03/01/2012 – 5:24 pm
Taxi TV (photo by Kathleen Horan/WNYC)
(Note from the blog's publisher: Since some taxis in San Francisco now have repetitive, sound producing "Taxi TVs" in the back seats, San Francisco's MTA should take notice that New York is now considering replacing "Taxi TVs", with quieter technology, in part, due to mixed reviews from passengers. While the following article states David Yassky, of the NY Taxi and Limousine Commission defends Taxi TVs, saying some passengers like their entertainment, a significant share of the ridership thinks Taxi TVs are annoying and intrusive. Also, the 5% credit card fee is addressed in this article, with Square's rate at 2.75%. These issues are pertinent to San Francisco's taxi industry. Therefore they are published here at Taxi TownSF. This article is from "Transportation Nation" - John Han)
(New York, NY — Kathleen Horan, WNYC)
New York City is planning to offer passengers a quieter ride by taking the TVs out of the backs of some yellow taxis.
“What we’re trying here is a credit card screen that won’t have advertising or entertainment content on that”, said Taxi and Limousine Commissioner David Yassky at a meeting of the Taxi and Limousine Commission.
New Yorkers reaction has been mixed to the TV’s that can blare in the backseats but Yassky defends the current system—adding that some passengers do enjoy the entertainment content.
The TLC approved a pilot program on Thursday to remove the TV screens from the back of 30 cabs and replace them with iPads or other tablets.
The mobile payment company called SQUARE will equip these cabs with interactive touch screens. On them, passengers can to pay for their ride and opt to have a receipt emailed or texted to them. If the pilot program is approved, the new screens could appear in many more cabs by early next year. The internet and other functions wouldn’t be available right away.
CLICK HERE to read entire article by Transportation Nation.
Also, CLICK HERE to read the same issued covered by the New York Times.
