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The Taxi and Limousine Commission says two pilot programs encouraging New Yorkers to share the back seats of cabs with perfect strangers would free up more cabs, reduce traffic congestion, and cut carbon emissions. Before voting to approve the experiment yesterday, TLC official David Kahr said another bonus is that "you'll save a little money, and maybe you'll meet someone new who's interesting." That's right, ladies! TAXI! Oh hello there, do you come to this back seat often? You know, we have so much in common, living in the same neighborhood and all. Say, why don't we drop you off next? Ladies first—it'll be fun to finally see where you live, anyway.
Such is the creepy scenario dreaded by some New York women like Christine DeCarlo, who tells CBS2, "It can be scary. During the middle of the day, you never know who will be out there. Once it catches on people may think of it as a good way to hit on women." According to the TLC, riders who choose to try one of the new multi-meter cabs—up to 1,000 are expected to debut by the end of the year—are essentially consenting to sharing their taxi, no matter what unctuous, overbearing freak hails it along the way. (It's illegal for an on-duty hack to refuse a passenger based on his appearance or destination.)
The same rule of randomness will apply to whichever charmer gets in a cab with you at Manhattan's six rush-hour taxi stands, which will send riders along certain routes in Midtown for a flat $3 or $4 fee. That's why Sonia Ossorio of the National Organization for Women is warning women: "Err on the side of caution. If there is someone they are uncomfortable entering the car at the same time as them, go ahead and get off. It could mean your health, your life." But given the recent behavior of some cabbies, isn't it better to have a witness? And a similar shared-ride policy has been working in Chicago for years; a spokesman for the city tells the Daily News, "It does save the passengers money. And it does benefit the drivers. It's win-win."
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the first paragraph on this article is fucking stupid.
in this article dammit, IN
You're still wrong. You should've written of this article.
What a remarkably stupid idea. Do these guys exist for the sole purpose of pissing off the residents of this fine city?
Seriously -- if I'm in a cab, and he stops for another passenger, I'm getting the fuck out.
Do the residents of this fine city exist just to cry about everything? Anyone who doesn't want to catch a multimeter cab wouldn't have to. If you do, you might save some money. It's up to you.
Same for the rush hour flat fare rides. If you don't want to use them, take a regular cab.
Although really I don't understand how anybody as afraid of being around other people as some apparently are can even live in NYC.
Yes. They do. You just off the bus, baby?
If you can choose one of these cabs or not, that's fine -- if it's the passenger's choice, then the multi-cabs will fail in the market and that will be that. But that's certainly not the long-term plan -- the long term plan is to make all cabs like this, like it or not.
And believe me, after you've lived around New Yorkers for more than a few years, you'll be glad for the ten minutes of personal space you get in the back of a cab. Any supposed "New Yorker" who lacks a decent amount of misanthropism just hasn't been here long enough.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, my friend. But raised not to cry about every little "injustice" the world brings, and to find solutions to problems. For example, again, if I don't want to ride in one of these cabs, I already have my solution ready: I won't.
And my solution is to get out of the cab if it stops. What's your problem with that again?
Or were you just looking for something to whine about, and my comment caught your eye? You do seem to do a lot of whining about other peoples' comments, frankly -- it's a little weird, man. Just sayin'.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, my friend. I'm sorry, but that isn't anything to brag about.
It would be optional.
"The taxis would be retrofitted with electronic signs showing the neighborhoods where they're headed"
If you don't want to do it, don't get in a cab with one of those signs. No big deal.
Should be awesome when two asshats try having cell phone conversations at the same time.
Can't wait to get in a cab and have it stop every two blocks trolling for extra fares.
that's right ladies: share the back seat with unknown, perhaps molesty strangers and SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT! woohoo!
Things like this have worked successfully in other countries. It's a great opportunity for someone who couldn't normally afford a taxi. And for those who fear for their safety, just take a normal taxi. Geez.
i always am tickled by the ol' "it works in other countries" argument. the reason why things feel so different and foreign when you travel abroad is because even in this era of globalism, cultures remain remarkably different (and thank god for that!)
all together now...this is not The United States of Other Countries.
Pedestrian plazas work well in other countries too. :o
Maybe HBO will bring back "Taxicab Confessions". Should be interesting with strangers in the cab.
As a scary, perverted predator myself I am all for this idea.
Might as well take a bus.
last time I heard, if you wanted to share a cab with someone, you guys could just work it out.
this plan is stupid, scary, pervert-enticing, and dangerous.
NO F'ing WAY.
When I hail a cab, I expect to have it to myself thank you.
The first incident of violence and the subsequent law suit will put an end to this nonsense.
Right, because the operator would be responsible for any passenger-on-passenger violence. That's why there's no bus or subway service any more in NYC, after that first incident of violence on the bus and the subsequent lawsuit that shut down the MTA.
Correct-not only does a woman have the chance of being raped by the driver, she can be assaulted by a fellow New Yorker! YAHTZEEE
Just get in the cab and request to ride alone. You'll pay a little extra, but what cabbie wouldn't comply?
-don't answer...
I think it's a great idea. Come on everybody... it's done in most cities I've traveled to outside of the United States and it's safe and incredibly efficient. In fact, I'd say that the most popular way to get around İstanbul is by "Dolmuş" which is a kind of shared taxi and I've certainly heard of no violent incidents involving them.
What will this do to Cash Cab ?
Yes it's perfectly reasonable to say "it works in other countries" when New York City's crime rates (specifically rape) are well above that of other entire nations.
New York women (or maybe it's just women in general) are pathetic. Always worried someone is just around the corner waiting to grab their sad ass or boobs.
I did not realize how pathetic I am! Thanks for the insight that because I have tits...I am pathetic. aah...the be enlightened...