Okay, so yesterday I was trying to impress Soma with cool facts, and I casually dropped that there are only around 13,000 yellow taxis in all of New York City. Naturally, he was unimpressed and didn't really believe me, so I took to the internet to prove my case. 

And that's when I found this great Yahoo Answer (I know, I know) on the subject, which not only confirmed my 13,000 number, but led me to the greatest work of the 21st century: The New York City Taxi Cab Factbook. 

This great American document is the product of the now defunct Schaller Consulting, formerly located in the Windsor Terrace section of Brooklyn. It's from 2006, and as best as I can tell, it hasn't been updated since. This makes me sad, but it won't stop me from talking about it.  

And so, below, I'm gonna give you five of my favorite facts from the report, and you're gonna assume they're still true, but since they're six years old, I'm sure they're aren't 100% accurate. You're also going to promise to read the whole thing over coffee on Sunday morning, instead of the NYTimes. Deal?

Okay:

* Cabs transport 1/4 of all fare-paying passengers in Manhattan. This comprises folks who are taking trains, the bus, or any type of car service. WHAT? I have never taken a cab unless work was paying for it, so this is blowing my mind. 

* Drivers took home an average of $158 per shift in 2005. This a 37% increase from 2003, and briefly made me consider quitting the Brainery to drive a cab. 

* These guys have been at it a long time: 42% of drivers had more than 11 years experience (in the magical year 2005). 

* 91% are immigrants. Bangladesh and Pakistan are the number one countries of origin. 

* Manhattan residents hail a cab an average of 100 times per year. What? You people have so many trains!

(Note: I am not kidding about any of this. I love this pdf. It's full of facts, it's easily readable, and it's about NYC. Paul Schaller is my hero. If you don't believe my facts, check the pdf.)

Bonus fact: 71% of all trips ferry Manhattan residents from one place to another.