Taxi and Limousine Commission Backtracks on Taxi-Hailing Apps

When Uber announced its taxi-hailing app in August, David Yassky, chairman of the Taxi and Limousine Commission, originally favored the idea. The New York Times reported that in August, Yassky emailed city officials saying that allowing electronic hailing “was the policy most consistent with N.Y.C.’s image as a ‘tech-forward’ place to do business.” The idea was highly unpopular with the black car, taxi and livery industries. Eventually TLC backtracked, saying it could not approve the use of apps for hailing or payment because of pre-existing payment contracts expiring in February. Uber suspended its service last week. But the TLC says it might re-consider changing the rules after February.

The New York Times