Boycotting Northside? Use Bushwick Car Service
Some Williamsburg residents are attempting to boycott Northside Car Service after a driver sped away from an accident he caused — a last straw for some, and just one of several ongoing problems the community has with the company. I’d like to suggest an alternative, for those observing the boycott, and for those in Bushwick who aren’t yet familiar: Bushwick Car Service.
These guys have been driving around Brooklyn for decades, and it is an incredible luxury to collapse into the back of a cushy Town Car and mumble an address, and have the driver ask for directions not 17 times, but ZERO times. They pick up at the airport, too. Forget Northside — our first call when we need a ride home from Williamsburg is Bushwick Car Service. No matter where we are, the dispatcher barks, “six minutes.” It’s usually less.
Sometimes you get a yakky driver revealing a few too many details, but usually they are quiet and courteous. No matter what kind of driver you get, you always end up at your destination without much hassle.
Bushwick Car Service
718-386-5002
September 16th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I really like Bushwick Car Service aka #1 Mexicali, but I wouldn’t say they’re entirely hassle free. Last year in February, I needed to take both of my cats to the vet. The driver pulled up, but when he saw my carriers, locked the doors and drove away. We had to wait in the freezing doorway for another 10 minutes for another car to show up. So, always let them know ahead of time if you have pets with you.
Another time on the way to Laguardia, the car smelled like a large bottle of cologne and a bottle of cleaning agent had mated and exploded in the car. The driver refused to roll the windows down more than two inches. I almost threw up. I started dry heaving, but couldn’t get out because we were on the BQE and I needed to catch a flight.
They can get shady with the pricing occasionally too. The driver who takes me to the vet wants $10, but the driver who picks me up to take me home wants $12. That kind of stuff.
September 16th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Good call, Jeremy. I find them prompt, comfortable, courteous and affordable. But don’t be a dummy like me - plan way ahead or find alternate transportation if traveling Puerto Rican Parade Sunday evening (duh)!
September 16th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I’ve used these guys for the past 5 years for all my trips to and from airports and I’ve never had a problem. When I call for a home pickup they’re always there within 2 minutes.
September 16th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
I’d like to pimp Puerto Rico Car Service. They’re usually pretty damn fast (like, good luck finishing that whole cigarette fast) and well-priced. Sometimes you can run into trouble if you have limited knowledge of both spanish and your destination, but otherwise it’s not a problem.
Their #: 7184435555.
September 16th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I think it was Priscilla that use to be good but taxis are too expensive either way I haven’t been in one in decades.
Too bad Northside is getting blamed for having a biker getting in its way. Let’s send our prays out to the cab-driver who suffered by witnessing(or not) such a horrible accident.
September 16th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
I’ve used Bushwick before as an alternative to Northside - they don’t always pick up in the Bushwick area promptly. The cars are a little more shody (aka ghetto), but they’re cheaper than Northside.
September 16th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Hmm, I actually am boycotting Bushwick Car service and Metro.
I was hit and run by a metro car, knocked off my scooter, and took 2 rolls, landed on my feet and picked up my bike and drove after him.
Bushwick I had a couple bad experiences, going to Dumbo, back when I worked there. This is especially bad for me, as I live less than a block away from them.
If you want a good service, try Fenix:
347-668-7214
September 17th, 2008 at 12:07 am
I think they’re both pretty shady. I used Northside a couple weeks ago to bring my cat back from the vet and it cost me $5 more than it usually would to get back from Williamsburg. He charged me $3 for the cat (I never had that happen before) which still didn’t account for the other $2. I didn’t give him a tip. The Bushwick cars are pretty run down and dirty, and I had one that didn’t have seatbelts. And even if you’re standing in front of the house waiting for them they still honk their horn when they pull up. I’ve had to lecture them a few times on that since it’s usually an airport trip at the crack of dawn and my neighbors are sleeping. The dispatchers also can’t tell you how much the car is going to be, they say the driver will tell you. A couple weeks ago I was going to Cobble Hill and the driver didn’t know where it was - had never heard of Court St or Smith St.
September 17th, 2008 at 9:44 am
I use New Eastern usually, always someone available within a few minutes and they really know where they are going. Again, the cars are a bit older and not so fancy, but I’ve never got a complaint about my dog being in the car.
September 17th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Vertigo, is Metro aware you are boycotting them? i think a protest can be effective, but even in the Northside case, it was the error of one driver vs. that of the ‘corporation.’ sure, there’s one less guy using Metro but if they don’t know about it, i’m not sure there will be any pressure from above for drivers to be more careful.
does anybody really think the drivers are all following company policy on every run? my fares to the same place have ranged from $8-18 depending on who’s driving, I’ve never seen pricing consistency within a given company, let alone between separate car service companies. Half the time the drivers ask me, “what do you usually pay?”
still, I’m all for the Northside boycott; it’s getting the word out and anyways Northside has a stranglehold on Williamsburg. That said, I don’t wanna the boycotters taking up more of my Bushwick Car Service cars! tho usually I use New York Car Service since they are based in SoBu. And they don’t care how many cats I put in back
September 17th, 2008 at 10:49 am
I generally use New Eastern Car Service (Grand @ Bushwick). I’ve found Bushwick Car Service to be very over priced. I generally take it to the lower east when I have gigs with lots of equipment. Bushwick Car Service tries to charge me $16 - $20 and New Eastern charges $12-$14
September 17th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Here are the rates. I always pay the same thing for the same trip. Some of the cars are crappy but some of them are brand new. It just depends on who you get, I guess.
http://www.bushwickcarservice.com/rates.htm
September 17th, 2008 at 11:40 am
The discrepency between what the dispatcher says and what the driver asks for at the end of the ride is always frustrating - no matter who you use.
Bushwick has been very prompt and very considerate. Metro is okay, but they have more of a jaded skew - probably because hipsters in the inner circle of W-burg treat them like slaves.
September 17th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I’ve used Bushwick for 4 plus years now and been pleased, with caveats. They often don’t know locations in the city, the cars can be horrible, and never use them for out of town visitors who are going back to the city if they don’t speak Spanish. Aside from that, they are fast and cheap.
September 17th, 2008 at 11:55 am
oh snaps they have special web rates??? damn i’ve been paying too much to go to fresh pond rd! which is the only location on that list i use with any frequency. it has ‘Sears’ listed, where is there a Sears?
September 17th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
i hate bushwick car service….always relied on them when i was drunk and needed a ride, and they always were fine. until last week when a friend and i called bushwick car service for a ride to little italy. we waited 30 minutes, no car. called back, and a van arrived. we got in, and she had no idea of how to even get to manhattan, had no knowledge of where any of the bridges were. i had to give directions to her, and have them translated in spanish by my friend. translation was not my problem, but the stench of the van was so repulsive, i thought i was going to be sick..not to mention that it was 100 million degrees in the van and when we asked for air she simply said “no” and then when asked why she wouldnt turn the air on, she said “because, its not hot”. well it was hot, and where im from the customer is always right. needless to say she charged us 40 dollars to get from bushwick to little italy, when i have previously taken bushwick car service on the same exact route and was only charged 22 dollars. next time ill just drive myself. not worth the time, or the money.
September 17th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I liek Bushwick Car Service just fine, but once I got this chatty old Dominican driver who was ranting about black people and how he refused to pick up black fares because “they’ll kill you for a dollar.”
September 18th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Sorry, but Bushwick is just as bad as Northside, if not worse. At least Northside knows where they are going and their cars don’t stink. I had a guy from BCS show up 40 MINUTES before I was due toland at LGA who then wanted me to pay double for “making him wait”. Other than not being able to get through after 1am or so, I’ve never had a problem in the 2 years since I started using mostly Northside.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I’ve lived here my whole life…Here’s the rundown…From the real person who has been here forever………..in the hood. i know NO ONE who really grew up here who used any “NORTHSIDE” cab service except if that’s really where you came from.Sorry that you guys are going through that horrible finding on it though……I’d sugesst no one ever use them again!
Here’s the truth….
shady up and down prices .. best advice there.:.. ask the base how much each time to and fro and mention the first price you had last time.They hate looking like assholes.Make sure they know you by name because you call all the time and are a regular so they can’t play you! … say things like “yes this is Dotty AGAIN on jefferson and wyckoff”… try to get the same number cab.. when you find a good one.ASK their number car.. EVERYONE has one! and yes they usually stay the same #! believe me ppl I am a cab queen!.. If they could cart my ass to the corner I would pay.
Bushwick Car service: Mostly Spanish speaking . Fast!..10 min or less.Don’t always know where they are going.718-497-4444
Liberty:Fast if harrassed….7 min could be 15.though…, most speak english.
Usually know where they are going..718-366-6666
440- never call them!…smelly.cabs..horrible drivers..jerks718–well fuck this one
LINDY’S- Charge alot more just to come into this neighborhood..take forever..15-20 min .and tell you about yourself when you don’t tip.718-386-2222
FOUR ones- 10-15min wait..(which Sucks) …cleanest.. english speaking and prices are reasonable.718-456-1111
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:36 am
Hey, I always use 440 Car Service, which is right under the Central Ave M. Their number is 718-919-4040 and they’re always very quick and friendly, I have had no complaints at all so far!