New York City Taxi Cabs – Then & Now
New York is one of the oldest cities in North America. It’s also one of the most heavily traveled. Millions of people, both residents and commuters, take to her streets, subways and ferry routes on a daily basis. One of the most iconic ways to get around New York City is the Yellow Checkered Taxicab. Well, at least in Manhattan – try getting a cabbie to take you down Roosevelt Island, he knows he isn’t getting a fare back.
For generations the taxicab (or taxi cab, if you prefer) has changed from “horseless carriage” to random gypsy cabs and the yellow medallions we know today. Starting in 2013, the NYC Cab will no longer be a purely American institution. After a small bidding war, Nissan won the rights to becoming NY’s next generation of cabs. Their NV200 van will take its place following Chevy Caprice and Ford Crown Vic.
The first taxicab operation in New York was Electric Carriage and Wagon Company, which ran 12 electric cabs in July 1897. The company ran until 1898, with up to 62 vehicles in operating. By the early 1900′s, the Electric Vehicle company was running up to 1,000 electric taxicabs.
By the 1920s, industrialists recognized the potential of the taxicab market. Auto makers like General Motors and Ford Motor Company began operating fleets. The most successful manufacturer was the Checkered Cab Manufacturing Company.
Founded by Morris Markin, Checker Cabs produced the large yellow and black taxis that became one of the most recognizable symbols of 20th century urban life. For many years, Checker cabs were the most popular taxis in New York. During the Great Depression, NYC had as many as 30,000 cab drivers.
In 1937, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia (you know, the airport guy) signed the Haas Act, implementing official taxi licenses and the medallion system still used today. This law limited the number of licenses to 16,900, but the number dwindled to 11,787, a number which continued until 1996 when the TLC added 133 cabs.
The medallions, which could not be sold for a $10 renewal fee during the 1930′s, are now worth upwards of $600,000, which is why cab operations have changed from single-owner to fleet-run.
In 1967, New York ordered all “medallion taxis” be painted yellow in order to cut down on unofficial drivers (gypsy cabs) and make official taxicabs more recognizable.
New York’s Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) was established in 1971 with jurisdiction over the city’s medallion (yellow) taxicabs, livery cabs, “black cars,” commuter vans, paratransit vehicles and limousines. The TLC was founded to deal with the growing number of drivers and to address issues important to both the taxi and livery industries.
In the 1970′s and 1980′s crime in New York had become severe, and cabbies were often the victims of robberies and street crime. Many carried knives, guns and pepper spray in order to protect themselves.
Also during the late 1980′s and 1990′s, production of the famous Checker Cab came to an end. American auto makers took over with the Chevrolet Caprice and Ford Crown Victoria. The large frame, rear-wheel drive, former police cruisers were available at auctions nationwide. This provided a steady supply of used, well-maintained cars. Other laws since 1996 require taxis to be replaced every 6 years, regardless of condition.
Also in 1996, when Chevrolet stopped making the Caprice, the Ford Crown Victoria became New York’s most widely used sedan for yellow cabs. In addition, yellow cab operators added Honda Odyssey, Isuzu Oasis, Chevrolet Venture, Ford Freestar, and Toyota Sienna minivans.
In 2005, New York introduced incentives to replace its current yellow cabs with electric hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape Hybrid. The proportion of the taxi fleet made up of Ford Crown Victorias has dropped over time. It now stands at about 60%.
The TLC has mandated that by the end of January 2008 all taxis should be equipped with a Passenger Information Monitor (PIM) that screen in the backseat (which most people turn off) providing entertainment, a live GPS map of location, and to pay for rides by swiping a credit/debit card.
And today, we come to the end of another era. Sure, there will be some Ford and Toyota Prius cabs now and again. But from here on out get used to seeing the Nissan emblem on that cab you’re fighting over on the Lower East Side at 3:30am. Japanese cabs, built in part throughout Canada, Mexico, and overseas. U-S-A! U-S-A!
Photos / Info: Wikipedia – Taxicabs of New York City
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