NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Uber is looking into the possibility of dispatching yellow taxis from its app, in addition to its usual private for-hire options.
According to the New York Post, a September city lobby disclosure revealed Uber executive Josh Gold lobbied Taxi & Limousine Commission chief Aloysee Heredia Jarmoszuk on “the potential for a yellow taxi dispatch.” No further details were given.
“As a regulatory agency, the TLC meets frequently with all its Licensees to discuss ideas, individually and including during our monthly Taxi Working Group convening,” a TLC spokesperson told the paper.
The spokesperson added that the TLC is meeting with a number of groups to continue discussions on medallion debt relief for drivers.
“Bolstering the Taxi sector, we are presently focused on implementing the Relief Program enhancements announced earlier this week, alongside the Mayor, Senator [Chuck] Schumer, Marblegate, and NYTWA to address medallion debt,” the spokesperson said.
While details of the conversation were scarce, the Post reports Uber apps users, however, could potentially see yellow cabs as another option alongside “Uber X,” and the hail would be facilitated through the TLC’s own ride-hail program.
The move is reportedly being considered by Uber as the company continues to seek out new ways to recruit more drivers.
On a quarterly earnings call Thursday with Wall Street analysts, the Post reports Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told them, “I don’t think we’re ever going to have enough drivers.”
New York Taxi Workers Alliance leader Bhairavi Desai agreed with the sentiment, telling the Post she thinks Uber is looking to yellow cabs to “replace their volume” in New York City.
In 2013, commuters were able to hail yellow cab rides through the Uber app under “Ubercab.” However, Desai told the paper she believes Uber dropped the cabs once enough of its own cars were on the road.
She said that if the TLC and Uber reach an agreement to work together again, she would like to see all drivers protected.
“You have to protect full-time work. Whether it’s yellow-cab drivers or Uber and Lyft drivers, we want to see standards lifted for all the drivers,” Desai told the Post.
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