Mayor Bloomberg Forcing NYC Cabbies to Green Up

Amidst high gas prices, NYC cabbies are pushing for a $1 surcharge per ride on top of a recent fare increase in the city. Cabbies, like everyone else in NYC, have seen gas prices rise from about $1.80 to $4.45 per gallon in the last four years. The Taxi and Limousine Commission has quickly put the kibosh on the request, however, saying there won’t be a surcharge under any circumstances.

From Gothamist:

Eleven other cities have instituted temporary fuel surcharges to ease the impact on cabbies, but Mayor Bloomberg rebuffed calls for a surcharge yesterday, putting the onus on drivers to start using more fuel-efficient taxis. (Yesterday Bloomberg announced his plan to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the city’s municipal buildings.) Driver and organizer Bill Lindauer told the Times, “This is how the mayor treats working people? I believe the mayor is a bold, innovative and pragmatic man, but he has an Achilles’ heel; he doesn’t feel for other people.” Loubert Alexander, another owner-operator, said, “Two years ago, a fill-up cost $40; now it’s double that.”

In effect, Bloomberg is telling cabbies “Tough shit – green up or else.” London, for one, is about to get some sweet zero-emission cabs that would be awesome for NYC. Unfortunately, somebody’s gotta pay for them – can cabbies really afford to make that switch on their own? According to Gothamist, they make an average of $290.75 per day in gross earnings, not counting the cost of gas. Of course, NYC is notorious for being an expensive city to live in.

Regardless, it looks like NYC cabs are headed on the path toward eco-friendliness, and that’s definitely a good thing!

Link [Gothamist]
Photo credit: Flickr user IJsendoorn