Unexpected Help in Odd Places

[TeamCaffee]

We are from the midwest and had several preconceived notions of New York city, the vicinity and of the inhabitants. We have had two rather odd experiences recently. We where on the I278 in New York City and realized we had missed our turn so where getting off to do a U-Turn and get back on when a fellow motioned for us to stop and gave us the correct directions. In the past couple of days we where going pretty far out on Long Island on the I495 and noticed on the west side it was shut down to what appeared a HazMat spill. We delivered to our customer and were trying to get back on the I495 to go west when a dump truck driver pulled up along side of us and said don't get up there it is closed and rattled off a few street names to get us around the spill and he took off with us in pursuit! He stopped down the road and gave us specific directions how to get around the back up and back on I495. Thanks to his help we made it off the island quickly and made it to the pickup on our next load!

We have also had truck drivers down in the city slow up and let us over before we even realized the lane was ending we where in.

We have been very thankful for the help we have received while in an area that still intimidates us.

 

[mrgoodtude]

I know what you mean, we delivered on 5th ave some time ago and everyone was SO nice.
Changed our whole perception of New Yorkers.
(I still don't like to go there though)

 

[davekc]

Most of the people we have encountered there have been pretty nice. Most of the bad rap I believe is from cabbies?







Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[TeamCaffee]

Since we had never been to the area before 911 I cannot say if this is true or not. Bob thought that maybe after 911 and so much help and support came in from all over the country and the world that changed some attitudes. I don't know what the deal is I will admit we are honked at more in that area then happens anywhere else. One time we where very lost in Manhattan and Bob found a place to stop and I walked up and down the street asking business about an address. Every person I asked racked their brain about the address as it was odd and finally one guy cleaning his windows remembered the address. Totally out of sync and on the wrong side of the road and a un manned sub station! With out all of their help we would still be in Manhattan. When we tell family about this they are just so petrified that we actually talk to people in the area they just don't get it!

 

[bludragon13]

We have been to the city and also Newwark and have found the same friendliness even before 911 first time in to newwark docks after dark in 'o5 we were uneasy however the dock workers were friendly and got us loaded and out quickly,still don't like Manhatten but haven't ever had hassels from the people spent three hours parked near battery park on a del. mix up in a no parking/no standing zone and no problems though one of the nearby doormen kept an eye on us the people were friendly.

 

[pelicn]

The traffic is unbelieveble sometimes, but we've never had any trouble with the people in the city either.

 

[Wingnut]

I'm glad to hear people say something good about us "naw yawkers" for a change!!! Not all of us are rude & crude. Like some of you said, there has been a change in attitude (for the most part) since 9/11. People seem to be alot more friendlier and helpful than they used to be. It's a shame that it took a tragedy like 9/11 to smarten most of them up and get them to act 'human' like the rest of us.

 

[nightcreacher]

I really miss going into Manhatten,before they did the restrictions to larger trailers,I was in Manhatten quite often,in fact when leaving JFK that was my free way out of NY,lost about an hour,depending on time of day,sometimes it was even quicker.Over the years I have found,no matter where you go,people treat you the same way you treat them.

 

[TeamCaffee]

We where discussing this issue with a couple of drivers at the Expo. They had also been very lost in Brooklyn and had another driver stop to help them. It just seems as if in this area that local drivers will stop roll down there window and say "Do you need some help?" We have never had that happen so many times as we have in the New York City area.