One thousand New York City taxicabs will streamline
technology and switch to GPS-based fare calculators under a pilot program
approved on Thursday.
The new systems will be smaller, more portable and less
expensive than the current ones, which calculate fares using several physical components,
including devices to track the number of times a wheel turns and waiting time.
Four technology companies have been selected to develop the
new metering systems.
The pilot program, which will run for up to a year, will
begin when the commission approves the first proposed design for testing in
cabs. The program initially called for new system testing in 4,000 cabs but was
amended and reduced at Thursday's meeting.
One proposal calls for getting rid of taxicab televisions, which typically play ads on 12-hour loops and irritate passengers and drivers alike.
One proposal calls for getting rid of taxicab televisions, which typically play ads on 12-hour loops and irritate passengers and drivers alike.
All of the city's 13,500 yellow taxicabs, which are licensed
by the city Taxi and Limousine Commission but operated by private companies,
were equipped with the current system by November 2008. All featured the taxi
TVs.
Four cab operators will test the new systems, which will
probably come in the form of mobile devices that the driver will hand to a
passenger at the end of a trip.
Before the new systems can be used in cabs, they will be
tested by the commission against hard-wired meters, to ensure they produce the
same pricing range.
edited from VOA News
