Let us know about your taxi battles!

Credit: Solar Feeds

Photo Credit: Inga’s Angle

It is a consensus among New Yorkers that there is little more frustrating than spotting that rare on-duty/unoccupied taxi during the 5pm shift change – “unhappy hour” – and being upstreamed!

One thing there’s no arguing about is that smartphone apps can’t create more medallions and the 5pm shift change situation will remain the same.

GetTaxi is excited to announce the upcoming launch of G-Car, an independent fleet of readily available drivers charging transparent, flat rates.

Even. During. Shift. Change.

Sign up on www.gettaxi.com to learn more about the G-Car, stay tuned…

Photo Credits: Paul Douglas at www.startribune.com

Have you ever wondered what might help the situation? Well the cab drivers in New Orleans have!

Beginning this week, all of  New Orleans Carriage Cab and Yellow-Checker Cab’s will have a technology available for riders that allows them to choose one of five different soft drinks for under a dollar ($0.99)! Through a touch screen display, customers will choose a nice cold beverage which will be dispensed as soon as they swipe their debit or credit card. Each automated unit has the capacity to hold 36 drinks.

Photo Credit: Vending Times

Garber, who operates more than 1,200 cabs nationwide, is starting off in 250 taxis in NOLA and has plans to expand to Chicago and New York in the near future. Another company, TaxiTreats, which has raised $1M, has the same concept. They plan to launch this summer in bars and taverns in Manhattan and then, if they can get approval from the TLC, they will explore their initial idea of being accessible in cabs.

For years, Silicon Valley has been the front leader in the US in technology. Mayor Ron Huldai of Tel Aviv had some exciting news this past Friday at the GetTaxi office in Manhattan, Tel Aviv is leveling the playing field in conjunction with New York City. With Tel Aviv being home to over 700 startups, he was excited to celebrate that so many of these companies are spreading their branches in the Big Apple. Ann Li, Managing Director for New York City’s Center for Economic Transformation, expressed an equal enthusiasm in working with Israel. She said New York recognizes the innovation coming out of Tel Aviv and this is why they decided to partner with Technion for Cornell’s new campus in Manhattan.

The Mayor was most excited by how these companies are successfully tackling markets abroad, but still keeping their R&D in Israel. In highlighting the success, several startups were brought together Friday to present the work they have accomplished. Along with Mayor Huldai and Ann Li, the event was done in conjunction with Israeli Consul General, Ambassador Ido Aharoni and and Hila Oren, General Director of the Tel Aviv Global City.

GetTaxi has been tackling markets around the world and is excited to bring its product to the US market. The Mayor wrote us a letter several months ago that stated that his dream was to ride a GetTaxi in Manhattan and we are looking forward to soon making this a reality!

Mayor Ron Huldai’s Letter to GetTaxi:

Have you ever watched something obscure happen in front of your eyes and had nobody else to share the moment with? Did the phrase “Can’t make this s*@t up!” come to mind?

Over the years I have witnessed some crazy things. One time I was in China visiting my sister who was studying abroad and I wandered into an art shop. While unraveling several scrolls of dragons and rabbits, I suddenly heard the familiar sound of shattering glass. Then I heard it again, but this time louder. Soon it turned into a screaming war and as I looked to find out what was happening, I realized I was the only tourist in the entire shop. Then a man and woman came forward and began to try and avert my attention away from the incident, quickly pulling out all kinds of scrolls and telling me, “SO BEAUTIFUL” in chinese with widened smiles on their faces.

After reading an article in the Gothamist last week, I am even more excited than ever to have my first experience driving a NYC Taxi! The article, created from the Ask Me Anything section on Reddit, gives insight about sexual behavior inside a cab, celebrity spotting’s, food recommendations, tipping and much more from a 26-year old cab driver in Manhattan.

Some highlights are below:

Has he seen sexy times in his cab? ”Yes many times. Sometimes they even ask. To which I usually just reply really? Because the cars NEVER get cleaned. They’re filthy. I’ve also had a girl masturbate in the backseat while her friend was very embarrassed.

I usually try to hit as many potholes when I know a blow job is going on in the back. It’s always funny then you arrive at the destination and there early was not enough time for completion and the guy gets out of the car with a boner.”

Does he think cyclists in the city are “as much of an issue/annoyance as Premium Rush would have people believe?” ”Not really. The most annoying cyclists are the just regular cyclists. The couriers know what they’re doing.

As for regular cyclists and drivers in general. They’re both assholes to each other in the most biased way possible and need to lighten up. And stop acting so entitled. Both do. That would probably prevent more accidents and be better for everyone”

As for other food tips? He recommends “Di fara in midwood” for pizza. But not the Indian in Curry Hill: “They’re all disgusting. I would check out masala times for cheap good clean Indian food. It’s on bleecker street near 6th ave and open until 3 usually and 5 on Friday and Saturday.”

Has he had celebrities in his car? ”I’ve had a bunch. Tina Fey, Zach Galifanakas, Alan cumming, two main characters from gossip girl – chuck bass and blaire. And two side characters from that show as well.”

Speaking of tips, what does he think is a fair tip? ”I guess if you want a percentage 20 percent is cool. But from my standpoint and having been driving around for a bit I think tipping should be based on the the length of time during a ride. Time is much more valuable to a cab driver than the metered fare. Typically as a driver you want to be averaging a dollar a minute. Some rides get 3-4 dollars a minute even more. And some get 50 cents a minute. Then they get 50 cents a minute you’re really losing money. So I guess take that into account. Also if you’re going to an outerborough or a remote location realise that the cab driver might not get a fare for a while so take that into account as well.”

And here’s a pretty bad excuse for not tipping? “I once had a passenger that Wanted to go to Starbucks 4 street blocks away. The fare was about 5 bucks. He said he couldn’t tip me because he was out of work at the moment.”

I have now completed my medical check-up and 6-hour defensive driving course. Last few tasks, a 3-day 24-hour course to learn the geography of NYC, a drug test, finger printing and then taking the exam!

Stay tuned as I take the the next steps on becoming a licensed New York City taxi driver.

Livery and black car companies had a different point of view. On Wednesday, they filed a suit against the TLC, alleging that the one-year pilot program for e-hail apps that was passed in December violated the City Charter, the Administrative Code and other authorities.

One of the main differences between taxi’s in Manhattan and other cities is that they are not allowed to have pre-arranged rides and are only able to pick up street hails.

Of many claims, the Livery Round Table (LRT) and the Black Car Assistance Corporation (BCAC) argue that the ability to book a yellow taxi even up to 30 minutes prior to the ride, is a pre-arranged booking.

The suit seeks a temporary restraining order which was granted by the TLC yesterday.

The e-hail pilot program launch has been delayed and arguments against the TLC are expected to be heard by a Manhattan judge on Feb. 28.

Photo Credit: www.tuaw.com