⬛📰 NYC TLC Chair David Do: "Not forcing Uber and Lyft to restrict access to their platforms"
Video summary of this month's Black Car News (July 2024, Vol. 39 | No. 7). BCN continues a near four decade tradition of providing thoughtful, NYC for-hire transportation (TLC) industry insight
Led by longtime Editor, Publisher & Owner Neil Weiss, Black Car News (BCN) is one of the most important voices in the NYC for-hire transportation (TLC) industry.
Its monthly publication continues a near four decade tradition of providing thoughtful, NYC for-hire transportation (TLC) industry insight, from Neil himself and other market thought leaders, including:
Ira Goldstein, Executive Director of the NY Black Car Fund (BCF)
David Do, NYC TLC Chair & Commissioner
Matthew W. Daus, Esq., Former NYC TLC Chair & current President of the International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR)
AND…many others, including industry lawyers, a medical professional, TLC drivers, base owners, driver advocates, insurance companies
You can directly access the July 2024 issue here.
🗣️ Notable quotes from this month’s issue.
“I don’t drive for a living, but I understand and sympathize with the frustration drivers are feeling. There is a lot of misinformation out there about what’s behind the restrictions and I want to be perfectly clear: TLC is not forcing Uber and Lyft to restrict access to their platforms. This is a calculated choice the apps are making to maximize profits and avoid paying drivers more.”
– David Do, NYC TLC Chair & Commissioner
“The city clearly sees TLC-regulated drivers as low hanging fruit when tax money is needed, so I had concerns… but then I read the “final” congestion pricing fee structure, and it turned my head around…I was suddenly feeling much better about congestion pricing, dramatically lowering my anxiety levels… but then, of course, [NY Governor Kathy] Hochul suddenly changed her mind. She said she was concerned the toll would negatively impact blue-collar New Yorkers at a time when inflation is high and the city is still recovering from the COVID pandemic, but I’m not so sure.”
- Neil Weiss, Black Car News, Editor, Publisher & Owner
“What I’m unhappy about, however, is that privately owned vehicles and yellow taxis will still have curb access at Terminal 4, while FHVs are being relocated. This does not protect parity between the industries and is ultimately giving one group an advantage over the other. Keep an eye out for an official announcement from the Port Authority on the changes.”
- Ira Goldstein, Executive Director of the Black Car Fund
I have always wondered, if congestion pricing would’ve or will affect drastically UR once implemented since basically with a lot less congestion rides will be completed in a more efficient manner and as a result drivers will be idle for longer times than now that any 2-3 mile trip in the congestion area can last up to 25-40 minutes, of course that would be if congestion actually drops which In my opinion it could for a few months but then come back up once people gets used to it but at that point im assuming they will be strengthening the way it works or simply just keep using it as MTA funding…