Turkish company Karsan may have designed the people's choice in the city's "Taxi of Tomorrow" competition, but yellow taxi fleet owners want a different Turkish-made car on the road. The Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade reportedly told District Court Judge Paul Crotty that they want to file a motion asking the city to approve the Ford Transit Connect car for use as a taxi. Because otherwise they'll be stuck with hybrid cars that can't take life on the road like a man!
Drivers say that most of the hybrid and diesel cars approved for use as cabs are too small and flimsy to handle all-day driving, and with the Crown Vic being discontinued this summer, they need a sturdier option. However, they don't mention if the other Taxi of Tomorrow candidates could do the job. We've contacted the MTBOT for more information on their request, but Adam Stolorow, a lawyer for the city, told the WSJ, "We are reviewing the plaintiffs' letter to the judge, and we believe that they're misunderstanding the TLC's plans."
Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg announced new legislation that would allow local governments to regulate fuel economy standards for cabs, which means the city may soon be able to force drivers to buy hybrid or low-emissions cars. Previously, MTBOT spokesman Michael Woloz said that they support hybrid vehicles, but that under the city's proposed timeline it would have been "impossible" to make sure the new vehicles met safety standards. Speaking of safety, can the new taxis bring back the checkered cab's jump seat?
