City Considering Shared-Ride System For Cabs

NEW YORK, NY [NY1] — City officials are said to be considering a plan that would open up yellow cabs to a shared-rides system.

Cab drivers would be permitted to pick up more than one fare at a time.


The aim is for drivers to benefit by winning customers who would not have chosen a cab if they were paying full fare.

The New York Post reports that meters would be reprogrammed to calculate the new fares.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg touted the proposal as a win-win during his State of the City address earlier this month.

This is just one plan reportedly under consideration.

Other ideas would institute zones where riders pay flat fees, similar to the system in place during taxi strikes. Another plan would make official something that happens anyway – livery cabs would be allowed to make unscheduled pickups in areas underserved by yellow cabs.