Q&A
Leveling the playing field between yellow cabs and FHVs
1:10:48
ยท
131 sec
Council Member Banks asks about TLC's plans to level the playing field between yellow cabs and for-hire vehicles (FHVs) like Uber and Lyft. Commissioner Do discusses recent measures and challenges in addressing this issue.
- TLC implemented flex fare or e-hail regulations, allowing yellow cabs to receive trips through apps like Curb and Arrow.
- The commissioner acknowledges that street hail culture has changed, affecting the traditional yellow cab model.
- Despite challenges, recent data shows encouraging signs of recovery for the yellow cab industry post-pandemic.
Chris Banks
1:10:48
Alright.
1:10:48
Thank you.
1:10:49
Madam chair, just, indulge me a couple of more minutes.
1:10:53
Thank you.
1:10:55
Competition for the, higher vehicles, FHVs, and the, ride hailing apps.
1:11:02
How does the taxi limousine commission or TLC plan to level the playing field between yellow cabs and for high vehicles?
1:11:10
Example, the Uber, the Lyft, the Curb, Revo apps.
1:11:14
Given the significant, regulatory and operational disparities, and are there, plans to impose similar surcharges, regulations for the, FHVs to support the yellow cab industry?
David Do
1:11:28
Yeah.
1:11:30
Yeah.
1:11:31
Like, as I look at the numbers, it it concerns me that, while the yellow industry has been recovering since the global pandemic
Peter Mazer
1:11:41
Right.
David Do
1:11:41
They were hit with, a double whammy, like you like you said.
1:11:44
Right?
1:11:45
With a medallion crisis in '28 2018, '20 '19, and then, again with COVID nineteen.
1:11:52
And so that's why we we came up with the MRPA plus program.
1:11:56
But to your question, more specifically, how do we level the playing field?
1:12:03
In recent, months, we passed, a regulation around, flex fare or the e hail, where now, trips don't just come from street hails.
1:12:13
Right.
1:12:14
They now come from other areas, including an app from Curb and Arrow.
1:12:18
So that for the first time, FHV, the, taxi industry could now have that flexibility to compete on that same level playing field.
1:12:29
But we we also need to, look at the overall picture.
1:12:33
And, I I think that that there has been certain trends that have changed, that street hill culture is not what it used to be.
1:12:43
And so we have to also recognize that.
1:12:45
But, you know, from my numbers that I've shared today, I'm encouraged, that people, are, seeing yellow, as a prime opportunity to get them through, and across our our city.