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Pointers on how the new cab sharing program will work
Photo credit: Urbanite
The Taxi and Limousine Commission on Thursday approved proposals that would allow New Yorkers to reduce the cost of their cab rides by carpooling with strangers.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the shared ride programs, slated to start this fall:
How will the programs work?
Up to four riders will be able to share cars from six midtown “group ride” locations to six designated Manhattan dropoff spots. The fixed fares will average about $4 per person.
Separately, “multi-fare meter” taxis can be hailed on the street. In this incidence, passengers should expect to share the ride with another passenger traveling along the same route. An LED panel on the taxi’s roof will display the destination neighborhood, and only one other rider can be picked up. Passengers will be charged a higher rate once the second rider is picked up, but the amount racked up during the shared portion will be split 50-50 between the two people in the cab. Each passenger also will be responsible for additional surcharges, such as for riding at night.
Who will save money?
Strangers who travel together along popular Manhattan routes are most likely to benefit. Friends traveling together are better off just splitting a regular cab because they will be considered separate fares in a taxi designated for two-passenger carpools.What if you don’t want to share a car?
Riders who board one of the 1,000 multi-fare cabs must agree to travel with a stranger. The taxis cannot veer from the primary route to scoop up another passenger, the TLC said.
What’s next?
The group ride program will roll out first in the fall. The multi-fare program will take the longest to implement, as meter technology is still being developed and it must be approved by the state.
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