Performing Broadway Festival as permitted by the Mayor's Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO).

Hey, and at least we don't have Park Avenue closed. Soon the summer will be over the people will be back, and the construction and the street fairs will be over.

Saturday - Sunday

Saturday:

In addition to this being the last Saturday of Summer Streets, where Park Avenue and the Avenues that lead to Park from the Brooklyn Bridge are closed - (click this post for info) - -Oops, sorry I forgot to input the link.

6th Avenue will be closed above 42nd Street for a regular crappy street fair.

Also there will be a run in Harlem, maybe a walk to, here are those details:

NYC Health Walk-A-Thon Route: Start on Edgecombe Avenue between 135th Street and 136th Street head north along Edgecombe Avenue at 141st Street bear right (north) onto Bradhurst Avenue proceed north on Bradhurst alongside Jackie Robinson Park turn around at 1-mile mark near intersection of 155th Street to proceed south on Bradhurst alongside Jackie Robinson Park at 143rd Street continue south on Edgecombe Avenue turn right (west) on 135th Street and an immediate right (north) on St. Nicholas Avenue

Finish: On St. Nicholas Avenue near 135th Street alongside St. Nicholas Park

Percy Sutton Harlem 5K Run Start on Edgecombe Avenue between 135th Street and 136th Street head north along Edgecombe Avenue; at 141st Street bear right onto Bradhurst Avenue; turn left (west) at 145th Street; turn right (north) back onto Edgecombe Avenue; 1-mile mark just before 155th Street at 155th Street, take sharp left (south) onto St. Nicholas Place turn right (west) on 150th Street; turn left (south) onto Convent Avenue turn left (east) onto St. Nicholas Terrace; 2-mile mark just after this turn.
Proceed straight (south) along top of St. Nicholas Park; turn left (east) on 127th Street; turn left (north) on St. Nicholas Avenue; proceed straight (north) on St. Nicholas Avenue alongside St. Nicholas Park; 3-mile mark around 134th Street
Finish near 135th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue
The above streets will be closed Saturday from 6am to 4pm for the NYC Health Walk-A-Thon and Percy Sutton 5K Run as permitted by the Mayor's Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO).

Sunday:

These Closures:

3rd Avenue between East 23rd Street and East 34th Street: This street will be closed Sunday from 11am to 6pm for the Church of the Good Shepherd Street Fair as permitted by the Mayor's Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO).

Madison Avenue between East 42nd Street and East 57th Street: This street will be closed Sunday from 11am to 6pm for the Daytop Village Street Festival as permitted by the Mayor's Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO).

And Stanton between Allen and Orchard, will be closed this Sunday as well as a few up coming ones.

This info was gathered from the DOT, and if you want more information on streets and bridges I haven't mentioned, go there.

Also as usual, the Holland tunnel will be closed to outbound traffic from 1am to 8am, both saturday and sunday mornings. check the P.A. for more information on the tunnels, airports, etc..

Major Highways and Junctions closed tonight:

oops! and today yikes!

My friend Lee told me the FDR would be closed from Houston to 23rd Street starting at 9pm tonight, big stuff, may put the east side northbound Avenues in a jam in the East Village, steer clear.

Visit Gridlock Sam's Traffic page, I copied and pasted the details, which also include a closure of the entrance ramp from the GWB to the local Bronx' Washington Bridge:

All lanes of the FDR Drive northbound will be closed from Houston to 23rd Sts. from 9p.m. Tuesday to 9 p.m. Wednesday. This emergency work is needed to keep the FDR Drive from being undermined by the East River. In addition, the South St./Montgomery St. northbound entrance as well as the two Pearl St. entrances will be closed at the same time. The southbound FDR exit at Houston St. will also be closed. Southbound drivers may exit at Grand St. and work their way back north.

The impact will be felt on the West Side Highway, where traffic will detour, and on First Ave. from Houston to 23rd Sts. After 9 p.m. Wednesday, one FDR lane northbound around 14th St. will remain closed around the clock, with two lanes reopening at that point.
The Alexander Hamilton Bridge, which connects the George Washington Bridge (under the apartments) with the Cross Bronx Expressway, takes center stage this week as a major reconstruction is underway.
The state Department of Transportation is closing the ramp that connects the GWB with the Washington (not George) Bridge, aka 181st St. Bridge, which takes motorists into the Bronx, around the clock starting Tuesday morning for the next 19 months.
Traffic will have to use the ramp to Amsterdam Ave. followed by a right turn onto the 181st St. Bridge as the detour. Also, nightly (between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.) multiple lane closures in each direction are possible.
Making it extra tough is the full closure of the lower level of the George Washington Bridge from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly through Friday morning. Unless you're heading to the Bronx or points north, consider the Lincoln or Holland tunnels as an alternative.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/traffic/index.html#ixzz0OZjncQL4

Sunday streets -belated closure warnings

Sorry I didn't look this up before hand, better late then never? yeah I know, this is probably too late:

From DOT:
Route: 7th Avenue from Central Park South to 42nd Street; 42nd Street to Westside Highway (9A); Westside Highway to West Thames Street:
The above streets will be closed Sunday from 6am to 11am for the NYC ½ Marathon as permitted by the Mayor's Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO).

Formation: Madison Avenue and East 41st Street
Route: Madison Avenue from East 41st Street to East 27th Street
End: Madison Avenue at East 27th Street
The above streets will be closed Sunday from 11am to 6pm for the Indian Day Parade as permitted by NYPD. Also the Festival will occur on Madison Avenue between East 23rd and East 26th Street as permitted by the Mayor's Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO).

Madison Avenue between East 42nd Street an East 57th Street: This street will be closed Sunday from 11am to 6pm for the Workmen's Circle Street Fair as permitted by the Mayor's Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO).

In other words: Madison Avenue will be or is closed from 23rd all the way to 57th. Parades make it hard to cross, but at the street fair from 42 to 57th it may be easier with still some slowness.

Summer Streets (2)

UPDATE- 6TH AVE BETWEEN 14TH AND 23RD HAS A STREET FAIR FROM 11 AM TO 6 PM, AND WATER STREET FROM BROAD TO FULTON WILL ALSO BE CLOSED.

This Saturday and next Saturday:

From 7am to 1pm between the Brooklyn Bridge and 72nd Street Centre Street, Lafayette Street, 4th Avenue, and finally Park Avenue, will be closed. Traffic will only be allowed across centre street, 4th Avenue, and Park Avenue, at the following major cross streets

• 23rd Street

• 30th Street

• 34th Streets

• 36th/37th Streets

• 41st, 42nd,45th Streets

(route will go over Viaduct)

• 49th/50th Streets

• 53th/54th Streets

• 57th Street

• 59th/60th Streets

• 65th/66th Streets

• 72nd Street – WESTBOUND only

• Chambers Street

• Worth Street

• Canal Street

• Broome Street

• East Houston Street

• 8th/9th Streets

• 14th Street

Make sure to let your fare know about the event before you start your trip, tell them your plans to avoid the traffic, and that it may take longer than usual to get to their destination.

Early in the morning things should run smoothly if you know your thru streets, but as it gets toward 1pm, the shit will hit the fan, avoid anywhere near the 4th Ave, Park ave, centre st, Lafayette combo, especially here->>

Below Houston Street, SoHo particularly gets bad, try to stay a few avenues east or west of Lafayette. From Battery Park, Tribeca, and Downtown, avoid the mess, don't go near Centre or Lafayette. And last Saturday I noticed they were not letting traffic turn west from Lexington Avenue even onto the thru streets. Lexington Avenue will be a mess, plan your thru streets early and avoid Lexington all together. Didn't remember much about Madison Avenue.

Always check the DOT and Port Authority web-pages before your weekend shifts

late breaking Sunday

I don't know who this benefits, since you're all on the road by now, and few have wifi, I found a connection at 53rd and 7th---

The dominican day parade is up 6th avenue from 36 to 56

37 and 38 will probably already be closed for parade formations. The parade starts at 11am, running to 6pm, give or take the hour before and after.

Lexington avenue has a street fair from 57th to 42nd street. 11 am to 6pm, give or take an hour.

Summer Streets!!!

This Saturday along with the 15th and 22nd of August, will have this Avenue up the middle of Manhattan closed to automobiles, open only to bicycles.

Full size map of closed Centre Street/4th Ave / and Park Ave, showing open cross streets here, or just check the DOT weekend traffic page.

Attention Morning Drivers! -From 7am to 1pm between the Brooklyn Bridge and 72nd Street crosstown traffic will only be allowed to cross centre street, 4th Avenue, and Park Avenue, at the following major cross streets -

• 23rd Street

• 30th Street

• 34th Streets

• 36th/37th Streets

• 41st, 42nd,45th Streets

(route will go over Viaduct)

• 49th/50th Streets

• 53th/54th Streets

• 57th Street

• 59th/60th Streets

• 65th/66th Streets

• 72nd Street – WESTBOUND only

• Chambers Street

• Worth Street

• Canal Street

• Broome Street

• East Houston Street

• 8th/9th Streets

• 14th Street

Also Brooklyn Bridge traffic going in to Manhattan will be directed away from Centre Street, which will cause a bigger jam at St. James Street and the Bowery in Chinatown. If you are heading north and don't need to go west, then head east on Madison Street and north on Allen Street which turns into First Avenue.

If you think traffic will be bad going crosstown, try to pick up in Battery Park and Battery Park City, where you can loop around the FDR Drive instead of going crosstown. Or you can aim to shuttle your passengers between the Upper West Side and either Times Square or the Upper East Side. The first Saturday that this was done last year it went bad, but the next two Saturdays it went smoothly. We should expect this to go relatively smoothly, much better than a parade or a race which cannot be stopped. The police let traffic across on those above streets at regularly timed intervals.

Make sure to let your fare know about the event before you start your trip, tell them your plans to avoid the traffic, and that it may take longer than usual to get to their destination.

Always check the DOT and Port Authority web-pages before your weekend shifts- Here's a few more gems-

Starting at 2pm on Saturday all the way to the morning rush on Monday, Madison avenue looks bad from 39th street to 48th:

Madison Avenue between East 39th Street and East 41st Street: One lane of traffic will be maintained from 2pm Saturday to 7am Monday to facilitate NYCDDC water main lining construction activity.

Madison Avenue between East 44th Street and East 48th Street: Two lanes of traffic will be maintained from 2pm Saturday to 7am Monday to facilitate NYCDDC water main lining construction activity.

According to the Port Authority website, the Holland Tunnel will be OPEN this weekend, you heard right, open!! do a drive by just to check if it's true.

AND MORE RED LIGHT CAMS....

Eastbound Fordham Road @ Boston Rd. (BX).
Northbound Tenth Ave. @57th (CLINTON).

Sunday - streets

Parade on 5th Avenue: From 72nd Street to 54th Street from 11am to 6pm, so early heads up on that, be weary by 9am. Central Park South will probably also be closed for the parade formation between 5th and 6th Avenue. crossing 5th Avenue even before 11am might be impossible from 54th to 59th due to the parade formation. Once 10:30 hits cross your fingers, or make sure not to go across there, that's my advice, but hey you never know, it's always a crap shoot.

Also Broadway between 57th Street and 47th Street: This street will be closed Sunday from 11am to 6pm - street fair.

Advice: Poof - go down 9th avenue

also as mentioned in yesterday's blog :

• Park Avenue will have only one lane open in the south bound direction between 37 and 36 -until 7pm
• And Columbus Avenue will have only two lanes open from 63 to 62 -until 1pm

Yesterday 2nd Avenue was still messy with construction in the middle lanes at around 51st street (estimated) weather it will or will not be under construction today we'll see.

Good luck-

saturday-

You know the drill- check the DOT website for the most accurate road closures.

Click Here

• The major closure I'm going to remember is Lexington Avenue between 57th Street and 42nd Street- 11am to 6pm
• Also that damn Holland Tunnel is closed as usual from 1 am to 8am, both today and tomorrow.

Advice-

Be cautious for it to get hectic by 10am thru 6pm. Don't be surprised when 57th Street clogs at Lexington, Stay away from that after 11 even 10 in the morning, stay clear of that all through the whole day. warn customers early, and make your turns to Park Avenue, or 2nd Avenue depending on where you're going. second avenue had some construction on the two right lanes in the afternoon last weekend in the upper 30's, Park Avenue WILL have one lane closed going south between 37th Street and 36th Street, so it'd be best to get back to the empty Lexington avenue once south of 42nd Street.

Most of my tips are for the day, once the sun has risen- please check that DOT page for more info, below is one that pertains to night drivers too.

• Columbus Avenue will have two lanes closed through the night until 1pm today and through tomorrow night from 11pm to 1pm Sunday as well.

UPDATE

NEW RED LIGHT CAMERA SIGHTINGS:
Linden Eastbound at Pennsylvania Avenue

PRE SHIFT PREP

It all begins the night before, when I choose whether or not I want (have to) to work. If I decide I want to lease a cab the next day, I used to have to call the garage around 8:30 pm to make a reservation, but at the new garage I just show up and wait. The dispatcher usually comes through with a cab, but from time to time they're booked with drivers. I show up anywhere between 1 and 3:30 am, sit in the lounge, and by 5 am (usually) I'm assigned one of the taxicabs coming back from the night shift. My old garage (in LIC) had drivers park their cabs throughout the neighborhood because they have no lot of their own. But the new garage (in Greenpoint) has one.

Upon dishing out roughly $105, I used to have to search a 4 square block area to match the meter with its medallion number (randomly parked taxicab), but now it's right out front. Upon entering the cab, first thing I do is briefly inspect it for leaky tires, burned headlights, significant dents, and stray trunk cargo. I make sure the backseat isn't littered with rubbish (omen for lower tips) and slide my hack license into the partition. I make sure to equip the cockpit with an emergency pee bottle and a gallon of potable water, to minimize unecessary breaks. Then I go a step further than most cabbies and reset the radio dials to the 3 essential stations that offer periodic traffic reports, in the precise order they broadcast them:
1010 am on the ones.
1130 am on the fives.
880 am on the eights.

This way I can quickly refer to them throughout the day, which is essential if you want to avoid accidents and roving construction jams. It's good to be prepared in case someone jumps in with an outer borough request, or anything involving the highway.

It also pays to check the internet before your shift and compile a list of events happening at the Javits Center, the cruise ship terminal, etc. Look on the MTA website to find out which train lines have suspended service. People prefer taxis over often overcrowded shuttle buses.

July 4th Weekend

The fireworks on the night of the fourth are on the Hudson River (the west side of Manhattan) this year. The Daily News Column tackles it well enough.

6th Avenue will be closed for a street fair during the day 11am to 6pm whatever the usual routine is for street fairs. And so that may clog the arteries going uptown and crosstown all around the West Village, Chelsea, and will make the trips long and frustrating. Until about 4pm, 10th Avenue should be good, so if you have to be west, go far, far west. Once the fireworks come, stay on the east side of Manhattan, which is pretty much a good idea always.

Water Street will be closed between Fulton and Broad Streets as well from 11am to 6pm

Also check the DOT web page, it differs on how much of the West Side Highway and 12th avenue will be closed.

On Sunday-

6th Avenue will be closed from 42nd to 56th. Madison may be the best bet.

Lexington Ave will be closed from 42nd to 34th.

WATCH OUT DEAR FELLOW YELLOWS

UPPER EAST SIDE:
THERE'S BEEN A POLICE TRAP SET UP IN RECENT DAYS ON THIRD AS YOU TURN RIGHT OFF E. 60th TO GO UPTOWN. THREE OR FOUR OF THEM STAND BY THE FAR LEFT LANE AND MOTION DRIVERS TO PULL OVER IF THEY MAKE A WIDE TURN ACROSS SEVERAL LANES. YOUR TURN MUST LOOK LIKE A NICE CLEAN 90 DEGREE ANGLE IF YOU DON'T WANT A TICKET.

MORE RED LIGHT CAMERAS:
I'VE NOW SPOTTED NEW ONES I HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE ON:

1. Metropolitan Avenue eastbound across Bushwick Avenue. This one is easy to get stung by when you come down Humbolt off the BQE and turn left unto Metro.

2. Bushwick Avenue southbound across Flushing Avenue.

3. South Conduit eastbound (towards the airport) at 89th Street (near Linden Blvd.).

4. Linden Boulevard westbound across Fountain (East New York).

Update weekend:

note today in addition to what's in the posting for saturday, there is also a street fair on Bleeker Street probably between 6th avenue and broadway, just avoid Bleeker completely.

The festival today, and the parade tomorrow named 'Heritage of Pride' is actually the Gay Pride festival and parade. Today the festival will be in the meatpacking district. I doubt there will be much taxi use from there, but there may be more partying in Greenwich Village, maybe the meatpacking too, late into the night.

Its the parade that really gets messy on Sunday:

5th Avenue from 52nd street all the way down to turn at the bottom of 5th Avenue, Going up Christopher Street either from 9th Street or Waverly/Washington Square North. The parade will continue west on Christopher all the way to Greenwich Street.

note formation streets and dispersal streets listed as they will probably be close at the beginning and ending.

Formation: 52nd, 53rd, 54th, and 56th Streets between 7th Avenue and Madison Avenue
Route: 5th Avenue from 52nd Street to Greenwich Street
Dispersal: Greenwich Street between West Houston and Bethune Streets
The above streets will be closed Sunday from 11am to 6pm for the Heritage of Pride Parade as permitted by NYPD.

Saturday: 6/27/09

It's always a good idea to look at the DOT page for the weekends, I said it before, but it's always important especially in the summer time.

From what I've read so far, at a 11 in the morning:

6th Ave between 23rd and 33rd will be closed for a street fair. And again it will be closed from 35th to 59th streets for the International Immigrants Day Parade.

So really 6th Avenue will be closed from 23rd to 59th Streets

This seems hard to believe, so if you have a morning shift like me, examine the avenue as the day progresses. they may cut it shorter, or cancel the street fair between 23rd and 33rd.

The Meatpacking District will have these closures:
Hudson Street between 14th Street and Bethune Street;

13th Street between Hudson Street and 9th Avenue;

9th Avenue between 13th Street and 14th Streets:
These streets will be closed Sunday from 11am to 6pm for the Heritage of Pride Festival as permitted by the Mayor's Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO).

And Greene Street will very likely be closed for crane operations between Canal Street and Grand Street, so avoid the small streets of SoHo today as traffic builds.
Many more crane operation streets are mentioned, so check the DOT page for that and Sunday's closures.