New York experiments with shared taxis

Come Friday and you might just see a group of professionals waiting near a designated point where they are not working for a bus rather they are waiting for a shared taxi. Yes, you heard it right, random strangers will soon be sharing a taxi with a group-sharing rate of $3-$4 on 3 designated routes in the city.

Like buses, these taxis will have designated pick up and drop off spots. The pick up spots include: West 57^th Street and Eight Avenue, West 72^nd Street and Columbus Avenue and East 72^nd Street and Third Avenue.

Appreciating the move, Taxi and Limousine commissioner hailed the move  saying that passengers would have to pay less while drivers will make more money i.e.- a win-win situation for all the people involved in this case. Unfortunately, the group rates only apply during the morning rush hours 6 to 10 am.

A few doubts have been raised about this scheme like for example is the flat $3-4 applicable for every person for every ride or is there a chance of the last person to alight from the cab going to have to pay more? Another problem is will the cab drivers have enough change to pay all the 4 passengers after all, the cab drivers always plead that they never have change at any given time.

There are a few positive responses to the schemes as well as people say this will reduce the usual problems like cab drivers say they are off duty during rush hours or charging exorbitant rates. It remains to be seen whether this initiative will succeed or not. Only time will tell.

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