Survey Says: Cab Riders HATE Taxi TV

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According to a recently-released survey [pdf] by the Taxi and Limousine Commission, the second biggest criticism from cab riders is about the Taxi TV, which automatically turns on in the back seat of cabs and, in some cases, never shut off. Only the cost of cab fares is disliked more than Taxi TV—36.8% of respondents cited the fare as their biggest beef, while 31.3% said those annoying TVs were the worst. And among the Taxi TV critics you'll find none other than TLC Chairman David S. Yassky.

"I was not surprised [by the Taxi TV response], to tell you the truth," Yassky tells the Times. "I do sympathize with passengers who don’t like the content on the Taxi TV screens right now. We are not going to be a government censor here, but we want to offer more options to passengers in taxis." Currently, two companies provide content for the TVs, which broadcast a mix of news, weather and cultural reports produced by WABC and WNBC.

Yassky says the TLC plans to unveil a second channel on the TVs in the near future; the channel will feature shopping and cooking shows, possibly produced by the media arm of the Bloomberg administration. Of course, there's nothing to be done about the #1 gripe in the survey, the cost of cab fares—unless you're one Abdul Mohammed, who won the grand prize of a year’s worth of free taxicab rides for filling out the survey. Yesterday Mohammed, a convenience store manager who works in the Mosholu Park section of the Bronx, received a specially-coded credit card good for up to $5,000 worth of rides. That could definitely come in handy—assuming the cabbies let him use it.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on February 11, 2011 1:48 PM

Comments [rss]

Sulayman

Well obviously! I drove a cab all summer, and it plays the same video in a loop, including the same commercials and news stories and weather forecasts. I can practically recite the welcome chimes, the Eyewitness news team lineup and even some of the commercials.

brwnmamba

I hate those annoying TVs in taxis with the silly shows - it's annoying during a short cab ride & I'm sure it's even more annoying for the cabbies that have to hear it all day.

I do like the geo maps

I like how the price is displayed & itemized on the TV/computer screen

I like how easy it is to pay by cab

cabbies should have the ability to mute the sound in order to keep their sanity---i'd go nuts hearing that sound all day

krinklecutfires

This just in, water is wet!

LazyNanny

Who doesn't want to see a gasping Sara Gore feature on an endless every-five-seconds loop?

theevilerone

They are definitely irritating. I turn it off or mute it. I have experienced a few where that doesn't work. I feel badly for the cab drivers who have to listen to that crap all day long!

drhomeskooled

I drive a cab with a TV. Its all ads and I hear non stop complaints about it. They wire it so the drivers cannot turn it off, some drivers cover it up.
I hate the thing, like people dont see enough advertising they have to watch it shoved in their face against their will... its pathetic and sad that our culture even tolerates the non stop assault of advertisers upon our environment.

Why do people think that taxi TV is some kind of service to benefit the customer? Please open your eyes.

Rod

because it allows mayor bloomturd to further promote his name / brand to tourists from around the globe.

duh.

it's like you people are all really really naive.

ANGRYGOD11

The last thing I need is a loud TV inches away from my knees. Put up a big red OFF button next to it, and then we'll talk.

npfiii

I always mute it, and/or turn the map on...

virgilstarkwell

i take a shitload of cabs and not once have i experienced a tv that wouldn't shut off. they're annoying, no doubt, but it's a very solvable problem.

mmheidelberger

Yeah, I always turn it of or mute it...

SPsGhost

The payment by credit card is the most useful thing this system has has brought about. There are other elements of functionality that are probably helpful to have too, like the gps tracking. But the TV's are garbage. Useless, annoying, a waste of money for all involved. They are bloatware. Some marketing hack sold the idea to the TLC as means by which to raise advertising money, but I guarantee you that ad space is worthless. They should just be axed as far a "content" goes and used solely to display the rules and fare information, which is only displayed once and then goes away, and to facilitate the credit card payment.

Rod

GUESS WHO GOT THE CONTRACTS FOR THE CREDIT ACAR READERS IN TAXIS:

Mayor Bloombturd's brother-in-law.

NOT BAD, eh?

tell me again why Mikey refuses to leave City Hall?

evbo

While riding with him in a cab this morning, my 8 y/o son said to me, "Dad, did you know that a long time ago there used to be no TVs in taxis?"

"Yeah, Zack," I said. "I think I heard about that."

Taxis are expensive, to be sure. But I really hate those effing TVs, especially when they won't turn off!

Merf Derf

The problem with those TV's is that the loop is too short, so you end up having to listen to the same thing many many times during one ride.

And It's mostly ads, not "cultural reports." Most of the time it seems like movie or tv show previews. If I have to watch ads during my ride, my cab ride should be subsidized by the company doing the ad. But the constant repetition is what drives you crazy. I can only imagine how it must be for the drivers who have to listen to that loop all day.

random transplant

If you live far enough away to watch the commercials loop, the cabbie didn't mean to pick you up anyway.

Merf Derf

the loops are only like 2 to 5 minutes long

Even just going from the west side to the east side, you have to watch it like 5 times at least

Guest

yes we do.

Rod

but didn't you vote for Rudy and Mike, two Republicans who cheated an stole everything?

who the F do you think got the contract$ for this thing?

do none of you recall Rudy's scam of the celeb voices telling you to take your stuff?

THIS IS WHAT REPUBLICANS DO: they created huge annoyances at huge expense that never work, and their pals get the contracts!

(Dems are only a little better.)

you snooze you lose.

you lost.

maybe next time some of you will get off your lazy asses and stop Republicans from ruining NYC.

oh yeah: too late. the damage can never ever be undone. literally.