mattydale

This is a follow-up to a question posted earlier today about transit to LaGuardia from New York. I will be taking a cab from the East 60s and 1st Ave to LGA for an 8pm flight. Which bridge should I tell the cabbie to take: the Triborough, which entails going 40+ blocks north on the FDR and paying a toll, or the 59th Street Bridge, which is right there and has no toll? Although 59th sounds like the obvious choice, I am curious if it is actually the inferior method since you have to slog north through the streets of Queens once you cross. I am unfamiliar with what the traffic might be like in Queens. Any thoughts? Thanks.

GoTravel

Let the cab driver decide. He isn't going to take a longer way just to screw you out of a couple of dollars when he could pick up more fares by getting you to your destination quicker.

Gekko

I often take a cab to LGA from East 62nd and First Avenue, and every time the cabbie has taken the FDR to the Triboro Bridge. Not once has one suggested or taken the 59th St. Bridge.

mclaurie

6 of one, half a dozen of the other. I'm with GoTravel. Let the cabbie decide.

JohnD

You will save by not having to pay the toll by telling the cab driver to take the 59th street bridge and heading north over a choice of streets starting at (21st)in Queens, then turn right to get on to Grand Central Parkway.

I have taken a cab from 68th and York in NYC and the cab driver showed me this very quick toll-free route, for which I am very gratefull.

Rob

Traffic will be slow going up the FDR and it will be slow going over the 59th St. bridge. If it were me I would go over the 59th St. Bridge. I would take Northern Blvd to the BQE to the GR. Central to LGA

Gekko

I never tell the cabbies (or car service drivers) what to do and they always take the FDR/Triboro and I've never missed a flight (and I cut it close). My advice would be let the driver decide, but if your driver heads toward the bridge, ask why. I certainly would.

flopmeister

don't tell the cab driver to take the 59th street bridge. just get in and tell him you need to get to laguardia. the obvious choice for most cab rides is triboro, and yes there's a toll but there is usually alot less traffic. with moderate traffic it should take you about 27 minutes.

mattydale

Thanks for these suggestions... I would guess from what I've read here that most cabbies will take the FDR because it is easy and they might not know the route through Queens from the 59th street bridge. And if my guess is correct, then following the cabbie's instinct might make the most sense anyway, since getting lost in Queens in an attempt to avoid the toll or traffic would not be a fun way to start a vacation.

In any event, thanks for the tips.

JohnD

Reply to gekko:uhhhhhh, both routes involve a bridge?

Gekko

Oh yeah, you're right. If your drive heads toward the 59th Street Bridge, ask why. Thanks for the opportunity to clear up that gross ambiguity.

suzanne

I wouldn't tell the cabbie which route to take, because they might not be familiar with the 59th Street route (which leaves you off on local streets in Queens) and he may get lost! But sometimes a cabbie will ask you which way YOU want to go. If he knows the 59th St Bridge route, you've just saved yourself some toll money. Though the Triborough will probably be faster.