The city's Taxi and Limousine Commission wants your help to design a system for allowing livery vehicles to legally pick up street hails in the city's outer boroughs.
Last month Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg proposed to allow livery vehicles to pick up passengers on the streets outside of Manhattan, where according to a TLC report only two and a half percent of yellow taxi trips begin. The mayor did not provide many details, saying only that his goal was to move forward with the project by the end of the year.
Currently only yellow medallion taxicabs are allowed to pick up street hails, but the mayor wants to change that. Livery vehicles are frequently seen illegally picking up street hails all over the city and the city is now seeking to legalize the practice.
“Why shouldn’t someone in Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, or Staten Island be able to hail a legal cab on the street?," Bloomberg said at the time. "It will give New Yorkers in all five boroughs another safe, reliable and convenient option for getting around. Because whether you’re standing on 42 Street in Manhattan, or 42 Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, or 42 Street in Sunnyside, Queens, you ought to be able to hail a cab.”
While the TLC says that certain things, like having a fare meter and GPS system are non-negotiable, other aspects, such as vehicle color or emblem and whether the vehicles would have to have a roof light may be guided by public opinion.
“We know for sure that New York City residents in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island need better street hail service,” said TLC Chairman David Yassky. “This survey will help us tailor the new rules to best serve customers.”
The TLC will then prepare a proposal, which will require approval from the City Council.
To take the survey click here.
What do you think? Leave a comment or send a tweet.
Contact Michael A. Harris at mharris@examinerny.com
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