I’m sorry to hear that you, too, have had these problems in NYC. I was hoping it was fairly uncommon. I have to get into the habit of having a pen on me to take down the taxi’s #. Not that the Commission would do anything about it.
My only advice is: if you see a cabbie wearing anything that strikes you as Islamic, avoid the cab. In fact, hail it down and then dismiss it, lol! Don’t engage with them, though. They turn nasty on a dime.
Oh yeah it happens constantly! Started about 6 months ago. I am pretty sure I read somewhere it was a coordinated effort by the Muzzie cabbies.
And it is not uncommon. It happens to a lot of our Bicon and Maltese owning friends.
So, as you suggested, I will do the same and refuse to ride with them. The old reversal!
“...Don’t engage with them, though. They turn nasty on a dime...”
So do I. Eff ‘em.
This is OUR country.
Engage them, always, everywhere, and like your American ancestors would have done to any invader.