Children in taxis?

omurray

Those of you that live in major cities or visit them often, do you take your kids in taxi's?  We're planning a trip and I'm wondering if DS can ride in a taxi or if I need to try to figure out the bus system instead. 

KoriBrett

They can take a cab, no carseats needed.

When we go to Chicago the bus/L is usually easier though.

omurray

Kori - we are headed to Chicago.  Any tips?  Do you buy a CTA card or just pay cash on the bus?

dnagal

NYC:  carseat not required in a cab, but we try to walk or subway whenever possible.

Halo79RN

dnagal:

NYC:  carseat not required in a cab, but we try to walk or subway whenever possible.

ditto.

when we lived near chicago, we'd take the amtrak train in, and then cab or walk.   

KoriBrett

Depends how long we're there and what we're doing.  We stay at my sister's house near Wrigley Field, so we have a home base which makes for less bus and L catching.

If you'll be back & forth a lot, do a day or 3 day (howevermany day) pass.  If not, meh, pay as you go.  Usually we drive to the L station, take that in, walk to whatever we're doing, take the L back, so cash is easy.

omurray

KoriBrett:

Depends how long we're there and what we're doing.  We stay at my sister's house near Wrigley Field, so we have a home base which makes for less bus and L catching.

If you'll be back & forth a lot, do a day or 3 day (howevermany day) pass.  If not, meh, pay as you go.  Usually we drive to the L station, take that in, walk to whatever we're doing, take the L back, so cash is easy.

Great!  Thanks so much!  We will only be there for the day, so not exactly sure how much to plan.  DS really wants to go to the Shedd Aquarium, so we will definitely do that first, but not sure if that is an all day thing or if it will hold his interest that long.  Thinking maybe Lincoln Park Zoo or Millenium Park if there is time after the Aquarium.   

cokt

We went to Chicago in May with DS and we rode the L and bus quite a bit. We took a cab once (which I was super paranoid about) to get to Wrigley Field for a Cubs game. We did the aquarium, rode the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier (which he loved), hung out in Millenium Park, and walked around the city a ton. DS also loved taking the water taxi. We took it from the Navy Pier back towards where the aquarium is. Have fun!

goodheartedmommy

Even if it's legal, it's not safe to have a child in a cab without a carseat. I'd take the bus or L.

Zenya

I occasionally cab it in NYC.  Bumper to bumper traffic.  I don't worry about it.  I mostly take the subway though.

penguingrrl

I live in NYC and have never taken my kids in a taxi.  I know it's legal to take them without a carseat, but I'm not comfortable with that (especially having seen how taxi drivers drive... they're scary!).  I also don't like the bus because  I don't have the coordination to fold up the stroller and carry the diaper bag, stroller and a kid and also don't feel safe letting them sit on my lap (almost dropped DD1 when there was a sudden stop when she was younger), so we stick to the subway and keep them strapped in the stroller.