Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Who Says New York Cabbies Aren't Friendly?

· New Yorkers Bob and Betty Matas are moving to Arizona today. But they don't want their cats to travel all that way in an airplane cargo hold, so they've come up with a different idea. They're taking a taxi.

A New York City cabbie has agreed to drive them and their cats 2,400 miles to Sedona, Arizona, for $3,000 plus the cost of gas, meals and lodging. That's a pretty good deal: If the cab driver used his meter, the one-way fare would be about $5,000.

"It's a little unusual, but it will be fun," said Betty Matas.

· A runaway horse pulled a carriage with two out-of-town tourists on a wild ride through downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, on Sunday afternoon. The ride ended when a teenager rode to the rescue in a pursuing taxi, leaped out and grabbed the horse's reins.

The incident began when a van crashed into the carriage, throwing the driver from her seat.

She "just flew off," said William Basler, 19, who ran after the carriage. A passing taxi driver told Basler to jump in. The cab then chased and passed the carriage, and Basler jumped out, grabbed the reins and stopped the horse.

"It was just instinct," he said of his heroics.

The carriage driver had minor injuries.