As documented in Mike Grynbaum's NY Times article, the five taxis probably weren't lying about the shift change. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/12/nyregion/12t

As documented in Mike Grynbaum's NY Times article, the five taxis probably weren't lying about the shift change. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/12/nyregion/12taxi.html http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/12/nyregion/12taxi.html It seems irrational at first, but changing shifts at the same time makes drivers and cars more interchangeable. More importantly, it makes day-shift vs. night-shift approximately equal in profit opportunity. It's a shame the shift changes coincide with after-work rush hour and a popular time for night life to wind down.