I have a rather modest disability as disabilities go, and my first ride in the Taxi of Tomorrow will, I hope, be my last. The door was *very* heavy for me to slide open from the street, and then I had to clamor over the instrusive little running board to tumble in. Imagine my dismay when I realized I'd have to yank the heavy door closed with my weaker arm, and then force it open again when I reached my destination. Getting out was no easier than getting in. By that time, I barely had the strength to shove that heavy sliding door for the fourth time. The interior is indeed commodious, but for a brief ride, the struggle to get in and out just isn't worth the effort. Long live Uber!
4
The NV200 is a mostly excellent vehicle for a taxi except perhaps when you're sitting three abreast on the back bench seat (a little tight). But I was surprised that the entire fleet turned over to just one vehicle make. It can be a safety issue. What if there is a mass recall--the airbags are flawed or some other very dangerous mechanical defect is identified? This is why many police forces have a policy against having a single kind of squad car.
3
This is Bloomberg and Communism at its worst. A taxi is a convenience not vehicle for comfort and sightseeing. And you know who will ultimately pay for it... right... you and me.
2
Simply put, the Checker was the perfect cab. It's illogical that no car company can replicate that interior while making a more fuel-efficient engine.
3
Pentagram Design (folks behind the metro card vending machine) suggested as much when the Taxi of Tomorrow project was launched. But, it seems its cheaper to retrofit another Nissan Van. That this wasn’t a blueprint for something bold and uniquely New York is a great shame. Now we must contend with the surging of Uber, and the mediocrity of a van retrofit. http://www.designboom.com/technology/taxis-of-the-future/
2
Uber's for me!
1
Well, I can't really take the time to read all 130+ comments. In case it has not yet been said, I would not hold my breath waiting for the complement of NV-200s to reach 75% of the fleet. Even 50% is going to be a stretch. Medallion owners have already figured out how to get around being forced to buy this taxi. They bought a record number of Toyota hybrid vehicles in the past year and will continue buying them instead of the NV-200. Those who want wheelchair accessible vehicles will choose the Mobility Ventures MV-1 vehicle which is already proven and a much better car than the Nissan. The big loser will be Nissan who's plan to become a major force in the taxi market on a worldwide basis will most likely fizzle.
2
With Uber, you're getting into some random person's own personal car. I can't get over that hurdle. I feel reassured by a fleet vehicle that is visibly branded. Nothing personal about it.
1
God forbid that in one of the smoggiest cities in America, they should have electric vehicles. They always have a million ways to say "unfeasible."
The NV200 better be a hybrid!
Is it? I don't see any mention of fuel consumption in this article...
Is it? I don't see any mention of fuel consumption in this article...
2
Uber is the taxi of tomorrow!
This Nissan "taxi" is more utility van than passenger transport. The van-style sliding door and tiny, sliding (!!!) windows (whose idea was it to put non-power windows in a passenger car in 2015??) in the passenger compartment are deal-breakers. What happens when a passenger opens the window, exits the cab, and then it starts to rain - driver cannot close the windows! The ride is utility van too. Its just an all-around terrible vehicle for the passenger.
3
In Vancouver, most new cabs are Prius hybrids s by Toyota. But would they have sufficient batteries to operate the heaters, windsscreen wipers and lights, as well as simply accelerate, in NYC? Well, now we have Prius cabs in Edmonton and Calgary , where winters are long and very cold, and there are no problems. In reliability, comfort, and room, the average Prius may be fine, but luggage space requires the larger model, more expensive, too, of course, but useful for airport and railroad travelers. Those ancient Yank Tanks held huge numbers of packages and boxes, and were very quiet. I miss those qualities.
Note, too, that while Nissans are very reliable, on average, the NYC models are new to the US and might lag European-Japanese Nissans' longterm reliability. Be prepared for that eventuality when buying a cab and for a harsher ride sitting inside one. Uber is watching.
Note, too, that while Nissans are very reliable, on average, the NYC models are new to the US and might lag European-Japanese Nissans' longterm reliability. Be prepared for that eventuality when buying a cab and for a harsher ride sitting inside one. Uber is watching.
Monocultures are notoriously susceptible to species ending diseases. One mandatory safety recall and the whole fleet could be off the roads waiting for parts and taxi riders high and dry. That has happened to plenty of vehicles. NYC would be better off with a variety of taxis. Requiring phone chargers and sunroofs wouldn't be hard. Set standards for all. Don't create unnecessary monocultures.
4
Why does the article dismiss in one small part of one quote the issue that older people have in getting into this taxi? This is a serious issue for older people who are forced into taxis because of the lack of elevators or escalators in most subway stations. I thought the whole point of the Taxi of a Tomorrow was to make taxis more accessible. This model definitely doesn't.
14
I truly despise this mini-van taxi of tomorrow. I am over 65 and find opening and closing the door very difficult and I often get bruises on my arms. The car is too far off the ground making entry and exit very difficult and sometimes dangerous. The seats are very uncomfortable and the ride is far from smooth. Very clunky. I will do everything I can to avoid riding in one. Please tell me this won't be the only option!
6
These new models need to get rid of the annoying video TV of ads that plays in cabs by default. Since it's inception I've muted it 1000 times. I long for the days when you just entered a cab and were not bombarded by this media. What kind of experience are we looking for going forward?
6
My father used to drive a cab, and I take them pretty often now. These Nissans are the ugliest, cheapest cars I've ever had the displeasure of riding in. They rattle like they're made of cheap aluminum, and the seats are cardboard thin. I honestly wondered if the thing would hold up on a 15 min ride to LaGuardia without coming apart at the hinges. This piece of garbage doesn't need to be mandated as the standard, it's gross.
6
I completely agree. After several months on NYC's third-world-like streets, these pieces of tin are going to be falling apart like nobody's business.
Flimsy, ugly, and largely non-handicap accessible. Good going, TLC.
Flimsy, ugly, and largely non-handicap accessible. Good going, TLC.
3
Wait a sec, I thought the purpose of requiring this vehicle was to move toward universal handicap accessibility. They aren't accessible?
1
I am a 37-year veteran NYC taxi driver, the author of the book Confessions Of A New York Taxi Driver and the blog Cabs Are For Kissing. For me, all the shortcomings one must endure in this profession have always been justified by the unique human situation of the passenger and the driver being able to communicate with one another. This ability to make connections with the gamut of the human race is, for a driver like myself, the essence of the job.
My garage has about 40 Nissans, out of a fleet of 200. I discovered to my horror upon entering the so-called "Taxi of Tomorrow" (I call it the "Bloombergmobile") for the first time about a year ago that it has a solid Plexiglas partition which cannot be opened! In driving it for that first shift, and one shift again a few days later, I found that my ability to have a conversation with my passengers had been pretty much eliminated. Yes, there is an intercom, but its usefulness is limited to the basics of a communication cycle, such as giving destinations. This solidity - the forced separation of human beings - has the nuanced message of reducing the driver to his basic function, as if to say, "You're here to drive me where I want to go, not to speak with".
After my two shifts of driving the vehicle, I felt I was no longer transporting people, but cargo and I felt miserable. I told the owner of my garage that if I had no choice but to drive one of these vehicles, I would be saying goodbye to him.
And hello to Uber.
My garage has about 40 Nissans, out of a fleet of 200. I discovered to my horror upon entering the so-called "Taxi of Tomorrow" (I call it the "Bloombergmobile") for the first time about a year ago that it has a solid Plexiglas partition which cannot be opened! In driving it for that first shift, and one shift again a few days later, I found that my ability to have a conversation with my passengers had been pretty much eliminated. Yes, there is an intercom, but its usefulness is limited to the basics of a communication cycle, such as giving destinations. This solidity - the forced separation of human beings - has the nuanced message of reducing the driver to his basic function, as if to say, "You're here to drive me where I want to go, not to speak with".
After my two shifts of driving the vehicle, I felt I was no longer transporting people, but cargo and I felt miserable. I told the owner of my garage that if I had no choice but to drive one of these vehicles, I would be saying goodbye to him.
And hello to Uber.
13
If you want to know de Blasio's position on any subject, find out what Bloomberg's position was and choose the opposite. What is de Blasio's reason for not wanting a modern cab now?
1
Must UBER drivers do the same? One thing is for sure, if you put enough money into the right pockets and even more to sell the idea to the public, you can get away with murder.
2
"The city's rugged streets"?? What an odd way to phrase it. Better would be "the city's poorly maintained streets." The reporter seems to be willfully blind to the cause of the "ruggedness" of the streets. It's poor maintenance.
8
If you have a bad knee, as I do, you simply cannot get into the taxi of the future. The step-up is way, way too high for that. Thank you former Mayor Bloomberg for making it impossible for me to take a taxi in NYC.
4
Missed opportunity to put several thousand electric vehicles on the road
That's not possible at this time. These vehicles are used for almost 24 hours a day because the drivers rent them from taxi companies hoping to make enough in a shift to pay the rental charge and profit, a risky enterprise.
When will they get recharged if they are running that many hours a day.
When will they get recharged if they are running that many hours a day.
3
Bloomberg tried to mandate hybrids for all taxis but it was shot down by the court. The city was sued by the same people who donated money to DeBlasio. In any event - fully electric vehicles are not yet practical for use as taxis.
On the contrary, New York is the perfect place for either an electric or natural-gas fleet. Unlike long-haul truckers or interstate buses, city cabs are limited to a finite area and are usually kept in garages anyway. You could install charging stations at the garages and then a few dozen at various points throughout the five boroughs so that no cab would ever be more than a few miles from a fill up.
1
So thousands of yellow taxis are regulated and are tax-cows for the City.
Even the vehicle they buy - is legislated by the City.
So when will Uber regulations start ??
Or are we intentionally regulating thousands of small taxi businesses and owner/drivers while keeping $51 BILLION dollar off the hook ???
Even the vehicle they buy - is legislated by the City.
So when will Uber regulations start ??
Or are we intentionally regulating thousands of small taxi businesses and owner/drivers while keeping $51 BILLION dollar off the hook ???
3
New York needs a total overhaul for mass transit. They should have an app that connects you with taxis, Citi bikes, buses, and subways. I should be able to pull up the app and see what my options are to get where I need to be. I should see the travel times, time until next train or bus, prices, and (gasp!) be able to hail / reserve a taxi or Citi Bike or pay for public transport via the app.
2
@Manish: "I should be able to" - that phrase is the sound of ENTITLEMENT!
You want to be able to *reserve* a Citibike online? Maybe you'd like the Citibike butler to bring the bike to the door of your building, too? And perhaps you can arrange to have a subway train held for you, so you can get on at your convenience. Because it's really all about you, and giving you what you want right now, if I understand your comment correctly.
If you can't figure out your "options" - how to navigate around NYC - while you are actually living here, maybe you shouldn't be living here.
You want to be able to *reserve* a Citibike online? Maybe you'd like the Citibike butler to bring the bike to the door of your building, too? And perhaps you can arrange to have a subway train held for you, so you can get on at your convenience. Because it's really all about you, and giving you what you want right now, if I understand your comment correctly.
If you can't figure out your "options" - how to navigate around NYC - while you are actually living here, maybe you shouldn't be living here.
7
Really? That's entitlement?
If that's what you call entitlement, even though every respectable advanced city in the world has one, then maybe that's the reason why our infrastructure is an embarrassment.
How about you go and live somewhere else, to see how it's done.
If that's what you call entitlement, even though every respectable advanced city in the world has one, then maybe that's the reason why our infrastructure is an embarrassment.
How about you go and live somewhere else, to see how it's done.
@3ddi3: I don't need to live somewhere else - I live here and I can cope just fine; don't need an app b/c I have knowledge. Lots of people I observe on the sidewalks would, if you took their phone out of their hand, be stranded without a clue.
If you "need" an app to get around, and especially if you say "I should be able to" - yes, that IS entitlement. Too bad so many people have already been infected by the entitlement virus!
If you "need" an app to get around, and especially if you say "I should be able to" - yes, that IS entitlement. Too bad so many people have already been infected by the entitlement virus!
No matter what, nothing will ever beat the black taxis of London.
10
Agreed, although I think even the London cabs are changing. I recall that NYC tested a London cab (converted to left hand drive, I presume) and found that it was simply not up to the task of dealing with our conditions.
I find the Crown Vics awful - cramped during the ride, and very difficult ingress/egress.
I haven't been in one of these Nissans yet, but I don't see how it could be worse than the Crown Vic.
Like many others, I have fond memories of the Checker Marathon's wonderful passenger area, and the ease of getting in or out of it. Shame it was such a technological dinosaur, and then, to compound matters, Checker went under in the early 80's.
I haven't been in one of these Nissans yet, but I don't see how it could be worse than the Crown Vic.
Like many others, I have fond memories of the Checker Marathon's wonderful passenger area, and the ease of getting in or out of it. Shame it was such a technological dinosaur, and then, to compound matters, Checker went under in the early 80's.
6
Are you sure about your usage chart? I know I road in Checkers during the 1970's and quite possibly even the early 1980's. So the dates you have listed for the Checker to Dodge period are not correct.
1
The last Checker Marathon (the vehicle called a Checker Cab by New Yorkers and others) was manufactured in the 1982 model year. I believe the last Checker in use as a registered taxicab in NYC was retired from service in 1999.
2
Beside its lack of aesthetic appeal, why is it so many things we DON'T want in an American taxi -- gas-powered, inaccessible to the physically challenged, and foreign-made. Ain't that America?
10
Uber is the future. Every person I know speaks glowingly of the service, and I definitely agree.
1
@Yano: So, how many people do you know? And you are in Maryland, while this discussion is about New York City.
1
Bravo, bravo! I consider this one of Mr. Bloomberg's greatest legacies.
Easy to get into, more leg room & comfortable seats; what not to like! Indeed when I get a chance flagging down a cab on the street I go out of my way to get one of the new Nissans.
Easy to get into, more leg room & comfortable seats; what not to like! Indeed when I get a chance flagging down a cab on the street I go out of my way to get one of the new Nissans.
3
New York doesn't believe "Made in America". Perhaps Nissan's mother country can provide the NYC welfare?
3
I'm older, still strong and can usually managed opening and closing the door on this thing. However, I have some knee problems which make getting out of the cab terrifying. Several times drivers have helped me, but they can't afford to do this forever for needy customers. I'd love to know who's really behind this
travesty. As Deep Throat said….. Follow the money.
travesty. As Deep Throat said….. Follow the money.
10
The Crown Victoria was the last taxi to enter service in New York that had adequate legroom. Most of the taxis in service today are terrible from that perspective; the worst is the small Ford SUV. The NV200 is not perfect, but it's better than anything else in the NY taxi fleet. I do think the sliding doors were a mistake; they don't provide the exiting passenger with any protection from cyclists cutting between a taxi and the curb.
The comments urging consumer choice by permitting the use of a variety of vehicles as taxis are, I submit, a bit naive. The only way for consumers to exercise choice is to reject any taxi that stops in response to a hail if it is not a satisfactory vehicle type. Hardly efficient.
The comments urging consumer choice by permitting the use of a variety of vehicles as taxis are, I submit, a bit naive. The only way for consumers to exercise choice is to reject any taxi that stops in response to a hail if it is not a satisfactory vehicle type. Hardly efficient.
4
Another "legacy" of Emperor Bloomberg, who I doubt EVER rode in a taxi in his life...
5
Having rarely (if ever) ridden in a cab, I can't comment on the NV200's comfort or practicality issues, but these "Cab of Tomorrow" Nissans are going to have a tough time matching the old Crown Vic's reliability and service. Ford had been making that same platform for over twenty years and you still and will continue to see them around as cabs, police cars, service vehicles and private vehicles. Hard to beat a full-frame, rear wheel drive chassis in real world use.
1
The sliding door in the passenger compartment is dangerous for the passenger. The old swinging open doors may be hazardous for passing cars of cyclists in that they ran into them, now they'll run into exiting passengers. We'll be going from damaged doors to dead passengers.
5
Difficult to open its door, awkward to get in and out of, bring back the Crown Vic!!
7
Still no requirement that the car accommodate handicapped passengers, here in the 21st century. Clearly nothing has changed in this business or its local government regulators and not a peep from the Mayor or City Council president
about it's contemptuous treatment of the handicapped. Maybe the Feds will be a more receptive audience.
about it's contemptuous treatment of the handicapped. Maybe the Feds will be a more receptive audience.
5
It makes no sense why the Nissan was selected over the Ford Transit Connect. The Ford is much easier to enter and exit. It's roomier and definitely more comfortable.
12
@wlg: You're right that it doesn't make sense. That is the hallmark of a Bloomberg decision. He just wanted it to be a certain way, and any consideration of real-world issues or passenger needs had no meaning to him. We are now stuck with the outcome of his very poor judgment. The Nissans are just one more Bloomberg legacy we could do without: a bad gift that keeps on giving.
How sad
Our most notable metropolis buys hundreds of Japanese cars as our new standard for taxi cabs. Another low point in the decline of post-industrial America.
Our most notable metropolis buys hundreds of Japanese cars as our new standard for taxi cabs. Another low point in the decline of post-industrial America.
10
I am short and have had a bad back problem for years. And now I've finally had the back surgery. I am terrified getting in and out of these cabs. Do I need a mobility course in order to get in and out of the cabs? How about closing the door from the inside? I am embarrassed when the driver has to get out of his seat and help me -- although most of them are quite sympathetic. In an era when we should be focusing on the needs of everyone, the numbskulls are ignoring those who need the most help.
15
Way overdue!
NYC, the center of the universe, has an infrastructure so out-dated, inefficient, and dangerous, with English-only and confusing signage, that it's embarrassing.
Ever ride in a purpose-built London taxi? Flat floor, intercom, small turning radius, diesel. Makes a US sedan look ridiculous when used as a cab.
Ever land at JFK, thinking you're in NYC? No signs, maps, or aides.
Ever try to hear PA messages on the subway?
At LIRR stations (except for Penn) the digital signs do not show the real time. Why is that?
NYC, the center of the universe, has an infrastructure so out-dated, inefficient, and dangerous, with English-only and confusing signage, that it's embarrassing.
Ever ride in a purpose-built London taxi? Flat floor, intercom, small turning radius, diesel. Makes a US sedan look ridiculous when used as a cab.
Ever land at JFK, thinking you're in NYC? No signs, maps, or aides.
Ever try to hear PA messages on the subway?
At LIRR stations (except for Penn) the digital signs do not show the real time. Why is that?
9
With City Hall's big carbon cutting/climate action goals, what's the fuel efficiency standard for this new taxi, anything above the federal minimum? If not, why not?
1
24 City/26 highway
It is really hard to understand how this vehicle was chosen, without thinking that someone somewhere got a kickback. It isn't a hybrid. It rides like a tin can. It is hard to pass money to the driver. The door is awkward to open and close. And, most importantly for me it is extremely claustrophobic. It feels like you're riding in the back of a hearse without shocks.
11
How quaint that in 2015, a city government would decide what model of car its taxi drivers must drive. I'll stick to Uber.
3
The ToT's proponents in the Bloomberg administration ignored sustained substantial concerns expressed by advocates for elderly people, and now the de Blasio administration has also failed its constituents' safety requirements. Injuries have resulted from people trying to board or exit from this vehicle which is too high for short people and for others with even moderate physical challenges. Its design poses many additional hazards. Other safer taxis must be added or elderly people will be stranded in their own city and tax payers will face mounting law suits from predictable accidents. Who is profiting from this terrible plan? Has any public official come forward to protect passengers? Is there no sense of decency, fairness, compassion for older people in our city and for older visitors who travel here?
12
A taxi of tomorrow and it is not electric? Not even a hybrid?
Come on New York!
Come on New York!
15
Hey! Fuel economy, fewer carbon emissions, quiet....wouldn't a hybrid be the most beneficial here?
14
There was no hybrid-WCA at the time. I don't think there is one now!
Another Bloomberg boondoggle. We'll all be stuck in this horrible cab (I've been in several and I'm not impressed).
This is now a non-news event since DeBlasio can't keep up with dealing with the real issues of the city.
This is now a non-news event since DeBlasio can't keep up with dealing with the real issues of the city.
2
Curious how the author omits discussion of the environmental unfriendliness of these vehicles, especially in a time when so many other vehicle options exist.
10
These are the only yellow cabs I'll ride in. Who cares what they look like. Still prettier than the Crown Vic. The interior is spacious and the ride comfortable. And in terms of accessability for the elderly... What are people talking about? My parents are both 70 and much prefer these cabs. They have a much harder time getting up and out of regular cars. They take one small step up or down in the nv2000 and can get in and out quicker. Nevermind all the conveniences once inside. Thank God this issue is finally settled.
And to the writer who posted why not an American maker... At the time to only real option was a ford transit and that car while a little prettier was inferior interms of engine, efficiency, interior space, reliability, etc. And its was more expensive to repair.
And to the writer who posted why not an American maker... At the time to only real option was a ford transit and that car while a little prettier was inferior interms of engine, efficiency, interior space, reliability, etc. And its was more expensive to repair.
3
If your parents are 70, they're not elderly.
1
@Richard: Your parents may be 70, but they must not have any significant physical issues or they would definitely have a problem with these cabs.
2
No, the taxi of tomorrow will be Uber. Instead of changing cabs, the cab industry should invest in changing their service model. What I care about is a service that is clean, arrives on time, gets me where I am going at a fair rate, and allows me to pay on line---it's that simple. Oh, I should add, a polite and respectful driver is always appreciated.
4
If you're short and old, it's very difficult to get in and out of these taxis and open and close the door. I bypass them every time I see them and seek out an old style taxi. I guess I'll guess I'll have to rely on call cars when these new taxis drive out the old. Maybe by then so many riders will have been injured getting in and out of these cabs that the law will be changed to go back to the old taxi style.
8
I've ridden in the NV200 on visits to NYC and I think it has virtues (more nimble, more legroom, sunroof) and vices (passenger windows way too small). Certainly an improvement over the ancient Crown Vic. But I don't understand why there has to be one spec vehicle. Let different vehicles compete for the loyalty of drivers and riders! For example, I also rode in a new Toyota Prius V which has an airier, more pleasant atmosphere for the pasenger and is a hybrid with lower fuel consumption and emissions. I think it is at least as appealing as the NV200. And I'm sure there are others, but now the Taxi Commission has stopped competition in its tracks. Where will the incentive even be for Nissan to continue to develop and improve the NV200? This is a huge mistake.
2
The Checker Mobile was the standard of the industry for nearly three decades, far longer than any of the other vehicles listed in the historic graphic. It was (and is) loved by the drivers and passengers as reliable, functional and safe. It was roomy, highly maneuverable, very durable and had classic styling. It was done in by fuel consumption due to its weight and type of engine. Some manufacturer should consider updating that model with a lighter body and more fuel-efficient engine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checker_Taxi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checker_Taxi
7
I've been sending warnings about the Taxi of Tomorrow's inaccessibility to the Comptroller, Public Advocate, Manhattan Borrough President -- no response. Physical therapists teach patients to enter cars by backing up to the seat, lowering yourself onto it, and swinging your legs around into the car. This is totally impossible with the Taxi of Tomorrow. There is a huge number of mobility-challenged people who are not confined to a wheelchair. By refusing to gather input from this population, as they were supposed to do during the planning stages, the TLC undercut their own best interests and stuck NYC with a dangerous -- and for many New Yorkers, useless -- vehicle.
14
You are so right, Id.
1
@Id: You are completely correct, and the fault can be laid squarely at Bloomberg's feet. He simply didn't (and still doesn't!) care about accessibility, because it's never going to be an issue for HIM personally.
I am reminded of what one of Bloomberg's aides said to those present at a meeting a couple of years ago: "New York City is for the young and the rich; get used to it!" Nice sentiment, eh? Pretty much sums up Bloomberg's point of view about us peasants.
I am reminded of what one of Bloomberg's aides said to those present at a meeting a couple of years ago: "New York City is for the young and the rich; get used to it!" Nice sentiment, eh? Pretty much sums up Bloomberg's point of view about us peasants.
2
What a laugh, a taxi duty vehicle with a belt drive go-kart transmission and front wheel drive. Good luck with that in the maintenance shop coming from body on frame rear wheel drive Crown Victoria and Lincoln Town Car.
It doesn't appear as if they used actual New Yorkers to ride in the contestants for Taxi of Tomorrow when they did the testing.
I like the idea of a small-van-like, more compact cab compared to the Crown Vic paradigm, but if London can spec its black cabs to be accessible, (relatively) roomy and fuel-efficient, why couldn't the TL&C do a better job in speccing out the NV200? An air suspension that drops the cab lower for ingress and egress wouldn't be a stretch, for starters; durable and comfortable seats a close second.
Also, as an occasional visitor/NYC aficonado, I am also used to looking at the roof sign to quickly size up a cab's hire-status. Moving that to the back and side is highly counter-productive...
Will the new cab standard also apply to the Boro Cabs going forward, I wonder?
I like the idea of a small-van-like, more compact cab compared to the Crown Vic paradigm, but if London can spec its black cabs to be accessible, (relatively) roomy and fuel-efficient, why couldn't the TL&C do a better job in speccing out the NV200? An air suspension that drops the cab lower for ingress and egress wouldn't be a stretch, for starters; durable and comfortable seats a close second.
Also, as an occasional visitor/NYC aficonado, I am also used to looking at the roof sign to quickly size up a cab's hire-status. Moving that to the back and side is highly counter-productive...
Will the new cab standard also apply to the Boro Cabs going forward, I wonder?
4
Why not an American car?
21
Who cares?
The Crown Vic was assembled in Canada.
The Crown Vic was assembled in Canada.
1
Leg room - yes! In most cabs, I've had trouble getting in and out when I'm on crutches because leg room is inadequate.
Charging ports - yes! Sliding door eliminates the risk of passengers dooring passing cyclists - that's a win. But it is ugly.
Charging ports - yes! Sliding door eliminates the risk of passengers dooring passing cyclists - that's a win. But it is ugly.
3
The announcement of this design is a terrible blow to the elderly in this city.
The re-introduction of the Nissan NV200 Taxi of Tomorrow (ToT) represents the city’s monumental failure of policy and compassion for the elderly, starting with, and sustained by, the Bloomberg administration and its holdovers at the TLC. Research shows that mobility is a critical component to mental and physical health. Yet, proponents of this vehicle design ignore the fact that the elderly and other folks who are not ‘perfectly’ able-bodied face severe problems, and danger, entering and exiting this vehicle and instead tout its sunroof and legroom. Advocates for seniors and others who may use canes, etc. have begged the city to recognize the limitations of this design, evidenced by personal injuries occasioned by this vehicle- but to no avail.
Fact: the elderly will soon represent over 25% of the NYC population.
Fact: subways are not often accessible to the frail elderly.
Fact: increased usage of Access-A-Ride will result (assuming eligibility, which is limited) in increased expenses to the city.
Fact: our elders are an important force in our local economy (if compassion alone fails).
With this decision, the city is limiting the ability of elders to travel around the city- whether to a doctor, friend, local store or arts event, etc.- forcing them into greater isolation in society, risking their health, and possibly forcing them to move out of NYC.
Such a terrible disappointment.
The re-introduction of the Nissan NV200 Taxi of Tomorrow (ToT) represents the city’s monumental failure of policy and compassion for the elderly, starting with, and sustained by, the Bloomberg administration and its holdovers at the TLC. Research shows that mobility is a critical component to mental and physical health. Yet, proponents of this vehicle design ignore the fact that the elderly and other folks who are not ‘perfectly’ able-bodied face severe problems, and danger, entering and exiting this vehicle and instead tout its sunroof and legroom. Advocates for seniors and others who may use canes, etc. have begged the city to recognize the limitations of this design, evidenced by personal injuries occasioned by this vehicle- but to no avail.
Fact: the elderly will soon represent over 25% of the NYC population.
Fact: subways are not often accessible to the frail elderly.
Fact: increased usage of Access-A-Ride will result (assuming eligibility, which is limited) in increased expenses to the city.
Fact: our elders are an important force in our local economy (if compassion alone fails).
With this decision, the city is limiting the ability of elders to travel around the city- whether to a doctor, friend, local store or arts event, etc.- forcing them into greater isolation in society, risking their health, and possibly forcing them to move out of NYC.
Such a terrible disappointment.
34
Well said. I use yellow cabs daily. I used to choose to avoid the high off the ground monstrous taxis (SUVs?) because it was too difficult to enter. As my health and strength have slowly deteriorated with age, I now have no choice -- no way can I ride in an SUV cab, even if I desperately need a cab. I cannot lift my legs to enter -- same problem with most buses, which are now no longer an option for me. I AM SO UPSET THAT THE CLOSE TO THE GROUND TAXIS THAT I CAN "EASILY" ENTER AND EXIT ARE BEING PHASED OUT. I will have no choice but to use Uber or a car service even though they are more expensive than yellow cabs for short trips. Terrible.
2
All true. When I broke my ankle, I would let these pass me by. Too hard to use.
@Amy: You are 100% correct. I think Bloomberg's goal was actually to get the elderly to move out of NYC. I think he'd have *ordered* them to move out of NYC if he thought he could have gotten away with that. But since he couldn't, he picked a taxi that would be a misery for them to use.
Bring back DeSotos with folding jump-seats!
6
The folding seats in the Checkered were a lot more fun...
And Checkers.
Can you get a mobility scooter into it like you can a London cab?
As for Uber, in the UK, licenced taxicabs have to pass safety inspections and the drivers have to pass tests and criminal record checks. I prefer to trust them.
As for Uber, in the UK, licenced taxicabs have to pass safety inspections and the drivers have to pass tests and criminal record checks. I prefer to trust them.
3
Just by looking at what's on the streets and talking to cab drivers, it seems a large majority prefer hybrids because of the stop and go nature of city traffic. So why force drivers to use a non-hybrid? The Prius V is a perfectly nice alternative that many have already adopted that gets up to 44 mpg in the city. I guess once again politics gets in the way of common sense.
5
I find the Prius to be incredibly uncomfortable in the rear seat -- there is no legroom and I'm only 5' 11".
In all my travels and living abroad, I reckon that the Japanese taxi drivers are the best, but their cars are small. For my money, the best combination of drivers and vehicles are to be found on the streets of London. We should have imported those.
4
Of all of the taxis on the road today, this one is the worst. The step and the door are both very hard to manage for both me and my wife. Hard to believe accessibility was so ignored. The ride is bumpy and jarring. Thank god for Uber.
13
It appears that his cab was chosen based based on criteria that ignored the passenger. This cab is uncomfortable for the passenger. With all the gimmicks overall passenger comfort has apparently been forgotten. Several times I have ridden in such a cab and have had a battle to stay on the seat and not slide sideways into the door. If you sit where the right side seatbelt is located you are forced against the door, with no armrest, each time the car swerves. The middle of the passenger bench works, of course, unless you are the second or third person. I try to avoid these vehicles when taking a cab and as they become more numerous will probably switch to car services or uber.
6
Ignoring the passenger? How about the driver? Missing from all discussion regarding this vehicle the fact is that it is not a hybrid, it will cost the drivers considerably more money in gas expenses, add to greenhouse gas emissions, and let's not forget the esthetic aspect of it - it's simply ugly.
1
My guess is that it will take, on average, about 2 weeks before the back-seat temperature controls and chargers are inoperable (either by vandalism or simple failure) in most of these cabs.
4
I know people have a variety of opinions on the NV200 but for me personally it is great news that the program is moving ahead. I am well over six feet tall and have size fourteen feet. I have also had two spinal fusions. Riding in the smaller hybrid cabs was impossible for me. So at a time in my life when my mobility was impaired, yellow cabs were often not an option. The NV200 solves all of these problems. They are roomy, comfortable and have functional air-conditioning. I realize that there still could be better options for persons requiring a fully accessible vehicle but this is still huge progress.
4
Hard to get into and even harder to step out of. The cab rides high. So, if you are trying to get out and you are not very tall you have to take a very large and tricky step down. There is a very narrow step, (what used to be called a running board" that you can try to step off of, but it is not wide enough for you to place your foot on unless you turn your foot sideways (parallel to the cab) while the rest of your body is facing outward towards the curb. Cue up the orthopods and the tort lawyers now.
15
These Nissan's are already a car of yesterday because they have a tail pipe. It should be electric or at least, a plug-in hybrid. It's still the same hydrocarbon fossil fuel oil burner of yesteryear. America pays for all the oil pipeline bursts and ocean oil spills. The Middle East is getting richer and the taxi driver pays a lot in fuel, oil changes and maintenance. Oil belching vehicles is NYC's crack addiction. Children in NYC have elevated rates of asthma due to oil burners. So I guess Mayor de Blasio cares little about them.
6
Sliding doors on taxis are a bad idea.
If you were driving along a crowded or narrow street, a door swinging open is an attention getter. Which would you rather hit: a door swinging open suddenly or people suddenly jumping out in front of your car?
So here, in the supposed fashion capital of the world, that ugly thing is going to be the standard? In Germany, taxicabs are Mercedes and BMWs. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
If you were driving along a crowded or narrow street, a door swinging open is an attention getter. Which would you rather hit: a door swinging open suddenly or people suddenly jumping out in front of your car?
So here, in the supposed fashion capital of the world, that ugly thing is going to be the standard? In Germany, taxicabs are Mercedes and BMWs. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
22
An attention getter??? For whom? It's the law to exit a cab on the curb side only. Are you worried about pedestrians on the sidewalk? Sliding doors can't be run into buy cyclists and can't be torn off by passing cars when people who don't know the laws fling them open into traffic.
Some of my fondest memories of living in Germany -- the taxis. Seriously, stepping out of one in front of a bar was like a red-carpet event. MBs, BMWs, Audis -- all tan with black leather interiors. And cheap, at least then.
Whomever came up with the ad slogan, "taxi of tomorrow" should be fired. How about the taxi of today, or just, a taxi that always should've been. Let's focus on getting it right today, tomorrow in NYC always poses a new challenge. Speaking of which, quit picking on Uber, it's the unregulated tour busses that are the knots in every traffic jam. Limit them, and where they can pick up passengers. Force them by law to rent space like every other business must, and from that location they can do their business. In Boston and other capital cities, doing business from city sidewalks is wisely not allowed. We taxpayers have been paying for private companies to run tours. They crowd our sidewalks and make traffic impossible. They create traffic jams on the narrow streets in Soho, where they should not be allowed at all, and in general create blight. We have plenty to fix today before we start boasting about tomorrow.
2
One of the things not talked about in this article are the drivers themselves. I take both taxis and Uber but find Uber drivers to be consistently more courteous in both their dealings with the customer and in traffic. It's a less stressful ride when you ride with Uber. You want the AC colder - no problem. Why is it that NYC taxi drivers seem to despise AC? How many times have you tried to pay by credit card in a taxi only to be told "sorry, cash only?" Uber is all credit cards all the time. Ultimately, the type of vehicle NYC taxis drive won't matter because private services like Uber will always offer a better alternative.
2
Amazing that the word regulation or require can be used with the yellow taxis, when the City does not regulate what types of cars Uber can use. I'm not defending the new mandated Nissan, and instead questioning the perhaps illegal application on long-standing and hardworking, rule following taxicab owners.
4
I guess we'll be using more private car services. These new taxis are elderly-unfriendly. My elderly parents are unable to get into these things and since they like to get out and about, the taxi industry will not be receiving any more of their money.
What a poor choice was made to select this model.
What a poor choice was made to select this model.
17
small sampling (14 comments at this hour) but only 1 in favor, everybody else loathes the new car. i agree. uncomfortable to get in and out of. unwieldy doors. these are cars designed to please bicyclists (smack into the passenger now, not the door itself) and tourists (lot of people with luggage looking for one fare). but for a resident they are a terrible experience. and they don't even handle skis the one time i need some extra room to get to the airport for a ski trip - headrests in the way. raspberries...
7
Let's hope the mandate allows for e-NV200's - the all-electric version. About 100 miles per charge should be enough to get through a shift, and they have lower operating costs per mile. They are already in use in Amsterdam.
3
This taxi very difficult model for the elderly and/or infirm to navigate getting in and out. I speak from experience as a daily rider. Plus it's like sitting inside a mini tank.
The same could be said for some of the other sliding door types too. I always ignore these taxis if possible and preferably wait for a sedan type.
The same could be said for some of the other sliding door types too. I always ignore these taxis if possible and preferably wait for a sedan type.
6
You mean I'll be able to cram my long legs into a NYC cab when I come home to visit? I won't have to squeeze myself into the back seat, inch across it, maneuver my legs into something approximating where they should be, and not exit the vehicle through twisted gyrations anymore?
The Mayor, some inches taller than myself, will probably enjoy the extra space even more than I, assuming he still takes taxis, that is.
My only regrets are that an American company isn't making these marvelous new taxis, and that I'll have to stop griping about the absence of New York's beloved checker cabs.
The Mayor, some inches taller than myself, will probably enjoy the extra space even more than I, assuming he still takes taxis, that is.
My only regrets are that an American company isn't making these marvelous new taxis, and that I'll have to stop griping about the absence of New York's beloved checker cabs.
7
I tried one of these cabs once and got motion sickness. I lasted about 6 blocks and had to be let out. Why didn't they think of having a window that the passenger could open? I will have to use Uber from now on. This error is all on Bloomberg, though. De Blasio opposed it.
4
Passenger windows are tiny, you have to strain to get a porthole view. But who's watching the big show out the window anymore since our mobile devices seem to provide all the fascination?
2
Just in time to be completely irrelevant. Why use a taxi when you can use Uber?
2
So the City of New York adopts a combustion engine taxi instead of all electric or a hybrid thereby adding to heat and air pollution. Do come into the 21C.
3
Mistake my friends. Nissan taxi say America cannot build good taxi.
Too late I think, but they should use Ford S-Max. Good taxi in Europe and Russia, and American name and looks like good.
Too bad for you.
Too late I think, but they should use Ford S-Max. Good taxi in Europe and Russia, and American name and looks like good.
Too bad for you.
3
Uber is just an app folks. By the time they have loaded up with insurance and safety standards and all the things taxis have to deal with the cost will be about the same.
I will be taking one of these nice new cabs when next in NY! A bit like the London cab where you sort of walk in barely bending. Nothing beats that design!
I will be taking one of these nice new cabs when next in NY! A bit like the London cab where you sort of walk in barely bending. Nothing beats that design!
1
I don't live there, but as usual, government intervention into the private sector that CUSTOMERS should be deciding what they want, based on what vehicle and services they choose to ride in..
1
As already mentioned, the cars of tomorrow not not ready for the passengers of today -- the old or slightly infirm, (walkers?) but not wheelchair bound.
14
Agreed -- the city really blew it when they didn't require that all taxis be accessible to wheelchairs and people with mobility issues.
If I recall correctly, a few of the other contenders in the Taxi of Tomorrow competition (the Turkish vehicle?) were all wheelchair-accessible. This was a golden opportunity for taxis to really serve the public, and it was wasted by the Bloomberg administration's decision.
I like the climate controls, sunroof, and USB ports of the NV200. I don't like the suspension, the fact that such a large vehicle only really seats three people (it's so big, it really should seat as many as the minivan taxis do) and the tiny side windows that make me feel like a prisoner being transported to Rikers.
If I recall correctly, a few of the other contenders in the Taxi of Tomorrow competition (the Turkish vehicle?) were all wheelchair-accessible. This was a golden opportunity for taxis to really serve the public, and it was wasted by the Bloomberg administration's decision.
I like the climate controls, sunroof, and USB ports of the NV200. I don't like the suspension, the fact that such a large vehicle only really seats three people (it's so big, it really should seat as many as the minivan taxis do) and the tiny side windows that make me feel like a prisoner being transported to Rikers.
1
The crooks of today supply the car of tomorrow.
Why is it that nobody in New York objects.
It's like the entire city is asleep at the wheel
Jim
Why is it that nobody in New York objects.
It's like the entire city is asleep at the wheel
Jim
And the attitudes of drivers in big cities like New York, must be monitored. They drive you through longer routes just so make more money.
1
Will be using Uber or car services in future. New taxi is too difficult to get in/get out of. Trust that out of touch, entitled mayor to have made this ridiculous vehicle the taxi of tomorrow. May he be condemned to get in and out of one for all eternity.
13
did you read the article, particularly the mentions of the mayor's opposition to the NV200?
Crooked taxi system. On the east coast, you have the mafia. On the west coast, we would not put up with this nonsense. I took an Uber home tonight, and that's the only solution.
This was a Mayor Bloomberg project
1
Would someone help this out-of-towner understand why New York stipulates exactly what make and model taxis are allowed to be? This strikes me as an absurd (and pointless) overreach. Who cares if other models enter the mix?
19
These poor folks have never seen an honest government so they don't know what it looks like. An honest government would not limit the number of taxis or force them to drive Nissans. This is the purest form of corruption. But these poor suckers have never seen an honest government so they permit this abuse as no worse than the typical behavior of the crooks that run their city.
Very ugly, wastefully big, not iconic, and none of the endearing horns (personally I like to glare at drivers when they honk their horn while I cross as a pedestrian — it's our little game and I've yet to get run over).
An all-electric neon yellow sports car and I'll consider it.
An all-electric neon yellow sports car and I'll consider it.
2
Meera, we once worked together. Congratulations on the new job. I think you are the best. But I agree with the other commentators: these new taxis are horrible. It is a struggle for anyone with a disability or injury or someone who is old or getting older to get in and out of these contraptions. With an aging population, why not a taxi that is closer to the ground. Honestly, I try to avoid these particular taxis at all costs. And while I despise Uber, which I think is evil, I will be tempted to switch with them if all of the taxis of tomorrow are this particular brand of Nissan. Please say it isn't so.
26
On the West Coast we laugh at the corruption which seems to be a part of day do day life in New York. You people have no standards at all.
One of the things they left out of the Taxi of Tomorrow was suspension. It's a much more uncomfortable, ungainly ride, and an unnecessary imposition on a market. Notice the cars Uber drivers use; they vary, but are generally comfortable and well appointed. With better taxi hailing software, cars for special needs could be more easily accessed, while the general car could cater to riders' needs not bureaucratic abstractions. We didn't need to have this uncomfortable machine dictated to us.
14
You folks on the east coast are dumdums to put up with this kind of monopoly. You get what you deserve from the corrupt politicians you have elected. There is no reason for the city to limit the number of taxis or to require a particular model of car. Everything you see that doesn't make sense, is corruption.
You folks have been sold a "bill of goods" by the taxi owners.
Uber is the solution. Ditch the taxi monopoly, live better, and use Uber when you need a ride.
On the west coast we laugh at you eat coast people and your monopolies and your crooks and mafia. These things exist because you do not have the will to expell them.
Uber is the solution. Ditch the taxi monopoly, live better, and use Uber when you need a ride.
On the west coast we laugh at you eat coast people and your monopolies and your crooks and mafia. These things exist because you do not have the will to expell them.
Jim - that's ridiculous. We don't want the traffic jams that you suffer in LA. We like having cleaner air than you. There absolutely does need to be regulation of for hire cars in cities.
Roof sign is poorly designed and silly looking. Most importantly, there is no "Vacant" signage on the rear of the roof sign! Stupid. We're all conditioned by years of habit to look at a cab's rooftop sign, front and back, for the cab's availability. Why that was changed -- who knows!
23
It's on the rear post next to the rear window, it uses LED lighting and is actually brighter. I still hate the "Taxi of Tomorrow", it looks like the mini-van of yesterday, so 80s
Yes, I see those signs and they're fine, but should still be on roof sign, too, where it belongs! Overall, cab is an underwhelming design, in my opinion. Thank you.
I loathe the Nissan. It's uncomfortable, it rattles, it feels cheaply made, the windows are weird and usually broken, I have to yell at the driver because he's walled off sonically, and the driver has to get shoulder sprain to take any cash, often dropping the money.
The Nissan is a piece of junk.
The Nissan is a piece of junk.
42
Love this car / van / thingy. Comfy and great. If I am taking a cab and it is during the rare hours when there are plenty of free ones to choose from - I will wait for the nissan.
6
Bad choice. 1. You have to step up to get into these cars (hard for elderly, disabled, or just tired people). 2. Not hybrid. 3. Doors are hard to open and close. Did the people who made this deal even try these ? If the TLC hired a couple of 18 year olds to build an uber-like app to call a taxi, or at least know where one was , taxis would be competitive. Mayor DiBlasio here's your chance!
31
Other than leg room these are horrible vehicles. Uncomfortable for three people to sit in back as sides are hard plastic. Yes you can look up but can't turn your head and look out as you see frame. Windows are smaller than at the tombs. The little step is a hazard that moves when you step on it. All of this while new. Designed by Simone who never takes a taxi. If these are the taxis of the future my future will be exclusively uber.
29
First of all, a GOAL of "50% wheelchair accessible" by 2020(!!) is in violation of the Americans With Disabilities law. I guess the city thinks that an accessible taxi will just "happen" to be right where a wheelchair passenger is?
Further, these new Nissans are not good for older people in general - it's a big and awkward step up to get into them, and if you have any kind of back, neck or shoulder problem, good luck wrestling the heavy door sideways to get in.
Now factor in people who (even if not elderly) have any kind of mobility problem (on crutches, wearing an orthopedic boot or knee brace, arm in a sling, etc.) and you have a very IN-accessible taxi.
If the TLC and NYC want to encourage customers to use Uber, they could hardly do a better job of it than by requiring that all yellow cabs eventually will be this not-up-to-snuff, badly considered Nissan.
Further, these new Nissans are not good for older people in general - it's a big and awkward step up to get into them, and if you have any kind of back, neck or shoulder problem, good luck wrestling the heavy door sideways to get in.
Now factor in people who (even if not elderly) have any kind of mobility problem (on crutches, wearing an orthopedic boot or knee brace, arm in a sling, etc.) and you have a very IN-accessible taxi.
If the TLC and NYC want to encourage customers to use Uber, they could hardly do a better job of it than by requiring that all yellow cabs eventually will be this not-up-to-snuff, badly considered Nissan.
36
As a Brit I was surprised on my last trip to New York in 2013 to see that there are still few cabs which are wheelchair accessible. All of the traditional black cabs in London and major English cities have been fully accessible for years. Also the passenger space in the New York cabs I have used over the years is appalling when compared to the black cab (I've not yet ridden in a NV200 cab so cannot comment on how it compares to the traditional yellow cab).
While we're at it, can we get rid of those irritating video screens? At least make them opt-in, so that if you really want to see "news" stories and ads, you actively turn the screen on. By default, they should be silent and completely dark until you're ready to pay the fare.
76
It doesn't make sense that there is allowed to be one taxi - but yet when Bloomberg - rightly - wanted to make all taxis low emissions vehicles the court ruled that the city couldn't do it. Using the excuse that it was the EPA's jurisdiction is ridiculous. Any city should be able to mandate emissions for transportation that is licensed to serve the public.
33
reporting?