Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Will New "Outer-Borough Only" Taxi Fleet Kill The Livery Cab?
By
John Del Signore
Published May 16, 2011
Modified May 16, 2011
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
John Del Signore
Published May 16, 2011
Modified May 16, 2011
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
It could be a lot easier to hail a cab outside of Manhattan if Mayor Bloomberg's new taxi medallion proposal becomes a reality. Sources tell Off the Rails that the TLC may add an additional 6,000 metered cabs that would only be allowed to serve the four boroughs outside Manhattan. They could deliver passengers to Manhattan, but would not be able to pick up fares there. Nor would they be allowed to respond to calls for pick up—they'd be street-hail only. Nevertheless, livery cab dispatchers are alarmed by the proposal, and they predict it will put drivers and base owners out of business.
An association of livery cab base owners and their approximately 22,000 drivers is calling for a revision to the Mayor’s plan for additional taxi medallions in order to "protect community-based, mom and pop livery cab owners and dispatchers and ensure they have a chance to compete fairly against incumbent medallion owners." Cira Angeles, a spokesperson for Livery Base Owners Inc., issued a statement saying, "The reality is that yellow cabs are not serving this population and we have for 30 years. We are willing to work with all parties to find a plan that does not cut out the little guy and allows us to compete."
Under Bloomberg's plan, which has not been officially announced, individual buyers who buy one regular city-wide medallion would receive a set of "borough only" medallions free. This would bring the total taxi fleet to around 15,000, its biggest size since the Great Depression, according to Off the Rails. An earlier proposal to simply allow existing livery cabs to pick up street hails has been abandoned; in fact, the NYPD is in the midst of a big crackdown on livery drivers who take street hails. The Post reports that there have been a record 3,016 summonses for illegal hails through April, up 15 percent from the total of 2,584 written during all of 2010.
The city could make an estimated $1.3 billion selling the new medallions at auction. But is there a big enough demand for taxis outside Manhattan to sustain 6,000 new cabs? And what about parts of upper Manhattan that are under-served by the TLC's taxi fleet—would the new borough-only medallions be allowed to make pick-ups there?
In response to questions about the livery cabs concerns, TLC Chairman David Yassky told us, “The goal, as Mayor Bloomberg expressed it, is safe, legal, convenient taxi-quality service throughout the five boroughs, and we are working hard to make that happen with legislators and stakeholders. Whatever details lead to the creation of this service, the people of New York City have asked for this, and we’re committed to making it happen.”
Tagged
livery cabs
outer borough
taxi
tlc
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
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 .