Those of you in the Big Apple waiting for a cab while reading your favorite automotive news site may have noticed that you're able to get through a few more articles than normal. Why? A sizable number of New York cabbies have called it quits today in a general strike that began at 5 AM this morning and will continue through Friday.
The two-day strike is a reaction to new regulations that drivers complain will cost them money and invade their privacy. Back in 2004, N.Y.'s Taxi and Limousine Commission required all cabs to come equipped with new systems, including credit card readers and GPS devices, which could cost upwards of $6,000.
The Cabbies contest that the implementation of these systems, originally designed to track drivers and help fares find lost property, is too cost prohibitive, and since drivers normally lease their cars, the money would come directly out of their pockets. Additionally, the credit card readers would take about five-percent of each fare charged.
Inspection of vehicles will begin October 1 and run through January 31 of next year, at which time all New York cabs are required to be sporting the new systems. Delays over the next few days are already happening, so if you aren't already familiar with it, now's a good time to learn the subway system.
[Source: New York Times]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mr. Oak @ Sep 5th 2007 1:39PM
I agree with the Cabbies. The Taxi and Limousine Commission are a bunch of jerks. They want to mandate these devices and slap the cab drivers with a $5,000 to $6,000 charge for installing them. The TLC is using GPS & security as the main reason for this mandate. A big fat lie. I rode in some of the pilot cabs for this devise. There is an endless stream of advertisements on those screens. The TLC pockets the revenue from those ADS, the cab drivers get shit.
Just another case of the small man being taken behing the woodshed. Only this time they are being bent over the hood of their cabs and not the pickle barrel.
The cabbies should sue the TLC and force them to share the revenue.
Shawn @ Sep 5th 2007 1:55PM
Oh please Mr. Oak, these things are not for the real New Yorkers. The big issue is not the credit cards, it is the GPS. The cab drivers are all afraid now the clueless tourists can prove they were driven the long way around.
Plenty of commercial vehicles have GPS systems...Yet why don't cab drivers want them? Could it be that if the tips are put on credit cards, the drivers would have to declare their income?
Mr. Oak @ Sep 5th 2007 2:04PM
Well as a New Yorker who actually rides these cabs, mostly late at night. I have no problem with the cabbies. They are mostly cool, though one of them did kick me and this girl out of his cab for making out (different story).
My point is if the TLC is so concerned about the tourists etc. let them foot the bill for these devices. This thing is a cash cow for the TLC, they should pay for it.
I am not against the devices, just who pays and who benefits.
Jared @ Sep 5th 2007 3:20PM
Please.....
There are tons of jobs that do not report income. That is what also makes them worthwhile to those who man them. These should be paid for by the TLC if not all than a large percentage. Taxi drivers will never gain revenue and will only pay for the TLC to make money.
Don @ Sep 5th 2007 3:37PM
YOU try being a New York cabbie, Shawn, and see how YOU like having your every move tracked.
Barney @ Sep 5th 2007 4:47PM
"now the clueless tourists can prove they were driven the long way around."
And just how would the tourist know? Are you suggesting that they are carrying GPS with them or following a road map? A tourist would still have no idea. What commercial vehicles carry Visa machines? GPS is used for tracking trucks in thee case they get stolen. Other companies use them, not to spy on the driver but to give him directions.
howard @ Sep 5th 2007 4:54PM
could be!!!!!!!
Then they would have to pay taxes the way the rest of us do! My cousin is a New York cabbie and makes over $95,000 a year, takes 5 weeks vacation in the islands, drives a new Jag every year and sends his 5 kids to some academy out of town and braggs everytime I see him that if he ever had to pay the right taxes he'd have to go on welfare! He only declares 1-2% like all his buddys! Now, why not put a "STOLLY" in his cab like the one I used to have to run in the cab of my diesel when i drove over the road trucks (18 wheelers to you that don't know)! Mine was operated by vibration his will be electronic! Somebody will figure out how to beat it but, until they do the cabbie will have to be honest (Oh, I made a funny)!
SPG @ Sep 5th 2007 2:20PM
If they can work on some discount prices and a payment plan or a lease for the equipment then that's one story.
If they are not going to work with the cabbies then I'm totally opposed to this.
Kunikos @ Sep 5th 2007 2:21PM
credit card readers and gps would be GREAT for consumers, but i guess the gps would mean that they could get rid of cabbies that suck and not worry as much about new cabbies not knowing the city as well
Richard @ Sep 5th 2007 2:25PM
For you geeks out there who might now actually take public x-portation, here's the link for the Metro software to put on you favourite Palm, WinMob or Symbian device to help get you around the fair metropolis. It's free and I have found it a great help when I am in NYC...or Moscow...or wherever
http://nanika.net/Metro/
Tim UF @ Sep 5th 2007 2:26PM
They are complaining about the GPS/credit cards being cost prohibitive?
How about the cost of a shield???
and how about them biting the hands that feed them, NYC already has made them soooo much business by enforcing laws that cut down on personal vehicles.
And... there are cabbies working through this strike... and likely making bank. I don't feel for them.
You only care about people watching you work when you are doing something you aren't supposed to.
Chris @ Sep 5th 2007 2:53PM
Now would be a good time for them to thin the herd a bit and get rid of some of these dipshits who are rude, stinky and don't speak a lick of English.
Big Rocket @ Sep 5th 2007 3:09PM
I thought unions are "good for America," because they "helped build America", "fight for the working class," and so on. By causing delays in NYC and refusing service to those who need to go to work, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance really proved their point.
And before anyone claims the NYTWA is not a union, here are a couple of sources that say otherwise:
http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/07/26/new-york-taxi-drivers-oppose-constant-gps-monitoring/
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_235170645.html
akatsuki @ Sep 5th 2007 3:32PM
This is crap, but only because the real problem is the medallion system. They should issue more, but instead they mandate this crap.
Tim @ Sep 5th 2007 4:34PM
Strike? If The Man says you're gonna take a GPS and card reader then you're gonna take a GPS and card reader and you're gonna like it. These guys need to get with the 21st century, standing up for your rights is so 1937. Come on and fire these guys already. I'm sure we can import some third world folks that would be more than happy to do this job any way we want for $2 a day and be happy about it.
jgp @ Sep 5th 2007 4:43PM
The striking cabbies all need to be fired, just like the air traffic controllers were in the 1980s.
They're just lazy bums who don't want their bosses to discover that they've been defrauding their customers.
Bryan @ Sep 5th 2007 8:11PM
I really do not see the problem. GPS not only helps the driver but the customer as well. Happier customers could equal better tip. Especially when they can use their credit cards! I saw the news earlier, one was complaining because it might "take too long" for someone to find a credit card for work when he could be picking up one of tons of people needing a cab. Now that is greed talking. What a fool!
Russ @ Sep 5th 2007 10:42PM
Card readers would be awesome. 5% even on an AMEX is still too high compared to my merchant services. (I don't know if they are getting taken or embellishing)
GPS would be nice, but I'm thinking more along the lines of getting something like Google maps in the back seat to help me find out where the hell I'm going as well as the driver. I was in NYC last month asking to go from W51 to Lombardi's down south and had to break out the Google maps on my phone to help him out!
Steven J. @ Sep 5th 2007 11:02PM
let them strike. the city is much better without them. i love playing in the middle of Lexington Avenue and 68th traffic free.
Richard Warren @ Sep 6th 2007 6:52AM
For those that love using your credit card or debit card, fine, but processing that card costs the merchants (taxi drivers in this case) money everytime we swipe one. My stores have a pretty good rate but it averages 3%. That's a 3% discount. So, you do 100 grand in credit sales, that's 3 grand right out of your bottom line. The only people making out on this deal are the banks. Depending on the machines they run from 250 to 700 each depending on which you take.
So, show of hands, who wants to take 3% additional out of their paycheck? Unlike retail where the theroy is a crdit card user will buy more, the cab rider just wants to get somewhere, not go for the super duper tour package at additional cost.