Taxi Fare To Increase Soon

The Taxi and Limousine Commission today voted to approve the first NYC taxi fare hike in six years. Starting around September, the average taxi ride is going to be 17 percent more expensive. The base fare for a ride will remain $2.50 but each click of the meter will soon increase from 40 to 50 cents. Meanwhile, the flat rate to JFK to and from Manhattan is going to jump from $45 to $52. The six cents from each trip will go towards driver health care.

NYC Taxi of Tomorrow on Exhibit at the Flatiron District

Nissan is offering New Yorkers a first look at the interior of New York City's 'taxi of tomorrow', the Nissan NV200 minivan in an exhibit at the Nissan Taxi of Tomorrow Design Expo. The Nissan NV200 was chosen by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission to be the exclusive taxi of the city beginning in late 2013. The taxi's key features include spacious cargo area to accommodate luggage for four passengers; a transparent roof panel to provide unique views of the city; sliding doors with grab handles and an entry step for easy entry and exit; USB charging access for passengers, as well as a 12V electrical plug; independent, passenger controlled rear-seat heat/air conditioning with a grape phenol-coated air filter to improve cabin air quality; flat floor - with no hump; enhanced interior materials intended to help the passenger cabin smell fresher and breathable, anti-microbial, easy-to-clean and environmentally friendly seat upholstery (from the taxi of tomorrow website). The exhibit features an interactive display showcasing the taxi's planned interior. It runs from November 1-5 at the pedestrian plaza across from the Flatiron building near Madison Square Park.

NYC TAXICAB CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

April marks the 100-year anniversary of the gasoline-powered taxicab in New York. It will be celebrated with a special exhibit at the 2007 New York Auto Show which will include designs for new taxi stands as well as the taxis of the future. The NYC Taxi centennial celebration will include New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg proclaiming the dates of the auto show to be Taxi Week and screenings of taxi-related movies at the IFC Center on weekends in April. Last April 4^th, the crown of the Empire State Building was lit in "commemorative yellow lighting."

In 1907, John Hertz, who founded the Yellow Cab Company, chose yellow because he had read a study conducted by the University of Chicago that indicated it was the easiest color to spot. Taxis have meters. The total cost depends on the distance traveled and time spent in the cab. Taxi fares are $2.50 for the first 1/3 mile, then 40 cents each 1/5 of a mile thereafter, and 40 cents per 120 seconds when cab is not moving; a 50cents night surcharge is in effect between 8pm and 6am; a $1 surcharge is in effect 4-8pm weekdays (not including holidays). Any bridge or tunnel tolls will be added to the total charge; drivers might ask that you pay the tolls as you go through them. Taxi drivers are usually given a 15% gratuity on top of the final metered fare. According to The Sun, of the 43,402 taxicab drivers, about 2,300 are American.

The top five countries of origin for NYC cabbies:
1. Bangladesh
2. Pakistan
3. India
4. Haiti
5. United States