At Peace: Taxi Ray

Years after the last Checker Marathons were taken out of taxi service, Ray continued to drive people to their destinations, for free. Surprisingly he made a good living, by giving the free rides, and by just being Ray.




The "rides 4 U R Free" three license plates on the car once read, and an an advertisement on top was his own as well reading: "Ray For President". A huge supporter of The Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, he used to have the ad for Bloomberg, but when it became apparent Bloomberg wasn't throwing his hat in the presidential ring, Ray decided to run for president.

Old Taxi
Originally uploaded by Bodneyis

his previous cab 

Link here: "Taxi" Ray Kottner 

and a brief note on his passing here: Checker taxi stand

articles: On CBS, and The New York Times

If anyone has anything they'd like to add, perhaps those who've rode in his cab, or just talked with the man, please feel free to comment.