Comments on: Cabbie hartal in Naya York

By: G. Chai

G. Chai — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 02:58:16 +0000

GPS devices will be everywhere…sooner or later. If I were a cabbie, I would be opposed to the expense (which is said to be $3,000 to $5,000 per vehicle) to install one of these mandatory systems but not to having GPS system itself. Since I’ve been driven around in NYC by few cabbies thumbing through their maps while driving, I am for GPS systems which can eliminate their dependence on maps…thereby increasing their focus on driving which results in higher safety of everyone involved.

By: Guru Gulab Khatri

Guru Gulab Khatri — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 20:10:50 +0000

I dont see governments reason for requiring tracking. And the issue is how the information will be used, and who will use it.

But thinking on the money$ issue... There are other issues that should be looked at. There may be a vendor lobbying the city gvernment to sell these tracking system.

By: ashvin

ashvin — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 03:03:26 +0000

The public radio show “The World” profiled Bhairavi Desai today : http://www.theworld.org/content/10059.wma

The show website is : http://www.theworld.org/latesteditions/10/20051005.shtml

By: Manish Vij

Manish Vij — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 22:54:25 +0000

Sounds like it would be expensive (and require some kind of wireless interactivity). More than that though, static prices engender peace of mind and fairness.

I agree that predictability is key to usage. I don’t mean in real time. It could be a 50c surcharge that’s adjusted quarterly and automatically pegged to a gas price index rather than having the same argument with the Taxi and Limousine Commission every few months.

… I’m all for issuing tickets to cab drivers for speeding based on GPS tracking…

Until you’re running late for a critical appointment

By: vurdlife

vurdlife — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 22:29:59 +0000

I'm not opposed to the GPS devices as long as the City subsidizes as Amardeep mentioned. The ability to transport people for wages is regulable business activity just like any other...and it clearly affects the health and safety of the city's residents. Its not a cliche, many NYC cabbies really do drive like they're on crack. And it makes everyone around them drive in like manner. Therefore I'm all for issuing tickets to cab drivers for speeding based on GPS tracking....but vigorously opposed to it for everyone. Its part of the bargain. Yes you can say "driving is a privilege, not a right" but this type of "license" is not the same as for cabs, which are highly regulated.

You run into this problem regularly with government-mandated price caps Â— the price doesnÂ’t keep pace with real-world costs, and youÂ’re stuck waiting for slow bureaucrats to recognize the new cost structure. A dynamic fare component which tracks fuel prices is an obvious solution.

I'm not sure how taxi cabs could dynamically adjust their fares according to gas prices. Sounds like it would be expensive (and require some kind of wireless interactivity). More than that though, static prices engender peace of mind and fairness. When you get into a cab, you know how much it will cost you based on where you're going and traffic (which usually follows predictable cyclical patterns). I don't know if I'd get into a cab if I had no idea what the price would be, or if I had to calculate the cost every time. When you stray away from fixed rates, the consumer (especially the tourist) gets screwed by unscrupulous cabbies. (Who knows if the machine works....etc). Lastly, the taxi industry is so huge, fixed prices put the onus on them to reduce their gas price exposure by using petroleum futures and options.

By: Nacheez

Nacheez — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 21:33:51 +0000

pls disregard – meant for another thread

By: Nacheez

Nacheez — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 21:32:50 +0000

Typical ABCD bachcha longing to belong !

By: Amardeep

Amardeep — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 21:25:47 +0000

I'm not opposed in principle to the installation of the GPS monitors, but I can't understand how the city can demand $3000-$5000 from the drivers to have them installed. If the city is going to require them to get these, it needs to either pay for them itself or subsidize them significantly. (Or make it optional and provide some kind of incentive...)

Another thought: has the TLC already signed up a company to provide the monitors? If so, I have to wonder what that company's campaign contributions look like.

More generally, I agree with you about leaving the data collected with the fleet owners...

Oh, and I support the drivers' demand for a gas-price surcharge. If they are driving around New York all day, they are probably spending considerably more than $20 a day on gas.