The King's Bay YM-YWHA and Trump Village West - Community Carnival, May 19, 2013

Video: Livery Cab Chaos On Sheepshead Bay Road


by on Sep 22nd, 2010

When we told you last week about the efforts of local politicians to push livery cabs off of Sheepshead Bay Road,  a number of commenters said the cabs were an asset and helped them get where they’re going.

Regardless, they’re still a dangerous menace on Sheepshead Bay Road, and this video shows why.

Responding to an emergency situation near the train station, an NYPD vehicle pulled alongside the cabs and officers made haste to the scene. They left their car in the middle of the street since car service vehicles, illegally stationed in No Standing and No Parking areas, made it impossible to pull up to the curb.

Their car was left between the livery cabs and the bus stop, and DOT construction crews on the corner of East 15th Street added to the congestion. A second unmarked police car was in front of the station – also in the middle of the street as livery cars were in the No Standing zone.

As you’ll see in the video above, commuters began driving into oncoming traffic to get around the police car. As some waited for traffic to clear, impatient drivers behind them tried to jockey ahead, putting two lanes of cars moving against traffic towards East 15th Street. When a bus came in, the impatient drivers were blocked in by even more thoughtless people, and the bus, crowded with students on their way home, couldn’t get off Sheepshead Bay Road. Eventually cars needed to go in reverse up Sheepshead Bay Road.

When a police car finally came and chased the cabs away before continuing down Sheepshead Bay Road, it took approximately 20 seconds for the livery cabs to begin lining up again. The street was blocked once more.

We spoke to one livery driver, who admitted that standing there was illegal. He said that the cars shouldn’t do it, but that “people, they need to get from one place to another.”

He also said police officers had previously told him they could stay in the No Parking area, but admitted he and others frequently used the No Standing zone because it’s a better spot for getting fares.

DOT needs to end this now, and make the entire strip around the station a No Standing zone for all except delivery trucks. Then the NYPD and TLC needs to enforce it. If a taxi zone is necessary, there are spots on the surrounding streets that can accommodate it without creating a safety issue.

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  • Cblue456

    I’d want to see a proper taxi stand, such like the ones in Manhattan at Penn Station. How about on E 15th on the side of the mural?

    • bigmike

      They are NOT TAXIs. They are livery cars. $10.00 for a $5.00 ride in the neighborhood from the station, and thats not in the rain or snow.

  • BayResident

    I was thinking of where to put a taxi stand when it was first proposed in the original thread of comments on this site and couldn’t come up with a good solution. E 15th on the side of the mural actually seams perfect. There are usually cars stoped there to pick people up from the train station anyway and it is wide enough to not cause any problems. Properly implemented, I could see this being the ideal solution.

    The only problem would be the overflow onto Sheepshead Bay Road if the block isn’t long enough to accomidate all the cabbys. Overflow around the bend may make the situation more dangerous than it already is.

    • Animo916

      E 15 St is a turning point for the buses. Cars parked on either side of E15 St will still cause congestion. The original Taxi Stand between E14 & E 15 St would be my best alternative. It is one way, and would not back up the east side of the station where it becomes 2 way. Unfortunately, they will still continue their practice of double parking, and jockeying for positions, which will stop traffic while a bus is stopped at the curb, but it won’t affect both directions.

  • Erica

    I am guilty of using these cabs from time to time, but…I don’t know if this is pointing out the obvious (and certainly it is advice I can also take, and should take)…there is a legitimate car service across the street…Ameriworld…whose prices are comparable, if not cheaper, than the livery cab drivers. The only difference is, you may have to wait 5-10 minutes to get a car, versus being able to hop in one right away.

  • BrooklynBus

    I think a stand on East 15th Street would interfere with turning buses. I believe, if I remember correctly, the north side Sheepshead Bay Road between East 14th and 15th was once a yellow cab stand. I think that would be a good location.

    • http://www.nedberke.com Ned Berke

      You’re right about the turning buses. That’s why there’s no parking on that street. As you noted, there was a stand on Sheepshead Bay Road, but it was constantly overcrowded by the cars, which ended up going in front of the station anyway. They also caused major congestion problems as they double parked there.

      I may be hanged for saying this, but I think we should consider eliminating parking on East 16th street between Sheepshead Bay Road and Avenue Z and making that a haven for these guys. Are commuters going to whine about walking a half block?

      Another option is making a portion of Shore Pkwy N, where it wraps around the apartment building between East 16th street and Voorhies Avenue, a cab stand. Then all the people who want to take car service can exit off of the Voorhies side, which also keeps the street clear for buses. The problem is if these drivers act like asses near the Belt exit, it can be a lot more dangerous. Also, not sure what the parking situation is for the apartment building – they may need those spots.

      • Animo916

        Ned you hit the nail right on the head. But it’s not …if they act like asses….the problem is …they do act like asses.

  • a good neighbor

    i always thought they are not supposed to pick up fare on the spot like yellow taxi.

    • Animo916

      Exactly what I pointed out in the original posting. Car Service, as a for call service, not for street fares.

  • levp

    There is another issue with these cars: they rarely obey NYC “No idling for more than 3 minutes” law. To add insult to injury, they fill them up with kerosene (my guess). Now try to wait for a bus and breathe at the same time (not required if you’re a zombie)…

  • John

    You should video tape them in the morning on an alternate side of the street parking. When the street cleaning vehicle along with the dept of sanitation car ahead of it, the cabs pull away from the curb into the middle of the street to let the street sweeper pass and then they back down the street back into the illegal spots. It’s very dangerous. Is it just me or are there no standing signs there?

  • http://twitter.com/nicktherat nick the rat

    all i see is a double parked cop ;)

    • Craig

      that was the cop that arrested the guy for robbing the newspaper from the deli,when he did park there where cabs parked but the bounced when they saw the cop park

  • Boosam7

    Hello is their any body out there.Don’t you know us Americans we’re completely taking over.Let them park there why not, they have more rights than us.I love the Russian ambulette vans they take up an entire residential block and think that is ok.They throw their garbage on the floor, cigarette buds,bottles, empty luch bags, don’t worry us Americans will clean up after you, we have know choice we don’t live like pigs. I would love to see if I could get a van, unfortunately I choose to work my entire life so I get nothing.Don’t loose your job and have a terminal illness, shoot yourself first because the city won’t take care of you, there too busy and broke from giving to every nationality that choose to give birth here and ruin our system. Keep up the good work idiots.

    • Anonymous

      I don’t know what nationality is responsible, maybe a little of each.
      It is disgusting. I see the ambulances double parked on my block and caught the drivers urinating between cars numerous times. The drivers that leave yellow
      filled bottles are a fine bunch also.
      Would they, do they conduct themselves in the same manor where they live?

  • Anonymous

    I don’t want to see the Livery cabs go. There wouldn’t be so many there if they weren’t needed.

    Why not make it a 1-way street? It’s too busy and not wide enough to have traffic in both directions.

    I also don’t understand why anyone besides a delivery truck, livery cab, bus, or emergency vehicle would be on that road. Drop your friends off around the corner or take them to the Voorhies entrance.

  • Smsmnm2006

    sometime thay double parked their cars.and from 14 st to 16st no one can go.

  • Mutaneous

    Nobody knows how to drive in Sheepshead Bay anyway. I’ve ridden my bike down Sheepshead Bay Rd. and almost gotten hit MANY times. Everyone thinks they own the road and can double park wherever they want and that street signs and signals don’t apply to them. The police don’t do anything about the situation, and shitty drivers get away with murder. “Well, don’t ride your bike there then.” It’s not like there’s a B4 bus anymore except for rush hour on weekdays so I don’t have a choice. No one gives a shit and I don’t see why I should either.