If You Don’t Know, Now You Know: Brooklyn $1 Van Routes Mapped

If you’ve ever waited at a bus stop along Flatbush Ave just a little too long (as I suspect most have), then you know the sight: A large van pulls up, honks its horn once or twice, one or two of the people at the bus stop get in (maybe one or two van passengers get out), the van disappears down Flatbush, and you’re stuck peering into the distance for a bus you suspect may never arrive.

“Next time, maybe I’ll hop in, too,” you muse. But the next time, inevitably, you just can’t bring yourself to do it. You just don’t know the deal. As usual, Brokelyn’s here to help with a little friendly encouragement.

WHAT’S A DOLLAR VAN? DO THEY ACTUALLY COST $1?

The dollar cabs and vans of central Brooklyn have a long history. Mostly run by West Indian drivers, a cheap ride can be found wherever West Indians have settled, mostly Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush, and Prospect Lefferts Garden. Despite their name dollar cabs actually cost $2 to ride now, but will take you as far as you want along the three main routes: Flatbush Ave., Utica Ave. and Church Ave. If it’s a slow day or late night, with a little charm, either some friendly banter or two additional dollars, and you could even get a driver to stretch his route into Bed-Stuy or Brooklyn Heights or make a turn off Church Ave. onto Utica or Flatbush rather than jumping out to hail a new cab.

Yes, the incessant honking and illegal u-turning of dollar vans and cabs on Church and Flabush are problems, but what do you think about them in principle as an “unofficial” (ok, ok, illegal) alternative to our official transit system?