A Suffolk County man says Uber charged him and two others a whopping $200 Saturday for a one-way trip from Long Island to Madison Square Garden on the first day of the LIRR strike – a jaunt that would normally cost $13.50 by rail.
“It’s very sad that nobody can compromise anymore,” said the 55-year-old, who went by “Blake D.”
“There is no middleman. Nobody can talk and comprise anymore,” he said, referring to the LIRR strike that began earlier Saturday morning when Metropolitan Transportation Authority honchos failed to reach a wage-hike pact with five labor unions.
A Suffolk County man says Uber charged him and two others a whopping $200 Saturday for a one-way trip to Madison Square Garden in Midtown to see a relative graduate from medical school – a trip that would normally cost $13.50 on the Long Island Rail Road. Christopher Sadowski
Blake D., of Great River, said he and his crew took Uber to get to the graduation ceremony for St. George’s University School of Medicine students – and they had to wake up two hours earlier to arrive at MSG on time. Christopher Sadowski for NY PostBlake D., of Great River, said he and his crew took Uber to go to a relative’s graduation ceremony for St. George’s University School of Medicine students – and they had to wake up two hours earlier to arrive at MSG on time.
An off-peak ticket on the LIRR would have cost just $13.50 if trains were running.
He said the added cost frustrated him but was happy to get to his destination on time.
Here’s the latest coverage on the LIRR strike which has stranded 300K daily commuters
- LIRR strike forces Long Island man to shell out $200 for Uber to MSG to attend relative’s graduation ceremony
- Blakeman rips into Hochul over LIRR strike, says she ‘failed to do her job’ — as Trump fires back after ‘reckless’ jab
- LIRR strike begins after MTA fails to reach wage hike deal with union, disrupting 300K commuters
Rob Free, President of Long Island Rail Road. CBS News NY
The strike lasted three days. Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Post
Governor Kathy Hochul makes a child care announcement at Garden School on May 19, 2026 in New York City. Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, MTA CEO Janno Lieber and NYCEM Zachary Iscol, giving a Briefing on the incoming Snowstorm at the NYC Emergency Management Building at 165 Cadman Plaza East in Brooklyn, NY. Brigitte Stelzer“I had to get up two hours early, but I’m here,” he said. I’m enjoying it. I got here safely. That’s all that matters.”
Uber spokesperson Josh Gold said, “the taxes and tolls city and state entities collect on that trip far exceed the cost of the train ticket.”
