Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by CobaltFire 1144 days ago
I recently had this exact thought.

Then the taxi driver tried to scam me multiple ways, including demanding cash because they "forgot to start the meter" and attempted to take the long way to my home (I live about 1 mile from the airport).

Won't make that mistake again.

3 comments

It's both easy to forget why Uber/Lyft was revolutionary and easy to remember why.
Cabbies can be scammy for sure, they try to take advantage of people who don’t assert themselves. An approach I’ve had success with is agree on a flat cash price with the cabbie before the ride starts. If you already are halfway through ordering an Uber/Lyft you have a good idea of what’s a decent price point to offer them. Of course, check what’s in your wallet before you make the deal!
If you only live a mile away, why wouldn't you walk?
I'm healthy and enjoy a good walk, but I wouldn't really want to bring luggage a mile from an airport, especially not if the weather isn't nice; it seems rare for foot traffic out of airports to be particularly easy.
I walk nearly a mile (1.2km) just to get to the nearest bus stop (that buses come to often) from my airport. I only travel with a backpack though. You're right in that they don't have sidewalks though out of the airport area.
I can think of plenty of reasons:

- lots of luggage

- traveling with family/kids

- area was designed for cars and is not pedestrian friendly

- too tired after long travel

- late night arrival makes walking unsafe

Because there are no sidewalks out of the airport. This is depressingly common. Airport designers only think about cars and busses. Maybe the train if it is near a city that has it, but even that is far from a guarantee. Usually the only access is a high speed road that connects to an even more pedestrian unfriendly highway.
Exactly, some airports like LGA require you to cross a highway to get to any walkable area
Boston Logan you can definitely hop onto public transit pretty easily. But I'm pretty sure you're not just walking to anywhere in East Boston from there easily.
Indeed. Silver line (to South Station, where you can transfer further) is free to get on at the airport, precisely to encourage riding public transit out of the airport.