Dalton News

David Yassky, NYC Taxi and Limousine Commissioner and Dalton Alum, Visits House 41

House 41 recently began their study on New York City's transportation systems. We started off by focusing on the different types of taxis in New York City. We spoke about hybrid taxis and why they are better for the environment. We also talked about the importance of wheelchair accessible taxis. This week House 41 was very excited to have New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commissioner, David Yassky, come for a special visit. The students loved getting to meet him and learning the inside scoop on NYC’s taxis.
~ Story and photos submitted by: Alison Goodman and Rieka Jackson.


House 41's interview with David Yassky:
The students generated the questions.
  1. How many taxis are there currently in New York City?
    13, 237 taxis

  2. How often are the taxis inspected?
    They are inspected three times a year to make they are operating safely.

  3. Can you paint your car yellow even if it is not a taxi?
    You can paint your car yellow, but you cannot write the word “taxi” on it.

  4. How often do taxi drivers get new cars?
    Drivers get new cars every three years to make sure they are in good condition for the customers.

  5. How do taxi drivers earn their medallions?
    They have to take a test to make sure they can speak English well enough to communicate with the customers and know the geography of the five boroughs, Nassau county, and Upper Westchester. They also have to have a clean police record. Medallions are very expensive to buy and cost one million dollars.

  6. Are all the new taxis going to be hybrid?
    Unfortunately, no. This is because the size of the hybrid engine is extremely large and takes up too much room. This makes the inside of the car uncomfortably small for the passengers.

  7. Will all the new taxis look the same and when will they come out?
    Yes, they will all be made by Nissan and start coming out in October of 2013.

  8. Why are the lights kept on when a taxi is OFF DUTY?
    This is a common question. The NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission is working on coming up with a better solution.

    *House 41 suggested that it would less confusing if all the lights were turned off when a driver has a passenger or is off duty. The lights should be tuned on only when a taxi is available.

    Mr. Yassky thought this was a great idea!

  9. Will the new taxis be wheelchair accessible?
    800 out of the 15,237 new taxis will be wheelchair accessible. It will also be easier for people in wheelchairs to access these taxis. They will be able to call 311 to request a taxi for pickup by giving their name and address.

  10. Will the new taxis have flip-down seats like they do in Europe?
    No, because flip-down seats are not as safe as regular ones.
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