Thousands of cab drivers said they will strike today to protest a city mandate that all yellow cabs have global positioning system tracking technology and equipment to accept credit card payments. The drivers feel that this mandate is an invasion of privacy and will be subjected to additional fees associated with credit card payments. The city maintains however, that the plan to install this new equipment was mandated in 2004 was to offer passengers a consolation after being hit with 26% rate hike. In addition to a GPS System and credit card machine, cabs will be outfitted with a backseat video monitor to broadcast news, advertising and entertainment.
Although modernization sounds great, many cabbies say it is a shabby deal:
• Drivers will have to pay a 5% credit card fee from every transaction out of their own money.
• Fleet owners have increased lease fees for drivers to pay for the new equipment.
• The GPS monitors will only track a cab’s movement and not offer any additional help in navigating the city.
• The TV monitor generates a lot of heat and will be positioned right behind the cabby’s head.
• The constant barrage of commercials and advertising played in the cab will not provide any additional revenue for individual cabbies.
The Patriots are all for technology and improving the taxi cab experience; however, we do not favor government intrusion into private industry. The cab industry is a private industry where many cabs are individually owned and therefore should be protect from government involvement. What’s a next, GPS system for pizza delivery people so we can track our pepperoni pizza?
Daily News Story
4 comments:
I'd settle for an air freshner installed in the cabs
I say leave the cabbies alone...they have enough trouble navigating through New York City traffic
I think the city is right to mandate these upgrades. Most of these cabbies are swindlers anyway
Let em strike it will make my driving in the City that much easier
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