Cabs are fucking expensive now! I knew the hike was coming, and after what, seven years, cabbies deserve the raise probably. But gosh, it really hits you where it hurts. Sure wish they could have nickle and dimed their way up over a few years rather than all at once.
A cab from Chelsea to Park Slope Sunday night really knocked the wind out of me. We weren't to the middle of the Manhattan Bridge when the meter passed what is normally the entire fare home, including tip. Intoxicated and bitter, when the fare came to $18.20 and I handed over a 20 and asked for a dollar back, the cabbie protested and practically threw the remaning 80 cents back at me, cursing.
Living in Brooklyn as I do, I ALWAYS tip generously, knowing it's sometimes not so lucrative for a taxi to make the trip back into the city with no passengers. But after just shelling over an extra 4+ dollars, I couldn't help but protest in my small way.
It was surprising though that the cabbie reacted so furiously given that the new fare had been in effect all of two hours...