5 ms·

I was surprised by the amount of fares that just went a few blocks. Looks like it should have been pretty walkable in a lot of those cases.

chrisseaton 12y ago
Perhaps they're disabled.
- forinti 12y ago
  Or have small children.
blaincate 12y ago
https://github.com/akuchlous/NYC_CAB_ANALYTICS/blob/gh-pages/NYC_TAXI_STATS/taxiRideMiles.png https://github.com/akuchlous/NYC_CAB_ANALYTICS/blob/gh-pages... data from chriswong : 22% rides are less 1 mile long
- _delirium 12y ago
  It'd be interesting if comparable data could be gotten for different cities. Wonder what the curves would look like for e.g., Boston, SF, London, Athens, Frankfurt.
- simplemind 12y ago
  Small nit, but guessing this is crow's flight distance which doesn't equal path distance. Regardless, this still isn't surprising. Short rides happen all the time.
  - blaincate 12y ago
    :-) this data is equal path as measured by odometer : I was lazy and did not use longitude/latitude for distance. The data itself has miles travelled. though a bit surprising : 45% of rides are single person rides. But then I wonder : what's surprising : is it low or is it high?
    - mjmahone17 12y ago
      How is the data input on # of passengers? Could it be that it's just easier to hit "1 person" all the time regardless? Are there cabbies that always have the same #?
viraptor 12y ago
Could've been raining that day. Or it may be US/NY specific... I have only been to west coast, but coming from Europe I was really surprised what's considered a "walking distance" in the city centre. 2 blocks away and people were ready to get a cab. Then again, the cabs were probably 5+ times cheaper than what I was used to in the UK. Maybe I'd use them more if it cost me $5, not £10 to go around 10 blocks away. One is close to spare change, the other I'd have to think about...
- ceras 12y ago
  10 blocks is very much considered walking distance in NYC. People walk here all the time - it's the default mode of transport to nearby places. Cabs are usually used for specific reasons: transporting something heavy, bad weather, rider has poor mobility (injured leg, etc.), had a lot to drink, entertaining/working with a client, etc. This isn't true in the rest of the US, however. The rest of the country is less walkable and the infrastructure is designed for cars first and foremost, so people learn to default to cars even for nearby trips. When I lived in California it was hard to get people to walk anywhere, even if it was only 5-10 minutes away.
blatherard 12y ago
People will often use cabs to go somewhere when they have something to carry, even if its a short walk. Also, if the weather is bad.
- blaincate 12y ago
  looking at heat maps : jul 2 : 2013 people are in hurry at around 8:30 AM : http://akuchlous.github.io/NYC_CAB_ANALYTICS/July/1/51.html http://akuchlous.github.io/NYC_CAB_ANALYTICS/July/1/51.html that at : 10:40 AM http://akuchlous.github.io/NYC_CAB_ANALYTICS/July/1/64.html http://akuchlous.github.io/NYC_CAB_ANALYTICS/July/1/64.html
rickyc091 12y ago
Just a few observations over time for quick taxi rides aside from weather and transporting a heavy item. - Often times rides are paid on the time of a company so people will just expense it. - If someone, say a relator, has a client, they might opt for a taxi. - Models will take a taxi even if their destination is only a few blocks away due to their high heels.
mbillie1 12y ago
Loads of tourists are terrified of walking anywhere in NYC both due to fear of crime and fear of getting lost, and thus take cabs for distances that probably don't warrant them.

chrisseaton 12y ago

Perhaps they're disabled.

forinti 12y ago
Or have small children.

blaincate 12y ago

https://github.com/akuchlous/NYC_CAB_ANALYTICS/blob/gh-pages/NYC_TAXI_STATS/taxiRideMiles.png https://github.com/akuchlous/NYC_CAB_ANALYTICS/blob/gh-pages... data from chriswong : 22% rides are less 1 mile long

_delirium 12y ago
It'd be interesting if comparable data could be gotten for different cities. Wonder what the curves would look like for e.g., Boston, SF, London, Athens, Frankfurt.
simplemind 12y ago
Small nit, but guessing this is crow's flight distance which doesn't equal path distance. Regardless, this still isn't surprising. Short rides happen all the time.
- blaincate 12y ago
  :-) this data is equal path as measured by odometer : I was lazy and did not use longitude/latitude for distance. The data itself has miles travelled. though a bit surprising : 45% of rides are single person rides. But then I wonder : what's surprising : is it low or is it high?
  - mjmahone17 12y ago
    How is the data input on # of passengers? Could it be that it's just easier to hit "1 person" all the time regardless? Are there cabbies that always have the same #?

viraptor 12y ago

Could've been raining that day. Or it may be US/NY specific... I have only been to west coast, but coming from Europe I was really surprised what's considered a "walking distance" in the city centre. 2 blocks away and people were ready to get a cab. Then again, the cabs were probably 5+ times cheaper than what I was used to in the UK. Maybe I'd use them more if it cost me $5, not £10 to go around 10 blocks away. One is close to spare change, the other I'd have to think about...

ceras 12y ago
10 blocks is very much considered walking distance in NYC. People walk here all the time - it's the default mode of transport to nearby places. Cabs are usually used for specific reasons: transporting something heavy, bad weather, rider has poor mobility (injured leg, etc.), had a lot to drink, entertaining/working with a client, etc. This isn't true in the rest of the US, however. The rest of the country is less walkable and the infrastructure is designed for cars first and foremost, so people learn to default to cars even for nearby trips. When I lived in California it was hard to get people to walk anywhere, even if it was only 5-10 minutes away.

blatherard 12y ago

People will often use cabs to go somewhere when they have something to carry, even if its a short walk. Also, if the weather is bad.

blaincate 12y ago
looking at heat maps : jul 2 : 2013 people are in hurry at around 8:30 AM : http://akuchlous.github.io/NYC_CAB_ANALYTICS/July/1/51.html http://akuchlous.github.io/NYC_CAB_ANALYTICS/July/1/51.html that at : 10:40 AM http://akuchlous.github.io/NYC_CAB_ANALYTICS/July/1/64.html http://akuchlous.github.io/NYC_CAB_ANALYTICS/July/1/64.html

rickyc091 12y ago

Just a few observations over time for quick taxi rides aside from weather and transporting a heavy item. - Often times rides are paid on the time of a company so people will just expense it. - If someone, say a relator, has a client, they might opt for a taxi. - Models will take a taxi even if their destination is only a few blocks away due to their high heels.

mbillie1 12y ago

Loads of tourists are terrified of walking anywhere in NYC both due to fear of crime and fear of getting lost, and thus take cabs for distances that probably don't warrant them.