New York Taxi Drivers Strike over New Technologies in Cabs

Computerworld — New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said a taxi strike in the city on Wednesday was having "limited impact, if any at all," while strike organizers declared the protest over new GPS and credit card technology in cabs a success.

Bloomberg said in press conference that was broadcast over the Web that there were 14 percent fewer cabs than usual at Kennedy International Airport during the morning hours.

The strike, planned for Wednesday and Thursday, will not lead to talks with taxi drivers over the new technology, Bloomberg added. "There's nothing to talk about," he said.

Noting that there is "no really easy way to measure" how many cabs were on the streets out of the 13,000 that are licensed, Bloomberg added, "We don't see people being hassled or stranded at airports. It's nowhere remotely close to that."

However, at a separate morning press conference, strike organizers with the New York Taxi Workers Alliance claimed that 80 percent of cabbies stayed away from work, according to The New York Times and other news media.

The organization objects to a city requirement that cabs install by February new credit card processing and GPS technology, as well as systems for providing weather, news reports and advertising. Alliance leaders and cab drivers have called GPS an invasion of privacy that would allow employers to see where they park their cabs when off-duty. They also object to paying 5 percent credit card fees.

Bloomberg didn't address the privacy concerns but said the Taxi and Limousine Commission will only receive the same data about a cab's location that it already receives via paper, including where a customer was picked up and dropped off.

He said enabling credit card transactions will lead to more customers hailing and using cabs instead of arranging limousine rides ahead of time, and will increase collections because customers tend to round off what they pay.

Bloomberg said he would not talk to the alliance or taxi drivers because the city arranged for two cab fare increases to help drivers in 2004 and 2005, contingent upon their installing the technology.

"We made a deal, and we'll stick to our side of it," he said. "Most owners and drivers think it's a good deal and will make cab driving a good experience."

Bloomberg said a contingency plan for flat fares may have helped limit the impact of the strike. It calls for a zone-based fare structure, with nonstriking drivers allowed to charge each passenger a fare of US$10 per trip in a single zone and $4 more for each zone they enter or pass through. The contingency plan will remain in effect Thursday.

Also see:

NYC Taxi Cab Drivers Up in Arms Over Tracking Tech: "GPS is a BAD Deal"