Program aiming to cut costs through shared cabs was supposed to launch last month
A program designed to help city-goers cut expenses by reducing taxi fares for people who share rides was supposed to launch last month, but New Yorkers will have to wait at least until the end of January to take advantage of the discounts.
The Taxi and Limousine Commission announced in late November that it would pilot a program in three spots where groups of two or more people can get in a cab for a reduced price.
“We hope that before the end of the year we’ll have at least three stands open,” TLC Chairman Matthew Daus told the Daily News at the time.
But now it’s 2010, and riders are wondering why the promising program has been delayed. The TLC has postponed the launch until late January, a city spokesman told The New York Post, but the reasons for the delay remain unclear.
Fares with strangers will be up to 50 percent less than regular meter fares under the plan. Once it rolls out, grab a cab with a stranger at 57th St. and Eighth Ave., 72nd St. and Third Ave. and Columbus Ave. for a discount. Riders will be able to get out at any point from Park Ave. to 42nd St., which is the only way the cabs will be headed.
In addition, a taxi stand that the Times Square Alliance had lobbied to create in the busiest intersection in the world won’t become reality, reports the Post. The Alliance had submitted a proposal for a stand on West 44th Street to shuttle theatergoers between 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. during the week, but the TLC has said no for now.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
mellow 01.10.10 at 8:27 pm
nice pic, beautiful match up front….
Driver 7 01.10.10 at 8:45 pm
Where’s my REDUCED LEASE cap? Can we share the lease with 2 additional cabdriver, so with eight hour work, able to earn living wages? Why TLC didn’t come up with this idea before that medallion sales?
mr. cabby 01.12.10 at 9:15 pm
TLC is a big JOKE. drivers are getting riped off everyday by garage, by dispatchers and by those idiot hotel doormen. tlc dont give a s*** about drivers. they jus want to save few bucks for people who make thousands everyday. we the drivers work our back off 12 hours and just make couple of hundred.
dada 01.21.10 at 10:57 pm
sure the cabbie works hard, but the prices for the taxi ride are high too. it is always the steps in between where the money is going, the leases, and the high percentages deducted from credit cards. that’s what’s wrong with the picture. if you raise the cab fare, you will be making less money. less passengers. that is what keeps the nyc cab industry so good, the low fares.
dada 01.21.10 at 11:00 pm
my question is, how does this plan work? how can you differ from a group ride, and a ride with strangers? this sounds way too complicated. the job is hard enough as it is, and i don’t want to have to figure out this whole other way of charging fares, picking up and dropping off. is it just me or does the drop off and pick-up locations specified not make any sense. i really hope the tlc clarifies this and tells all cab drivers before it begins.
Give me an instruction booklet or something please