Any problems getting Lyft or taxi at Maysville KY station at midnight?

[BalmyZephyr]

Our Cardinal arrives in Maysville around midnight, anyone done this? Any taxis around? Plan B is a 15-minute walk but we'd rather not drag the luggage. We can try Lyft but we are first-time users, not sure if they'll respond.

 

[Rasputin]

From my visit to Maysville some years ago I am under the impression that there is not an abundance of transportation options there. If you are staying at a hotel, etc,, I would recommend calling and asking them about available transportation. If not, you might try calling the Visitors bureau, chamber of commerce or city hall.

 

[BalmyZephyr]

From my visit to Maysville some years ago I am under the impression that there is not an abundance of transportation options there. If you are staying at a hotel, etc,, I would recommend calling and asking them about available transportation. If not, you might try calling the Visitors bureau, chamber of commerce or city hall.

Thanks, it's an airbnb and I don't expect the host to stay up all night to keep track of a late train and pick us up. They might not even be in town. Visitors bureau is a good idea.

 

[LauraPX]

An internet search revealed a taxi company in Maysville, Geno's Taxi, phone 606-564-8911. I would give them a call in advance of your trip and ask about the late night pickup and also what their policy is if the train is running very late. In a town of less than 10,000 people it is unlikely the taxis will be running 24/7, and since it is such a small town you may be the only passengers needing a taxi that night. I couldn't blame "Geno" if he is disinclined to roll out of bed at, say, 3:30 in the morning for a fare that is only a 15-minute walk from the train station. Not much profit on that fare, and since you folks aren't locals they won't be getting much repeat business from you. And since it is such a small town, I doubt if Lyft or Uber operate there. You could always go to their websites and check, though.

If "Geno" has said they will be available to do the pickup, if I were you I would also phone from the train at South Shore, the stop before Maysville (by about an hour), to let them know how the train is doing in terms of time and to assure them that you do indeed still want the pickup.

This may seem like overkill but I grew up in a small town myself and I know the level of services available just isn't like it is in cities. Once I almost missed the Coast Starlight in San Luis Obispo -- which is a large college town, not a small town of less than 10,000 people -- because the taxi we called never showed up. It was too far to walk, and in desperation we finally just offered a couple of young guys stopped at a traffic light some money to drive us to the station, which fortunately they were willing to do. At least in your situation you are getting off the train, not trying to catch a train, so the worst that can happen if the taxi falls through is a 15-minute walk dragging your luggage.

 

[BalmyZephyr]

At least in your situation you are getting off the train, not trying to catch a train, so the worst that can happen if the taxi falls through is a 15-minute walk dragging your luggage.

Yes, thank you very much. My own town is half the population of Maysville so I'm familiar with taxi problems. I also saw Geno's and may call them, but really don't want them to get dragged out of bed or wait up, as you point out. What I was hoping was there would be a taxi or two just waiting. You know, like opportunistic train-chasers. We'll find out I guess. You're right the walk is not terribly long, 0.6 miles (uphill though) but my husband has nerve damage in his feet, so if we don't have to do it with luggage it would be better to ride. Of course they'd get a big tip. We do have to catch the train home at 4 AM two days later, but at least that's a downhill walk and his feet are better in the morning. Thanks for helping me think it through!

 

[user 1215]

I would be interested to know how available Uber/Lyft is there. That's the beauty of the app. Anyone who can pass a background check and driving record check can make it their part time gig.

Edit: I looked just now, and it doesn't look like at 8 AM there are any Ubers available. If anyone in town drives, they may know Amtrak's routine and be available when the train arrives, but IDK. I don't think I'll check availability at midnight.

 

[Rasputin]

If I were arriving in Maysville at midnight (plus) with luggage and a family member who had some mobility issues I would definitely want to know what was available for taxi service, etc. Walking may sound doable but what if it is during a downpour (known to happen in Kentucky) or if there is poor lighting or street signage in that area. I would hate to be walking around in circles looking for my abnb rental at 1 am. I hope you are able to get this well planned ahead of time so your trip goes well and I hope you will post a report of your trip.

 

[joelkfla]

Once you install the app and set up an account, you can "pretend" to request a ride anywhere that Lyft or Uber operates. So you may want to try that from home a couple of nights at your expected arrival time. If the app says nothing's available, wait 5 minutes and try again.

You may have to enter the destination first, and then change the pick-up location to the train station. Just be sure you don't complete the last step to confirm the vehicle type. If you do, I think you'll still have a couple of minutes to cancel without incurring a cancellation charge, but you'd have to act fast.

 

[TaseMeBro]

I tried Uber from the Maysville Station to a point a few miles away. Trying tonight, as well as a few nights in the future, around midnight - all returned "No Rides Available".

Along with a visitors bureau, have you considered talking to your AirBnB host? I'm sure many would be totally uninterested, or unavailable, but you may luck out and get someone (or their kid) who doesn't mind a quick late night car trip for an extra $20-40?

 

[MARC Rider]

Uber lets you reserve a ride in advance. I've done it numerous times for morning rides to the station. Of course, there probably aren't as many Uber drivers in Maysville, as there are in Baltimore, but if there are any, they can be reserved.

 

[JoshP]

My suggestion: Try cancel AirBnB and instead book at French Quarter Inn, it's a hotel and closer to station. It's the largest hotel in Maysville. If they can pick you up, great or ask them for transportation cost. I checked, they are nice and affordable.

 

[Willbridge]

My suggestion: Try cancel AirBnB and instead book at French Quarter Inn, it's a hotel and closer to station. It's the largest hotel in Maysville. If they can pick you up, great or ask them for transportation cost. I checked, they are nice and affordable.

I'd add that the on-line map services are useful in situations like this. I was going to arrive in McCook off Train 6 and was able to learn that the Chief Motel was a long walk from the station, but there were sidewalks or other pavement the whole way. And thanks to a Google search I learned that it was where BNSF crews stayed and that its desk was staffed 24-hours. And before I left for McCook I learned that there was a 24-hour restaurant adjacent to the station grounds. All that in addition to the usual info.

A side note about town characteristics. In railroad town McCook no one who passed by paid any attention to an older man carrying a grip in the middle of the night. Years ago I arrived in Bandon, Oregon just after 1 a.m. on Greyhound and was met by their policeman and he had questions. Some towns prefer that nothing happen after the sidewalks are rolled up.

 

[caravanman]

I do sympathise with BZ's problem here, I have often struggled with getting from train stations to my very budget hotel, located in a bus and pedestrian free zone, miles from the station.
Don't be afraid of putting your needs first... Call your airbnb place for help or at least advice, call that taxi office too. Call that hotel, just ask who they use late at night... If there is no help available, then at least you know for sure what to expect on arrival.
As mentioned above, online street maps can help, at least during the day. I have used "street view" to locate the nearest bus stops, and zoom in to view bus route numbers on the stop display.

 

[BalmyZephyr]

Thanks everybody for putting your smart minds to this problem! In urban planning we call it the "last mile" and it's a common conundrum. We are back home in RI now, and yes I'll write up a Cardinal trip report with pictures, stay tuned.

We ended up walking both ways. It was fine, though I'm convinced it's time for a new rollerbag, man I must have woken up the town with that clattering. (My husband's is much quieter.) I got one of my best photographs of the main street at 4:15 AM. (Police were uninterested in us.)

I did consider your excellent suggestions, though just saw most of them today for some reason. Yes, we made extensive use of Street View in advance. I had stayed in the French Quarter Inn on a previous visit and loved the trackside riverside king room I had. But, it's not really closer than the airbnb, just flatter. The airbnb house suited us perfectly and had an awesome view of the town and bridge. Our "rest day" was warm enough for John to relax on the balcony while I ran around photographing architecture and murals.

For our arrival, the westbound Cardinal was 2 hours late into Maysville. We had reserved a Geno's Taxi for the scheduled arrival of 11:50 PM, and the dispatcher was unexcited by that, but willing to "send out one of the boys", and appreciated the call-ahead. However, when it became clear we were going to be very late, I called to cancel it and she didn't argue. Another couple detrained in Maysville, and John thought we should ask their ride to drop us off (for $$) but they got away too quick. And, in Covid times, I'm reluctant to ask folks to squish strangers into their car.

We had asked the airbnb host whether he could recommend transportation, and he had no ideas (you all were much better resources) and didn't offer to drive us. He lived nearby and did ask what time the morning train was, but grunted when we said 4:50 and did not offer. That was fine, downhill was easier and we kinda liked the deserted atmosphere. Thanks again!

 

[Rasputin]

Glad to hear that your visit to Maysville worked out well. You are now the AU authority on Maysville.

 

[UserNameRequired]

For last mile when GA flying, I have one of these: TOKYO Citizen Bike 16" 6-speed Folding Bike with Ultra-Portable Frame

Appropriate for Amtrak travel too?


It does work better if your suitcase is backpack style. The optional rear rack is quite small. I haven't tried trailering a roller bag yet... 30lbs steel model or 20lbs alloy model. There are other brands out there too, this was one of the lightest, smallest, and inexpensivest ones I could fine.

 

[user 1215]

Uber lets you reserve a ride in advance. I've done it numerous times for morning rides to the station. Of course, there probably aren't as many Uber drivers in Maysville, as there are in Baltimore, but if there are any, they can be reserved.

So the way that works is unexciting. It won't actually create availability of a driver. Basically, if there is a driver that can get to your location within 15 minutes of the scheduled time, they assign it to that driver. As a driver, I hate those because often I arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled time and I don't make hardly any money sitting and waiting, and I can't cancel until 5 minutes after departure time. If something happens (and it has) where the rider doesn't want to go, that's 15 minutes out of my day for a whopping $3.

I believe on the Lyft app, it actually offers rides to drivers ahead of time and they can schedule it. I haven't looked for scheduled rides in a long time because of the aforementioned waiting issue with Uber. But at least, it's something that the driver can proactively commit to rather than a random assignment.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Glad to hear that your visit to Maysville worked out well. You are now the AU authority on Maysville.

One of us! One of us!

So the way that works is unexciting. It won't actually create availability of a driver. Basically, if there is a driver that can get to your location within 15 minutes of the scheduled time, they assign it to that driver. As a driver, I hate those because often I arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled time and I don't make hardly any money sitting and waiting, and I can't cancel until 5 minutes after departure time. If something happens (and it has) where the rider doesn't want to go, that's 15 minutes out of my day for a whopping $3.

It's not so great from the paying customer side either. After several scheduled trips failed to work out smoothly I went back to driving myself and paying for parking instead. That's not ideal either but I'm hoping somebody can build a fleet of robust self-driving vehicles with washable interiors and dependable scheduling that reaches well beyond the fairly limited test markets and beta deployments we've seen so far. First and Last Mile travel is a joke where I live.

 

[BalmyZephyr]

One of us! One of us!

Wow I'm honored! There must be an AUer who has been there more than twice, or who even lives there! But it's true I do feel extremely "experienced" after the amount of research I did and the amount of sleep I forwent. Seriously, it's a beautiful town especially if you admire traditional architecture.

 

[joelkfla]

So the way that works is unexciting. It won't actually create availability of a driver. Basically, if there is a driver that can get to your location within 15 minutes of the scheduled time, they assign it to that driver. As a driver, I hate those because often I arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled time and I don't make hardly any money sitting and waiting, and I can't cancel until 5 minutes after departure time. If something happens (and it has) where the rider doesn't want to go, that's 15 minutes out of my day for a whopping $3.

I believe on the Lyft app, it actually offers rides to drivers ahead of time and they can schedule it. I haven't looked for scheduled rides in a long time because of the aforementioned waiting issue with Uber. But at least, it's something that the driver can proactively commit to rather than a random assignment.

I believe that is how it has always been at Uber, but I found articles on the web saying that Uber is rolling out something called "Uber Reserve" in certain markets, which basically follows the Lyft model. As with all Uber experiments, it may or may not stick around.