NYC Plans 30 Cent Taxi Surcharge
New York City is adding additional wheelchair-accessible taxis in the city, increasing cab fares in order to fund them.
Mayor de Blasio's legislation is proposing a 30 cent charge on all yellow taxi and green outer-borough travels.
Additional revenue generated will assist cab medallion owners and drivers in upgrading their taxis into wheelchair accessible ones. The City only has 231 wheelchair friendly taxis; De Blasio's goal is to have over 7,500 regarding last year's accessibility advocates legal settlement. A hearing will be held in April concerning the desired surcharge, that will take effect next year if it passes.
De Blasio referred to the proposal as "a major step forward". Drivers and riders have mixed feelings. Skylar Sasson of Harlem told CBS 2: "I think it would be good to accommodate people who need wheelchairs to get around the city more". However, cab driver Rahim Rahmon explained: "I don't know why the new mayor wants to put the pressure on the taxi drivers. There is a thousand ways to make this money."
