If you think it's daring to be a race car driver, then you have never actually watched someone drive a New York City taxi. Every day is a stint in an endurance race where things are constantly going wrong. Add in the fact that you have to pick up customers that complain about everything and constantly forget things in the vehicle, and it can become a nightmare.
That's why we're so excited to have John McDonagh as today's guest on Jalopnik Live. Not only has he been a New York City cab driver for more than 30 years, but he's lived to talk about it.
Ask him whatever you want about driving, taking, and surviving cabs.
McDonagh has a pretty colorful story. John was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War, returned to the states, and started driving a taxi in New York City. Beyond cab driving, John is a veteran comic, political activist, radio show host, and has also appeared as an extra in The Departed and Boardwalk Empire. John also worked with British comic Stephen Fry when he toured America for the BBC.
This fall, you can see John on Richard Hammond's Crash Course on BBC America (that's John on the right) when he teaches the Hamster how to drive a cab in the Manhattan heat.
Jump on in. John has some awesome stories to share.
UPDATE: John had to run, but thanks for asking all the questions. If you want to know more about cabbie life, he'll be on WBAI (99.5 in NYC or online at wbai.org) at 1-2 EST tomorrow for Radio Free Eireann. He'll be doing a cab specific show on the last Saturday in August. He'll also be doing stand-up at Connolly's Irish Pub on 45th Street sometime soon.
Photo Credits: Marvin Kuo via flickr, Courtesy John McDonagh