As the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission boasts of its plans for technological innovation, including hybrid vehicles and wireless devices based on the global-positioning system or a similar technology, thousands of drivers are parking their yellow cabs and protesting. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance staged a rally in the city Oct. 3.
Drivers say they don't want to be tracked, and they don't need the expense (estimates range from $3,000 to $5,000 per vehicle) of installation. They also claim the devices could be used to monitor speeding and other activities, violating their rights.
The commission began requesting proposals last year to meet new cab requirements, including the addition of GPS or similar systems. It maintains that the tracking equipment would aid drivers in navigating traffic, provide efficient routes, and help passengers recover lost property.
When the commission said last year that it planned to mandate equipment for mapping and automated data collection, chairman Matthew Daus said the improvements would enhance the fleet's technological capabilities, improve passenger convenience, and bring "the already high quality of taxicab service to the next level."
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