Hailing a cab in New York City can be challenging, especially in crowded areas or during peak times (e.g. the 5:00 rush, Friday/Saturday nights, or any time the weather turns.) Consider these tips to increase your chances of getting a ride while managing to not look like an out-of-towner.

1. First come, first served. Avoid crowded corners, if you're having bad luck, try the next block. Unspoken rules apply when more than one person is hailing a cab on the same corner. It's first come, first served, but being aggressive is part of the game.

2. Read the lights. There is a light display on the roof of every yellow cab. The main center light is the taxi number. To the left and right of the taxi number are the "off duty" lights.

• A taxi cab is available for passengers if ONLY the main center light, the taxi number, is on.
  
• If all the lights are off, the cab is full.
  
• If the "off duty" lights are on, even if the taxi number light is also on, the cab is off duty and not picking up passengers. (It is possible to still get a ride from an off duty cab if your destination is on their way home. Don't count on it though because they usually won't stop to ask.)