Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Some Taxi Drivers Strike, Some Drive Taxis
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 22, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 22, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Taxi workers held another strike starting at 5AM this morning over demands to remove the new GPS systems, for there to be a healthcare and retirement pension fund, and union recognition. However, it's unclear how many of the tens of thousands of taxi drivers actually struck.
The Metro Taxi Cab Board of Trade says that 95% of the 13,000 taxi fleet was on the streets and the Office of Emergency Management did not notice a "significant drop in the number of taxis on the road," but the Taxi Workers Alliance, which spearheaded the strike, said that 75% of cabs were on strike. The TWA's Bhairavi Desai told amNY that drivers on the roads today were not full-timers but just opportunistic part-timers and medallion owners..
No matter how many hacks are striking, it seems that drivers on the road are winning out, since the zoned fare system allows drivers to pick up multiple fares. The Post explains that "the average 2.8-mile taxi ride, which normally costs $9.60 will earn a driver who picks up four passengers $60 - a 525 percent increase."
Did you notice any more or less cabs? And to anyone who regularly takes cabs, are the fares much more expensive? The September two-day taxi strike seemed to have negligible impact.
Photograph of striking taxi workers at 40 Rector Street by dietrich on Flickr
Tagged
Bhairavi Desai
emergency management
fare
flickr
metro
News: NYC
office
photos
rector street
strike
taxis
The Metro
the office
the post
The September
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Bronx community hosts vigil for boy killed in e-bike fire
Zion Maine died Wednesday after a lithium-ion battery ignited, killing him and injuring four members of his family.
By
Carol Chen
Published Oct 29, 2026 at 9:22 p.m. ET
8 people charged in $7M SNAP benefit fraud scheme
The scam impacted thousands of people, according to the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
8 people charged in $7M SNAP benefit fraud scheme
The scam impacted thousands of people, according to the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
By
Giulia Heyward
California man was shot by a NJ detective in Moonachie, officials say
By
Kaya Laterman
The NYPD is confiscating e-bikes along a clogged East Village street
By
Willow Higgins
New Yorkers enrolled in SNAP will get more money for fresh produce next year
By
Giulia Heyward
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .