Red Light For Green Cabs

A federal judge ruled that Mayor Bloomberg can’t force "fuel-efficiency" rules on taxi owners. Only the feds can set standards like. So says Judge Paul Crotty. Bloomberg though disappointed by the decision doesn’t believe he’s defeated yet. He’s asked the Taxi and Limousine Commission to hype his hybrid idea and vows to lobby Congress to change the mileage standards laws. It seems that if New York’s mayor can’t hail a green cab, he’ll give hell to the yellow ones.

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Taxi Owners Driven To Federal Court

Some taxicab owners believe that the hybrids they’re being forced to buy are "unsafe" to be used as taxis. They contend that modifying the new cars for cab use make them dangerous for drivers and passengers. In fact, partitions violate the vehicle manufacturer’s own safety recommendations. By law, as of October 1st, all new taxis purchased must be hybrids. Taxi Commissioner Mathew Daus responded to the owner's lawsuit saying, “I want to send a clear and unequivocal message to the riding public that hybrid-electric taxicabs are absolutely safe." Undoubtedly, future lawsuits by vehicle accident victims will show which side was right and who was being un-fare.

Taxi Medallion Sales Drive Record Prices

The city collected $54 million dollars recently after selling new medallions for cabs. TLC Commissioner Mathew Daus said "The industry has never been better." A regular medallion sold for a record $524,000. A pair of wheelchair-accessible medallions also sold for a record $1.31 million dollars. As part of the auction, 87 medallions for wheelchair-accessible minivans were sold. This will bring New York City’s fleet of taxis available for the disabled to 231; the highest in the nation. Nice to have all the additional cabs around town, but will any come with a polite driver who speaks English, willing to drive to the outer boroughs?

Trying To Tame Taxi Tooting

Community Board 3 representing the Lower East Side in Manhattan has proposed the following suggestions to reduce excessive horn pollution in their neighborhood: 1) A roof light that illuminates every time the cab’s horn beeps. 2) An interior horn that blasts the cabbie each time the horn is utilized. 3) A meter which deducts $1.00 each time the horn is honked. While the first idea may have some merit (Although why not propose it for ALL vehicles?), the other two ideas are both unfair and probably unsafe. If the Board get these ideas passed, perhaps they'll also propose fining those who try flagging a cab down by yelling “Hey Taxi!” too loud!