Controversial Borough Taxi Bill Passes
On Friday the legislature voted to approve a bill that will allow for the creation of a new fleet of metered livery cabs that would be able to accept street hails outside of Manhattan and that could result in up to 30,000 permits for livery drivers. The measure, which is intended to boost taxi access…
On Friday the legislature voted to approve a bill that will allow for the creation of a new fleet of metered livery cabs that would be able to accept street hails outside of Manhattan and that could result in up to 30,000 permits for livery drivers. The measure, which is intended to boost taxi access in the outer boroughs and which the mayor says will bring in a great deal of revenue, is controversial with many in the cab industry. As WNYC notes, it’s opposed by many yellow fleet owners, who who worry that their medallions will be devalued, and by some livery fleet owners who depend on pre-arranged calls. The new class of cabs won’t be yellow but will have markings distinguishing them from regular taxis and standard livery cars. If the bill is approved by the governor, it will go into effect in January.
Cab Drivers Still Divided Over Five-Borough Taxi Plan [NY1]
Passage of Taxi Plan Legalizes Street Hails of Livery Cars [WNYC]
Open Road for Boro-Only Cabs [NY Post]
Photo by 12th Street David
all i can say is…… woooo hoooo!
I could be wrong but my reading of the law indicates that these “new” cabs will still be livery cabs. Therefore they will pick up calls and also be able to pick up street hails. I dont really understand how thats going to work. But this plan is far better than the plan to have 6000 outer boro taxis that would only be for street hails. But alas dont get too excited the fleet owners are already planning their ‘NYC-stye’ “community input campaign” – aka frivolous lawsuits…it could be awhile before you can pick up a legitimate street hail in the outer boros.