Times When You Can’t Catch a Yellow taxi in New York

Hello! This is Maegami from the blog “Megami no Maegami.” Today, I’m sharing an article about the current safety situation in New York.

I’m a little less scared of the subway now.

After the pandemic, I tried taking the subway late at night! It had been a long time since I rode the subway alone at 1 a.m., and honestly, it was terrifying. Previously, I wrote about using New York Yellow Taxis, but during the pandemic, I realized I’d overlooked one important point: there are times when you simply cannot catch a Yellow Taxi.

Read more about catching New York Yellow Cabs →

Where is West 4th Station?

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This time, I tried to catch a Yellow Taxi in Greenwich Village. This area is home to the famous Jazz Bar Blue Note New York and many other venues with live jazz performances. As a result, it’s always lively at night.

Additionally, New York University (NYU) is located in Greenwich Village. With student dormitories and numerous young people frequenting bars and restaurants, the area has a high concentration of youth.

Washington Square Park is always buzzing with artists, performers, and people talking late into the night. So, walking around this area at night is relatively safe nowadays.

Yellow Taxis Are Hard to Catch After Midnight

Before 11 p.m., catching a taxi is generally easy. But around midnight, finding a Yellow Taxi becomes difficult. One exception is if you’re heading to Queens—congratulations! Many taxi drivers live in Queens, so your chances of getting a ride are higher.

Read more about living in Queens →

Being Rejected by Yellow Taxis

Descending into the West 4th subway station at 1 a.m. was terrifying!

I was turned away by five Yellow Taxis, all saying, “I’m done.” Since I live on the West Side, getting there would have been a long detour for the drivers.

After midnight, rideshare services like Lyft or Uber can cost $100 or more for a one-way trip. During the daytime, these services are fine, but taking the subway after midnight can be quite nerve-wracking.

The Subway at Night

When I passed through the turnstile and headed to the platform, the station was packed with people, and there were 3–4 police officers present. I should have just taken the subway from the start!

I rode the A Train, known as one of the “most dangerous” lines. Surprisingly, it was filled with young people, many of whom were a bit tipsy. They seemed like college students or people returning from work and nightlife. Next to me, a Korean woman was dozing off, which made me a little worried.

Even so, the subway felt safer than a few weeks ago—not dark and intimidating, but closer to the pre-pandemic sense of security.

How the Subway Used to Be

Before the pandemic, riding the subway for work or going out was just part of life. Despite being dirty and always crowded, it made people tough.

After the recent Brooklyn shooting, many people still took the subway the next day. This shows the resilience of New Yorkers.

Voices of Subway Riders

“This is New York.”
“I have to work; I can’t be scared.”
“New York has always been like this.”
“It’s scary, but what can you do?”

These are tough, determined voices. Compared to subway scenes in movies like Ghost, modern New York subways feel safer. Yet, the mental strength of New Yorkers is remarkable.

With a mindset of “Don’t be afraid, just be alert,” people go about work and play safely.

I was also surprised to see ads about cannabis in the subway!
Read more about cannabis in NYC →

Summary

In this post, I shared my experience taking the subway at 1 a.m. After the pandemic, the presence of police and lively crowds has improved safety. The key point to remember: after midnight, Yellow Taxis are hard to catch. Unless you’re heading to Queens, many drivers won’t pick you up. If you live in Midtown, you’re generally fine, since bridges to Queens start from Midtown.