Taxi Managers: Make It Easier For Uber Drivers To Become Yellow Cabs
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A group of New York City taxi medallion managers are advocating to make it easier for Uber drivers to become yellow cab drivers.
The group, knows as the Committee For Taxi Safety, said they plan to petition the Taxi and Limousine Commission to allow Toyota Camry hybrids to be used as yellow cabs. The idea would be to attract Uber drivers making high lease payments on the green gas energy cars.
According to the Daily News, the Toyota Camry hybrid is a popular model used among Uber drivers.
The Taxi and Limousine Commission says the vehicles are too small and uncomfortable to be used as cabs, 1010 WINS' Roger Stern reported.
It is unclear if there are enough Uber drivers who would be willing to make the switch.
The Daily News reports the petition will be submitted to the Taxi and Limousine Commission on Monday and had already garnered more than 1,000 signatures.
In Newark, the City Council heard testimony Wednesday about a proposal that would require Uber and Lyft drivers to pay an annual fee to serve Newark Airport and Newark Penn Station.
The city wants the drivers to pay a fee of around $1,000 a year if they want to pick up passengers at the city's busiest hubs. That's on top of a $500 fee that they already pay to drive in the city.