June 9, 2005
Taxi Cabs Might Be Redesigned
The Design Trust for Public Space is working with the Taxi and Limousine Commission to see new designs for taxi cabs, to celebrate 100 years of taxi cabs in 2007. Designers can be submitted from both design firms and regular New Yorkers. One of Gothamist's favorite design firms, antenna design (they designed some of the new train cars, as well as the Metrocard vending machine interfaces), is proposing some ideas: The Daily News printed antenna's design for a clearer way of seeing that a cab is vacant. Which is a great idea, though Gothamist admits we think it's funny when out-of-towners try to hail off-duty cabs. TLC Commissioner Matthew Daus told the DN, "It's refreshing to get these viewpoints...The craziest idea I've heard so far was changing the color of the cab from yellow to something else. I'm happy with yellow."
Things Gothamist would like in cabs: Weather reports, subway updates, traffic bulletins, and mirrors (for the ladies who need to touch up). What would you like in a cab? And the Design Trust for Public Space's public presentation, "Designing the Taxi" is on June 16, 2005, 2–5 pm, at the Edward Swayduck Auditorium at Parsons (65 Fifth Avenue, at 14th Street); call 212-695-2432, ext. 15, to RSVP.
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Sometimes, "off-duty" cabs do in fact stop for fares. Especially late at night (early am). So I'd say the joke might be on you, Jen.
there is an excellent new book by Biju Matthew about the New York City Taxi Workers Alliance. They are a really progressive taxi worker quasi-union.
http://www.thenewpress.com/books/taxi.htm
amazon link - http://tinyurl.com/9vsxw
from the amazon link
- Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Mathew, as a member of the Organizing Committee of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, has a unique perspective on the plight of immigrant taxi drivers. Cab drivers pay a leasing fee of $120 per day to fleet owners, and they make a living only if they can bring in more than that, which is often difficult even in a grueling 12-hour shift. They are thought of as second-class citizens, harassed by police and passengers, and are subject to stiff fines for minor offenses. The system is rigged so that the most vulnerable person, the driver, takes on all of the risk. Yet this diverse workforce that speaks over 80 different languages organized a strike in 1998 in the face of opposition from Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Mathew explores the history of New York's taxicab industry, which has been in a cycle of corruption, reform, and corruption since the Depression. The book culminates in an essay on globalization, immigration, racism, and the false veneer of multiculturalism in neoliberal society. David Siegfried
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
I've heard of a code for flagging down off-duty cabs to get them to pick you up - if you're going only a short distance. Hold up your thumb and forefinger and make an "inch" sign to show you're going a short distance.
rocknrope, there was an article on that in the times about a year ago.
tien you're mistaken, the proper signal is raising your middle finger on either hand.
Why would you need a subway update if you're already taking a cab?
What would I like in cabs? I'd like them to accellerate more slowly and slow down for lights earlier. I'd like them to not stop to pick up people when they are off-duty. I'd like an equal shot at getting cabs as people with lighter skin color than mine.
One other thing -- I'd be happy to pay more if cabs were improved in the ways I said.
I would like it if cabs didnt feel it was necessary to try and run me off the road when I'm riding a bicyle or motorcycle.
Let's hope the new cab designs take some direction from arguably the best cab New York has ever known: the Checker Cab. Perhaps a modern, slick version of the Checker could be just the thing.
I'd like to see that roomy backseat again, where you could easily fit five people. And the beautiful two-tone checkered strips along the sides. Now THAT says taxi.
How about cabs in neon colors outside and an Odorama machine inside (you select a smell from a list - which is gone before the next fare).
1907? Of course, I've writen on that...
http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0208D&L=ads-l&P=R8551
London cabs rock- you can stretch out. And the drivers have to take tests on their knoledge of street etc. That would be great here in NYC, as I am getting a bit annoyed having to give directions to Court Street in Brooklyn. I know they are Manhattan-centric, but not to know where Court Street is?
PS- simple change- slide the seats back in the minivans- tons of room behind you and my knees still hit the divider. Would be easier to get in and out too.
I second the London cabs comment. We should just buy a fleet of those and paint them yellow.
I think the seat coloring should be a lighter grey tone, so you can easily see if you've accidentally left your cellphone or umbrella next to you (the dark coloring and dimly lit back make it hard to spot sometimes and I've been in a cab when the prior passenger's phone has gone off as it lay abandoned on seat next to me)
I like the new Sienna minivan cabs. They are so much more roomy and ride much more nicely that those god-forsaken Crown Vics. How about making those standard?
Yellow cabs are only required to know Manhattan streets, which is actually not that hard because of the grid system. Also, they are required to know the major roads in the outer boroughs--but just the major roads (such as the BQE). It's impossible to memorize every street in all five boroughs.
Telling a yellow cab to go to Court Street without further instructions is pushing it; hey, that's the price of living in Brooklyn. You're lucky yellow cabs bother to go to Brooklyn at all nowadays. There was a time in NYC where the phrase "No Go Brooklyn," and "No Go Queens" was a very common thing from yellow cabs.
On the other hand, a black livery cab should always take you right to your street (they know the neighborhoods better because they specialize, and the CB radio lets them get directions from their main office).
Here you go with a revised entry:
http://www.barrypopik.com/article/997/taxi-the-word-taxicab-and-the-yellow-color
taxi driving man said "It's impossible to memorize every street in all five boroughs."
Don't see why not. In London, Cabbies study for years (yes, years) to learn The Knowledge. Once they've got it, they've got a job for life if they want it, because of this barrier to entry.
London Cabbies can make $60,000 a year, drive the best taxis in the world, and have instant status. Now, which of these things would be bad for New York? There's no reason for all you NYC people to have 3rd world drivers with little knowledge and little English earning little money - that way everybody loses.