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>The use of medallions was actually to protect the public Imagine believing this. https://slate.com/business/2012/06/taxi-medallions-how-new-yorks-terrible-ta

>The use of medallions was actually to protect the public Imagine believing this. https://slate.com/business/2012/06/taxi-medallions-how-new-yorks-terrible-taxi-system-makes-fares-higher-and-drivers-poorer.html https://slate.com/business/2012/06/taxi-medallions-how-new-y... >The public hasn’t fared much better. Deep-pocketed medallion owners have hijacked public policy through lobbying and legal challenges. Just last week medallion owners won a legal victory blocking Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to create a fleet of “green cabs” to serve New York’s outer boroughs, and last year medallion owners successfully stymied New York’s attempt to shift to hybrid taxis. Just one example in the article of the great protection medallions offered.

listenallyall 7y ago
This is like the shoe shine boy giving stock tips in 1929, or the stripper with 6 houses in 2008 -- it represents the exact moment of "peak taxicab." Every major point in the story is now invalidated: Medallions being valued over $1 million is a pipe dream today. Today they are worth about 11% of that. https://www.crainsnewyork.com/transportation/mystery-buyer-snaps-taxi-medallions-prices-fall-further https://www.crainsnewyork.com/transportation/mystery-buyer-s... The green cabs exist. Teslas were just approved for NYC taxi fleets. https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/tesla-model-3-taxi-cab-new-york-city/ https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/tesla-model-3-taxi-cab-ne... Taxi emissions have been reduced dramatically: "The scientists report that overall fuel efficiency of the medallion taxi fleet climbed from 15.7 to 33.1 mpg, and corresponding estimates of nitric oxide (NO) and total particulate (PMT) exhaust emissions declined by 82% and 49%, respectively." https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/05/20190530-taxis.html https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/05/20190530-taxis.html Nobody claims the medallion system was perfect, or that owners did not attempt to exploit their value. But it did provide a functioning cab network that was safe and predictable for decades. And despite holdign a lot of power, medallion owners are not immune from government regulations and competition aided by technology.
- lovehashbrowns 7y ago
  > But it did provide a functioning cab network that was safe and predictable for decades. I don't even know what world you're describing right now. With issues like "the credit card machine is down" to a cab never showing up despite how many calls I made.. the last word I'd ever use to describe cabs is "predictable." Even today, post-Uber.
  - listenallyall 7y ago
    Carry some freaking cash. "For decades" -- like, from the 1940s to the 2000s. Fares were predictable. Still are in fact, they are actually painted on the exterior of the cab itself. Maybe you've noticed?
    - dantheman 7y ago
      Taxis have hacked meters forever, take longer routes, and 'forget to turn on the meter' or the 'meter is broken' even today. There's a reason taxis have a fixed fare to manhattan from the airport.
      - listenallyall 7y ago
        >> a fixed fare like I said originally, "predictable." thx 4 confirming

listenallyall 7y ago

This is like the shoe shine boy giving stock tips in 1929, or the stripper with 6 houses in 2008 -- it represents the exact moment of "peak taxicab." Every major point in the story is now invalidated: Medallions being valued over $1 million is a pipe dream today. Today they are worth about 11% of that. https://www.crainsnewyork.com/transportation/mystery-buyer-snaps-taxi-medallions-prices-fall-further https://www.crainsnewyork.com/transportation/mystery-buyer-s... The green cabs exist. Teslas were just approved for NYC taxi fleets. https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/tesla-model-3-taxi-cab-new-york-city/ https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/tesla-model-3-taxi-cab-ne... Taxi emissions have been reduced dramatically: "The scientists report that overall fuel efficiency of the medallion taxi fleet climbed from 15.7 to 33.1 mpg, and corresponding estimates of nitric oxide (NO) and total particulate (PMT) exhaust emissions declined by 82% and 49%, respectively." https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/05/20190530-taxis.html https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/05/20190530-taxis.html Nobody claims the medallion system was perfect, or that owners did not attempt to exploit their value. But it did provide a functioning cab network that was safe and predictable for decades. And despite holdign a lot of power, medallion owners are not immune from government regulations and competition aided by technology.

lovehashbrowns 7y ago
> But it did provide a functioning cab network that was safe and predictable for decades. I don't even know what world you're describing right now. With issues like "the credit card machine is down" to a cab never showing up despite how many calls I made.. the last word I'd ever use to describe cabs is "predictable." Even today, post-Uber.
- listenallyall 7y ago
  Carry some freaking cash. "For decades" -- like, from the 1940s to the 2000s. Fares were predictable. Still are in fact, they are actually painted on the exterior of the cab itself. Maybe you've noticed?
  - dantheman 7y ago
    Taxis have hacked meters forever, take longer routes, and 'forget to turn on the meter' or the 'meter is broken' even today. There's a reason taxis have a fixed fare to manhattan from the airport.
    - listenallyall 7y ago
      >> a fixed fare like I said originally, "predictable." thx 4 confirming