The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission proposed regulations yesterday that would allow companies like the recently-exiled Uber, which allows users to electronically hail and pay for taxis and black cars with their smartphones, to legally operate in the city. Uber’s taxi business, which had been operating since September, was shuttered this month after legal run-ins with the TLC. While the commission had said it was open to changing the rules in the past, it wasn’t ready to allow Uber, which had begun business without permission, to continue operating.
Now, the TLC is changing its tune, after a survey found that 70 percent of respondents had smartphones, and 55 percent wanted the ability to hail using an app. “Taxi passengers should be able to use the most up-to-date technology available to find a cab faster,” said TLC Commissioner David Yassky. “We welcome feedback from the taxi and car service industries on how taxi-hail apps can best supplement the existing service models so that we can finalize these rules and get apps on passengers’ smartphones by early next year.”
The proposed rules will be discussed at a November 29 hearing, and voted on on December 13.
(Photo:Â Pascal Subtil/Flickr)
