Taxi Group Applauds Decision and Sees Safe, Fuel-Efficient Taxis In Near Future
A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction against the City of New York’s hybrid taxi mandate, which was to take effect tomorrow, November 1st. Judge Paul A. Crotty of the United States District Court, Southern District of [tag]New York[/tag] ruled in favor of the plaintiffs which include the [tag]Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade[/tag] (MTBOT), the country’s largest taxi trade association.
The decision reads as follows:
“The Court finds that Plaintiffs have standing to bring this action; that they will be irreparably harmed; and that Plaintiffs have demonstrated a likelihood of success on the issue of preemption. The City’s counterarguments are unconvincing. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction is GRANTED.”
In its lawsuit, MTBOT had cited a 2008 engineer’s report that concluded that hybrid taxicabs were unsafe and unfit for taxi use. The group also cited the refusal of any hybrid automaker to certify the crashworthiness of their hybrids when outfitted with mandatory partitions or when used in 24/7 commercial taxi operation.
“MTBOT applauds Judge Paul A. Crotty’s decision,” said Ron Sherman, President of the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade. “For MTBOT and so many others, this has never been about whether or not the taxi industry should be embracing a greener, more fuel-efficient fleet. This is about safety and common sense. We have been actively working with the auto industry and City to bring a safe, comfortable, fuel-efficient taxicab to the market. And while we’re pleased that these ‘taxis of tomorrow’ may be available as early as this summer, the much smaller, non-commercial passenger hybrids available for purchase today are unsafe when outfitted with hard, bullet-proof partitions and unfit for 24/7 taxi service.”
Mr. Sherman continued,
“MTBOT has always preferred that this issue be settled out of Court. However, after exhaustive efforts at the TLC, we were given no choice and were compelled to advocate on behalf of the safety of our passengers and drivers. Now that the Court has ruled in our favor, and indeed — in the taxi passenger’s and taxi driver’s favor — we look forward to working with the Taxi and Limousine Commission and our colleagues in the taxi industry to ensure the continuity of safe, effective, comfortable taxi service for the riding public.”
MTBOT is the country’s largest taxi fleet association. It represents 27 yellow medallion taxi fleets in New York City that comprise over 3,500 medallion taxicabs — approximately 25% of the taxi industry. MTBOT members have operated more than 30 different vehicles over several decades including minivans, Compressed Natural Gas vehicles and hybrids. MTBOT advocates on behalf of its members, its 14,000 drivers and the riding public.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot...
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
it is unfair, that only when garages are forced to purchase hybrids do they argue against the safety of partitions. partitions have always compromised the safety of the rider no matter what shape they are, no matter what car they are installed in. It is an outrage that people think cabbies are against a more fuel efficient car. it is only the owners of large fleets that refuse to change!
For us, drivers, means We are losers. We’ll have to drive regular cabs and add more gas and more money in our pockets. Beside that, this judicial decision does not talk about about the safety of these cabs including the dangerous L-paetition wich nobody seems interested in the matter including this federal judge. Jose Bataller
There is no cabdriver that enjoys paying higher gas prices. And regardless of that we as a people must, by all means necessary, reduce the impact on our planet. I don’t care who it hurts. Because in the long run we’ll all find ourselves without a sustainable place to live.
Crown Victorias 2006 and Newer have flex-fuel engines. They can run on E-85 ethanol. Why don’t they find a way to supply these cars with this fuel until a safe model hybrid or other alternative safe fuel vehicle can be introduced into our market?
None of the approved hybrid models are designed to have a hard plastic shield or L shaped partition installed. I am very concerned with my riders and my safety in case of accident. We have all kind of safety issues, – some rider just swipe the card and jumps out without paying the fare! We need Police Security Camera in all NYC cabs, and should be mandatory too! The Riders and Cabbies should have a comfortable and safe cab! Hybrid taxis are safe, but not with the partition! Some drivers never clean the partition others may clean it with rug or sandpaper.
this shows how dumb cab drivers are this just means that the garages will make MORE MONEY I DROVE FOR MIDTOWN GARAGE THE ONLY REASON WHY THAT ASSHOLE SHERMAN STARTED TO ARGUE AGAINT THE HYBRID CABS IS BECAUSE HE MAKES YOU FILL UP WITH GAS AT THE GARAGE SO IF ALL THE CABS IN THE GARAGE ARE HYBRID THEN HE MAKES LESS MONEY ON GAS. CAB DRIVERS NEED TO START TO THINK OUTSIDE THE CAB AND WITH THEIR MINDS NOT THEY GARAGE OWNERS.
We used to live in a consumer based capitalist society – if its cheaper, safer, and more popular to use a hybrid as a Taxi – then the markets will cause a shift for taxi drivers to change – this should not be mandated but incentives should be created – like cheaper medalions – once Ford catches on to this, they will make a Commercial grade – 24/7 hybrid taxi – the reason why the ford gas guzzling crown VIC is so popular is because its a workhorse and cheap to maintain – the hybrids are not commercial and they are expensive to repair and maintain – and the taxi companies make less money and that means higher costs eventually passed on to consumers and taxi drivers. let the free markets and detroit come up with the new hybrid taxi getting 25mpg city and we will all have better air quality.
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