» Taxi Share Program Kicks Off with an Underwhelming First Day

Taxi Share Program Kicks Off with an Underwhelming First Day

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

taxi-nyc The share-a-cab program began yesterday, offering riders three pick-up stands in which they can share a taxi for a flat fee of $3 or $4 each, and turnout for the program’s first day was weak. The program is available on weekdays from 6:00 am to 10:00 am, with pick-up stands at 72nd and Columbus, 72nd and 3rd Avenue, and 57th and 8th, and a final stop at 42nd and Park Avenue. Riders can stand at the group ride stand sign to get picked up and can be dropped off anywhere along the route to Grand Central. While the idea sounds great, especially for seekers of the ever-elusive easy and cheap crosstown trip for Upper West Siders (a $4 taxi ride to get from 72nd and Columbus to 72nd and Park sounds great compared to the snail-paced crosstown buses), New Yorkers seem to be resistant to the idea. Ridership yesterday was practically nonexistent… according to taxi authorities (via the New York Times), only six shared trips took place. Reasons for the low participation are likely many, from riders feeling uncomfortable about sharing trips with strangers to confusion about pick-up locations (signs are quite small) to a general lack of knowledge about the program. Many are speculating that the share-a-cab program will grow in popularity through word-of-mouth, but for now, only time will tell.