Villain or Bogeyman? New York's taxi medallion system

Transportation Quarterly

Volumn 50, Issue 1, 1996, Pages 91-103

  Schaller, Bruce ^a   Gilbert, Gorman ^a  

^a NONE

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

AUTOMOBILE DRIVERS; INDUSTRY; LAWS AND LEGISLATION; MOTOR TRANSPORTATION; WAGES;

NEW YORK CITY; TAXI MEDALLION SYSTEM;

TAXICABS;

EID: 0030560610     PISSN: 02789434     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Article

References (25)

1. The 11 hour figure is based on driver surveys and includes the total work shift. Trip sheet studies have found that the elapsed time from the beginning of the first passenger trip to the end of the last one averaged 10.1 hours in November 1990. Subtracting breaks, drivers worked an average of 9.2 hours a day in November 1990. See Bruce Schaller, Taxicab Fact Book, 3rd Edition, Taxi and Limousine Commission, May 1994, page 31.
2. William Mersey, "Wanted: a New Deal for Cabbies," New York Times, June 19, 1994.
3. Edward G. Rogoff, "Don_t Raise the Taxi Fares," New York Times, October 30, 1995.
4. Edward G. Rogoff, "Taken for a Ride by the Taxi Fare Hike," New York Times, March 28, 1987.
5. New York Times (editorial), "Consider the Cabbies," September 24, 1995.
6. Ibid.
7. New York Times (editorial), "Taxi Reform, Again," March 31, 1986.
8. New York Times (editorial), "Cab Service, Still Shabby," May 27, 1990
9. New York Times (editorial), "The Taxi Industry Wins Again," December 10, 1989.
10. Elizabeth Roistacher, "The New York City Taxi Industry: What Price Medallions?" City Almanac, Summer 1988, pages 7 and 13.
11. Edward G. Rogoff, "Regulation of the New York City Taxicab Industry," City Almanac, August 1980, page 4.
12. Article III, section 11(a) of the Haas Act stated that the Hack Bureau may issue additional licenses after making a determination of public convenience, welfare and necessity.
13. For example, Rogoff states flatly that, "The question of how to increase their number [of cabs] if needed in the future . . . was not considered." City Almanac, page 4.
14. There was also a small increase of 10 cents per trip effective in July 1984, adopted to cover the cost of new electronic taximeters.
15. Data are based on a survey conducted by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and found in Brace Schaller, Hailing From New York, Taxi and Limousine Commission, November 1993, page 10. Note that visitors to New York, who tend to be less familiar with the FHV industry, predominately take taxicabs from Manhattan to the airports.
16. Bruce Schaller For-Hire Vehicle Fact Book, Taxi and Limousine Commission, February 1993, page 7.
17. Roger F. Teal and Mary Berglund, "The Impacts of Taxicab Deregulation in the USA," Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, Vol. XXI, No. 1, January 1987, page 40.
18. Price Waterhouse (1993) "Analysis of Taxicab Deregulation and Re-regulation."
19. Revenues increased by 14 percent, as shown in Table 3. Mileage increased by 15 percent, from 225.3 miles per day in 1980-81, when most fleet drivers worked on a commission basis, to 259 miles per day in 1990. See Gorman Gilbert, "Operating Costs for Medallion Taxicabs in New York City," prepared in October 1981 and published in Mayor's Committee on Taxi Regulatory Issues - Consultant and Staff Studies, page 14; and Brace Schaller, "The Taxi Industry, 1991," Taxi and Limousine Commission, October 29, 1991. page 13.
20. Revenues increased by 14 percent, as shown in Table 3. Mileage increased by 15 percent, from 225.3 miles per day in 1980-81, when most fleet drivers worked on a commission basis, to 259 miles per day in 1990. See Gorman Gilbert, "Operating Costs for Medallion Taxicabs in New York City," prepared in October 1981 and published in Mayor's Committee on Taxi Regulatory Issues - Consultant and Staff Studies, page 14; and Brace Schaller, "The Taxi Industry, 1991," Taxi and Limousine Commission, October 29, 1991. page 13.
21. Steve Fulcinelli, "Leasing in the Taxi Industry," Taxi and Limousine Commission, April 1987, page 2.
22. Taxi and Limousine Commission, "Should the Taxi Fare Go Up?" March 31, 1994, page 11.
23. Taxi odometer readings show that average minifleet mileage increased by 15 percent from 1990 to 1994. Earlier mileage data are not available.
24. The rule mandates that all individually-owned medallions sold after January 1990 be henceforth driven by the medallion owner (who can also lease for a second shift). Between January 1990 and mid 1994, the licenses for 1,200 individual cabs were sold. These cabs must now be driven by the taxi owner.
25. Taxicab Fact Book, page 14.