Dear Editor:
A few years ago, Tom Glavine got off a plane, at Kennedy Airport, and climbed into a yellow cab. What’s that they say about “Life being like a box of chocolate”? Minutes later he was literally flying again in the back seat of the cab. When the dust settled, Tommy was missing a couple of teeth. Needless to say, he did not pitch for the N.Y. Mets that night. As they say in the umpire’s world “you’re out!”
In 2012 I was driving for a car service company, in a town that doesn’t inspect their cars. This van had over 200,000 miles and a problem with the shifting mechanism. Soon I would find out how bad it was.
After bringing a senior to her destination, I noticed she was having trouble disembarking. So I put the car into park and got out to help her. When I shut my door it set off a chain of events you can’t imagine. As I came around to the front of the car, it slipped out of park and into reverse.
By this time, the customer managed to step out of the car, but her door was still open. Now, I have a real big problem. The door is threatening to drag her into on-coming traffic. Disaster was just moments away.
The one thing I had working for me, was that all the traffic was stopped at light on Manhattan Ave. and Kennedy Blvd. As I got to her side of the car I shouted “get out of the way!”
She dives into a snowbank, I slam her door shut and started running like I never ran before. As I caught up to the driver’s door, I had to put my own brakes on and then started back peddling. Next step, open the driver’s door and dive into the sitting position. Then comes the brakes and the overwhelming sense of relief. Of course the owner said it was all my fault for not making sure the car was in park. But I always wondered why you had to put the car in neutral to start it up.
The same thing happened in NYC last year. The driver though, opened the door and tried to hit the brake in one shot. He missed and hit the gas instead. Who says you can’t run yourself over? Unfortunately, he didn’t survive.
Moral of the story, don’t play Russian Roulette with yourselves, your family or friends. It’s good to be able to rate the cars and drivers. Know what your getting yourselves into. If you don’t like the service call a different company.
The N.J. State Legislature and the City of Hoboken are moving closer to monopolizing the taxi and limo industry. When that happens there will be no more choices. When the local companies are gone, they will be gone forever. Just like the Woolly Mammoth, The Dodo Bird, and the dinosaurs. You will be stuck with one size fits all, just like communism and Obamacare. Welcome to price surging.
Just the other day I told a customer about someone being charged $18. within the city limits. They told me that was nothing. A while back, they ordered a car on their Smartphone but hit the X (expedited service) button by mistake. Total bill $30. Well, thats progress for ya. Support your local companies.
Eric D Garrison