With the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission's October 1 compliance date for installation of GPS-equipped information and payment systems in New York's 13,000 taxis, a driver's advocacy group is gearing up to strike in protest. The source of the controversy is the screen above. The system provides riders with useful info like news and weather, as well as credit card payment functionality and the ability to watch the route the taxi is taking to its destination in real-time. We tried it out during the New York Auto show and found it to be pretty cool and easy-to-use. For tourists, it's a nice setup. The only negative observation our driver made when we asked him his opinion of it was that the system didn't take well to fast inputs when in payment mode. Slower, deliberate taps on the touchscreen worked better.
According to the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, a non-union group representing drivers' interests, the GPS-based systems are a bad thing, and it claims that its 8,400 members will go on strike September 1 if the TLC doesn't put the kibosh on its fleetwide GPS plan. The organization claims that the systems overreach and are an invasion of drivers' privacy -- a sort of "Big Brother" that'll be used to track cabbies whereabouts at all times. The TLC notes that there are several benefits to drivers in addition to the added functionality it gives riders. Pick-ups and drop-offs are automatically recorded, eliminating the pencil-and-paper system used up until now. Also, drivers will be able to receive real-time traffic info and will gain a measure of protection against the criminals who sometimes prey upon taxi drivers. The GPS should help police track down cars in distress and nab the perpetrators in these situations. Lastly, the TLC says that drivers in cars equipped with the systems already make 18% more in tips. That tidbit has not been part the NYTWA's talking points. According to the TLC, most operators (73%) have already chosen a system ahead of the 10/1 date, anyway. Still, it looks like a showdown between the the TLC and Taxi Workers Alliance is imminent, as the TLC is very unlikely to back down. Whether or not the dustup will actually amount to anything significant remains to be seen.
[Sources: NY1, Newsday via Engadget]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
AlexP @ Jul 29th 2007 7:27PM
Lexus ad in a cab = lol.
NeoteriX @ Jul 29th 2007 8:38PM
That's strange... A weekend ago, I finally rode in one of the cabs with the new system. I talked to the cabbie about it and mentioned I heard on the news that cab drivers didn't like it. It was the first time he ever heard of such a thing, and he said he thought it was a pretty decent system. He said sometimes it loses signal and doesn't work 100%, but the big upshot is that there is a credit card reader in it. He was really happy that he would be able to get some pretty sizable fares upstate now that people could pay with credit card--normally he'd have to turn people away because they didn't have the cash for the $100-200 fare.
Anyway, I'm not sure what all the ruckus is about from my one anecdotal experience.
cyclone @ Jul 29th 2007 8:55PM
The issue is the fact that the Taxi and Limousine Commission is mandating this technology, but is forcing the cab owners to pay for it. Personally I like this technology. And I think the Taxi Workers Alliance are misjudging their power. The last time there was a cabbie strike was the best days ever. One could drive/walk around Manhattan without fear of nearly getting killed. NYC taxi drivers might possibly be the worlds worst drivers.
snakesausage @ Jul 29th 2007 10:36PM
This should be decided by the market. If every cab that has this technology could advertise and patrons that would like this added convince could choose to only ride in equipped cars.
Greg A. @ Jul 29th 2007 10:46PM
If you think that a Noo Yawker who is hailing a cab is going to look inside the first cab to pull up and check to see if it has this unit, then reject the cab if it doesn't, there's a bridge in Brooklyn I'm willing to sell you dirt cheap.
ZK @ Jul 29th 2007 10:55PM
Being that a vast number of cab drivers are Muslim, this is simply a way to keep tabs on their whereabouts and to know exactly where they go and how long they are there.
Ibby @ Jul 29th 2007 11:35PM
You're a racist asshole.
Harrison @ Jul 30th 2007 1:04AM
This better by "dry" humor.
ZK @ Jul 30th 2007 1:43AM
Why must it be racist or a joke but not the truth?
Why does there appear to be no way to turn off the GPS monitoring?
Why not have the GPS activated only by the rider or only when the fare meter is running?
Would you like your vehicle and source of income to be monitored by unknown agencies and people 24 hours a day, seven days a week?
Ibby @ Jul 30th 2007 2:11AM
Look I didn't say it wasn't a good idea or that I am not in favor of it, but why would you even mention it being a good idea since "most" cab drivers seem to be Muslim? What does that have do to with anything being discussed in this post?
ZK @ Jul 30th 2007 2:27AM
Whether or not you are in favor of the plan, and I am not, my opinion concerns why this plan is being implemented.
Since the post is titled NYC cabbies threaten September strike over GPS, I am simply speculating why there is always on GPS being mandated upon NYC cabbies.
In fact, if you are in favor of the idea simply for that reason, then you would be the racist ahole.
Barney @ Jul 30th 2007 12:24AM
No one wants to be under the watchful eye. Truckers had rejected a similar system, use to keep track of trailers. Others will condone it as long as they aren't explaining why they took a route or stayed at a location for a amount of time. Big brother is watching you!
SHOTT3R @ Jul 30th 2007 1:29AM
This wouldn't have anything to do with not being able to drive tourists all over the map and run up fares anymore, would it?
Vik @ Jul 30th 2007 4:53AM
C'mon now. This is not GPS monitoring of people going about their daily routine. This is GPS monitoring of people who are being PAID to DRIVE others around.
Here's my question: If you are being paid to drive people around and you are not doing anything wrong (like jacking up fares, taking longer routes, etc etc) then why on earth would you be against such a system?
It seems to be it would:
1. Keep fares fair
2. Be safer for the cabby
3. Make payment easier (CC)
3. The article mentioned bigger tips, as well
So why is this a privacy issue when it is merely keeping track of employees whose job it is to transport people and report to a central office?
testa di cazzo @ Jul 30th 2007 9:46AM
just a little side note:
cab drivers are not employees. they are independent contractors. this means that they pay a weekly rental to the taxicab company for the right to use the taxicab (as long as they have a taxicab driver license) and then they keep all the fares that they make.
this might be why they're pissed off, because they claim to be monitored even though they are "independent contractors." which in my opinion is a load of crap
UAW @ Jul 30th 2007 9:18AM
The new system offers umpteen benefits to both groups: drivers and passengers. The only disadvantage is the "big brother" notion. Now, the system doesn't photograph the driver, but helps to track the movement of the vehicle. Therefore, if a particular driver doesn't violate any rules, there is no privacy invasion of any sort. What did I infer from the article? There are 8,400 taxi cab drivers that are afraid to be caught in the process of defrauding the passengers. Before, a 2 minute trip could last for hours due to the passenger's lack of knowledge of the area. Now, the passenger would clearly see that they are going in circles.
jeffinToronto @ Jul 30th 2007 11:18AM
It's simple. The cabbies who are bitching are also the ones who take people (mainly tourists) on longer than necessary routes. Kind of hard to shaft people if they can see the actual route and destination they should be taking.
George @ Jul 30th 2007 1:17PM
Or maybe this has to do with the cab drivers won't make as much money by taking the 'long way' around. The customer will be able to see the best GPS route.
Oh and I can see if they have to pay for the GPS unit themselves. Then I agree with striking.
Chris B @ Jul 30th 2007 2:46PM
It's good for customers, good for drivers and it's not like the gps is following them home at night. No different than having gps on a bus - would that inspire a strike? Also, every business has mandated expenses this is no different. Striking over this just seems stupid.
wez @ Jul 30th 2007 10:39PM
I think that everybody who works for a living should have all there time and location monitored. Every second of every day. All phone calls should be recorded, every keystroke, every step during the work period should be evaluated. That way the boss could "suggest" ways of making them more productive. Thus more efficient. That would better for everyone. Less work time wasted more profits for the company.
Power to the companies!!!!
Yeah I am being facetious.
Safer?
So a cabby is robbed/assaulted The assailant runs out into a crowd of 200 people on the sidewalk and the cops two blocks away in bumper to bumper traffic are going to know exactly where he is in a one block area with 40 yellow cabs on that street? APB. Look for a man with money from a robbed cabby in downtown Manhattan. He may be tall, he may short, he may be white......
This kind of system will work well in a suburban area where there a fewer car and people.
Not so much in NY city.
This is just a power grab, plain and simple.
Tourists should just inquire about costs to a destination from a reliable source (cab company, tourist information ctr) before making the trip.