Those Must Be Some Cats

New York couple hails cab for 2,400-mile trip Cabbie to turn off meter for $3,000 flat fee, plus expenses, for ride to Arizona.

NEW YORK - Betty and Bob M. have retired and are moving to Arizona, but like many New Yorkers they don’t drive, and they don’t want their cats to travel all that way in an airliner cargo hold. Their solution: “Hey, cabbie.”

They met taxi driver D.G. when they hailed his cab after a shopping trip several weeks ago. They got to talking about their upcoming move, and “we said ‘Do you want to come?”’ said Bob, 72, a former audio and video engineer for advertising agencies. “And he said ‘Sure.”’

It was initially a gag, but as they talked over the ensuing weeks it became reality. They plan to leave Tuesday on the 2,400-mile trip to Sedona, Ariz., with D.G. driving his yellow SUV cab 10 hours a day for a flat fee of $3,000, plus gas, meals and lodging.

They’re getting a break. The standard, metered fare would be about $5,000 — each way, according to the executive director of the Committee for Taxi Safety, a drivers’ group.

But city Taxi and Limousine Commission rules direct drivers and passengers to negotiate a flat fare for trips outside the city and a few suburban areas. It’s also a good deal for D.G. “This job is not easy, and I want to do something different,” said D.G., 45, who has been driving a taxi for two years. “I want to have some good memories.”

The Ms will ride in relaxed comfort in G’s sport utility vehicle while their cats ride in the back in their travel cases. A mover will haul their belongings.

“It’s a little unusual, but it will be fun,” said Betty, 71, a retired executive administrative assistant.

My definition of fun doesn't include paying $3,000 (plus expenses!) for a trip that could cost $500!