The results from a New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) survey of their licensed drivers were released in June. The findings: they want fairer treatment, safer pick-ups, and more bathrooms. This was the agency’s first formal effort to gather opinions on the day-to-day issues faced by its licensed drivers.
In-person outreach and emails garnered responses from roughly 4,000 of the city’s 180,000 licensed taxi and for-hire drivers. Some 63% of respondents said they drive for app-hail companies; 19% were yellow-cab drivers and 9% were traditional black car and livery drivers.
When asked about what most impacted their daily shift: 29% said “looking for a decent place to pick up or drop off passengers,” followed by 27% saying “looking for a decent place to go to the bathroom.”
“We’re going to listen to the working people who keep this city moving before we make decisions that affect their families and their livelihoods. That’s what this survey is about,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “TLC drivers have been forced to shoulder the consequences of policies they had little role in shaping. We’re changing that.”
Additional findings:
- 28% were most enraged over having to compete with illegal taxi hustlers, who often shake down unsuspecting tourists at the city’s airports.
- 27% said new TLC rules and regulations were most frustrating.
- 26% said TLC fines and penalties were their biggest complaint.
- 5.5% said their workday was impacted by trying to find a charging station for their electric vehicle.
“I am thankful to lead an organization that listens to its drivers, and this survey will help shape TLC’s agenda moving forward,” said Commissioner Midori Valdivia. “We are committed to building a system that values dignity, better integrates drivers, and ensures that the corporations that benefit from their labor are held accountable.”
The TLC said it will repeat the survey regularly to continue tracking driver concerns to help guide the agency’s policies.
Source: The New York Daily Ne
