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September 2010 • Vol. XIX, No. 9 Welcome to TLC Magazine's Online Edition
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Click below for links to:
Insuring Your Personal Automobile The London Mercedes Vito Taxi
COVER ILLUSTRATION & CREDIT Mercedes Vito Taxi by KPM Taxis, London, England.
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Black Cars • Commuter Vans • Community Car Services • Luxury Limousines • Paratransit/Ambulettes THE TAXI, LIMOUSINE & PARATRANSIT INDUSTRIES IN THE UNITED STATES
Taxicab companies provide work for 350,000 vehicle operators in addition to hundreds of thousands support staff. Taxicab companies transport 2 billion passengers annually for purposes that primarily include business,
Limousine companies provide work for 124,000 vehicle operators, and, like the taxicab industry, hundreds of thousands support staff. Limousine companies transport 400 million passengers annually for a variety of purposes that include airport transfers, business and corporate travel, weddings, and social outings. Limousine is also a misnomer. The industry fleet is quite diversified. Of the 126,597 vehicles:
Primarily the result of public-private partnerships in transportation, this category of transportation includes private sedan, van, and minibus fleets that provide transportation service under contract to public or non-profit agencies. Social service fleets, non-emergency medical fleets and accessible transportation for the disabled provided through public agencies under Medicaid or ADA are all examples of this type of transportation. In the United States, there are approximately 2,100 contract service fleets that operate 26,000 vehicles. These companies employ 71,000 vehicle operators in addition to hundreds of thousands support staff. The Paratransit and Contracting industry provides mobility for 150 million passengers annually. The Taxi, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA) September, 2006
THE TAXI, LIMOUSINE & PARATRANSIT INDUSTRIES IN NEW YORK CITY The total number of vehicles licensed and regulated by the New York City Taxi Limousine Commission including Taxis, Limousines (both "black cars" Lincoln Town cars and traditional [luxury] limousines), Paratransit Vehicles, Livery Vehicles, Commuter Vans and Car Service Vehicles is in excess of 60,000 vehicles. When we consider the shifts involved in the operation of many of these vehicles as well as the management offices, lending brokers, medallion brokers, medallion lease agents, insurance brokers, garages and staffs required to maintain them, the number of individuals employed by the industry in New York City alone is in the hundreds of thousands. A conclusion that can be drawn from these statistics is that the New York City taxi and for-hire industry is at the center of taxi and for-hire related issues worldwide. Indeed, the developing, sometimes conflicting interests of industry members in New York City leads to legislative challenges and compromises that are examined and tested by jurisdictions around the world.
TAXIS AND FOR-HIRE VEHICLES
Depending on the jurisdiction, a taxi may be legally and operationally capable of serving both distinctions. That is, a taxi may solicit and pick up hailing passengers while "cruising" on a city street or await passengers at a taxi stop while waiting for a radio (computer) dispatched call for hire. In the latter instance, of course, the taxi vehicle would have to be equipped with a radio or computer and be afilliated with a "radio" (computer) dispatch taxi base. New York City, as an example and exception to most taxi service options in North America, allows only for "hail" pick ups. New York City yellow medallion taxis are not permitted by law to be equipped with any radio or computer dispatch capability of any kind. New York City for-hire vehicles are the only vehicles permitted to be solicited by a prospective passenger by contacting and pre-arranging or scheduling a pick up through an afilliated for-hire radio (computer) dispatch service base. |
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TLC MAGAZINE
These links, of course, can be invaluable to any traveler or individual requiring instant up to the minute weather condition reporting, international currency values, airline contact information, hotels, or And, especially, TLC MAGAZINE ONLINE can be accessed internationally 24 hours a day, every day.
TLC MAGAZINE and TLC MAGAZINE ONLINE also contain marketing resources and marketing links to industry service members, taxi and for-hire management companies, lending organizations, insurance brokers, medallion lease agents, medallion brokers and other products and services. TLC MAGAZINE ONLINE maintains an active archive of every monthly TLC MAGAZINE issue produced in the online format. TLC MAGAZINE is distributed monthly free of charge to Taxi, Limousine, Paratransit and car service organizations throughout the New York City metropolitan area and nationally by UPS and U.S. mail. Every Taxi, Black Car Base, industry broker, lending institution and Taxi Limousine Commission office and inspection station in New York City receives issues of TLC MAGAZINE monthly.
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A complete link to the New York City Taxi Limousine Commission offering instant connections to every department in the agency servicing general information inquiries, inquiries involving complaints, lost property, location and hours of operation for all Taxi Limousine Commission facilities. The Taxi Limousine Commission monthly medallion average transaction report is also available.
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BLACK CARS Black Car bases provide pre-arranged transportation to clients usually based on contracts. Services are paid largely through the use of vouchers. Licensed Black Cars are francise owned for-hire vehicles that accept radio dispatched calls and charge fares set by their affiliated bases and filed with the New York City Taxi Limousine Commission. Black Car Companies http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/basesblack_car.pdf
COMMUTER VAN COMPANIES Commuter Van Authorizations provide pre-arranged transportation to passengers throughout New York City on a regular daily basis. They are authorized to operate (accept passengers) within specific geographic areas. Licensed Commuter Van Vehicles are motor vehicles with a seating capacity of up to 20 passengers. Commuter Van Companies http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/basesvan_servc.pdf
COMMUNITY CAR SERVICES Community Car Service bases provide pre-arranged transportation throughout New York City. These bases range in size from small, neighborhood based operations to large fleet type companies that provide citywide services. Licensed Community Car Service motor vehicles are for-hire vehicles that accept radio dispatched calls and charge fares set by their affiliated bases and filed with the New York City Taxi Limousine Commission. Community Car Service Companies http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/basecomm_carservc.pdf
LUXURY LIMOUSINES Luxury Limousine bases provide pre-arranged premium transportation to clients througout New York City. Licensed Luxury Limousine Vehicles seat up to 20 passengers and charge an hourly or a milage rate. Luxury Limousine Companies http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/baseslux_limo.pdf
PARATRANSIT/AMBULETTES Paratransit/Ambulette bases provide pre-arranged transportation for passengers with disabilities. Most of the service provided takes individuals to and from health care facilities. Paratransit vehicles provide demand-responsive transportation to persons with disabilities. Paratransit/Ambulette Companies http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/basespara_servc.pdf |
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TYPES OF NEW YORK CITY TAXI MEDALLION OWNERSHIP Minifleet Medallion Owners: Fleet and Non-Fleet. Fleet A fleet is a business that owns or operates 25 or more vehicles. The vehicles are dispatched from a single location with a dispatcher on the premises for at least 18 hours per day. All minifleet medallions are required to be operated for a minimum of two nine-hour shifts per day. Please see the Definitions in Chapter 1, P.4 & 5 (fleet & mini-fleet) of the TLC Rules for additional information. http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/ownrules.pdf
Non-Fleet Non-fleet minifleet owners typically lease their taxicabs through TLC licensed Taxicab Agents. All minifleet medallions are required to be operated for a minimum of two nine-hour shifts per day. Please see Chapter 1, P.4 (agents) of the TLC Rules for additional information. http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/ownrules.pdf
An Agent is someone who may lease a medallion(s) to drivers on behalf of medallion owners. All agents are licensed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission. Please see Chapter 1, P.4 of the TLC Rules for additional information. http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/ownrules.pdf
Independent (individual) owner operators can own only one medallion, and if they have purchased their medallion after January 7, 1990, they must operate their taxicabs a minimum of 210 nine-hour shifts per year. Please see Chapter 1, P.5 & 6 of the TLC Rules for additional information ("independent taxicab owner" & "owner") http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/ownrules.pdf
TAXICAB OWNERSHIP Qualifications for Ownership of a Taxicab Medallion: An individual, partner or corporate officer must:
An independent taxicab owner may sell his/her interest only to another independent taxicab owner. An independent taxicab owner may not be a shareholder or owner of another taxicab. Transfers of ownership must be approved by the TLC. All outstanding liens, judgments, claims and fines must be paid from the proceeds of a sale.
An independent owner must personally operate the taxicab 210 9-hour shifts per year. All other owners must operate their vehicles twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Taxicabs may only charge fares authorized by the TLC, may only accept street hails, and may not refuse passengers. All vehicles and any equipment used in a taxicab must meet TLC specifications and be approved in advance by the Commission. If an agent is used, the owner is also personally responsible, along with the agent for compliance with all TLC rules. The TLC sets the maximum rate that may be charged to lease a taxicab.
LIST OF NEW YORK CITY LICENSED TAXI AGENTS AND FLEETS http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/lic_agents_and_fleets.pdf
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The most complete collection of national and international trade associations and their individual members including the TLPA (Taxi, Limousine and Paratransit Association) the leading information, education,and legislative resource in the passenger transportation industry in the world. Instant link to the Transportation Research Board and the independent transportation studies it is conducting, in addition to research already distributed throughout the transportation industry. The Transportation Board offers, in addition to research, research management services, advice on transportation policy and programs.
NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY TRADE ASSOCIATIONS & WEB MEDIA National Limousine Association North American Limousine Associations North American Paratransit Associations
INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY TRADE ASSOCIATIONS & WEB MEDIA Austrailian For Hire Trade Associations & Web Media International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR) London, England For Hire Trade Associations & Web Media |
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NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL, AIRLINE LOCATIONS & CONTACTS Philadelphia Interntional Airport (PHL) Real Time Airport Flight Monitor - NYC, Newark, Philadelphia |
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Instant sports links to every national and international sports organization. Up to the minute reporting of all games and other sporting events, sporting schedules, promotions and news items. SPORTS–NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL LEAGUES & ASSOCIATIONS United States Golf Association (USGA) |
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National and international media news links. Print, television and cable station directories providing instant links to every major news organization in North America. ABC News |
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UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SOURCES The White House |
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Real time view of every major New York City and London thoroughfare updated and maintained by the respective New York City and London transportation departments. Times Square |
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