I'm all for anything that reduces our collective carbon footprint, especially if it can save people a little cash along the way. I think it's a good idea to give New Yorkers the option of sharing taxis and saving a few bucks, though I'm sure millions of us will choose not to do so. Some people are worried about safety; others want peace and quiet. As for me, if I'm in a hurry, I don't want my cabbie to stop every few blocks to pick someone up. And if I'm NOT in a hurry, I'll just take the subway.

Sharing a taxi with a stranger may not sound ideal, but if it'll save you money, will you go along for the ride?

The Taxi and Limousine Commission has approved a pilot program that will let up to four riders headed in the same direction share a cab and split the cost during morning rush hours. A sign would indicate the taxi’s destination, and a special meter box would track each passenger's fare separately.

The TLC program also includes group ridesharing, in which riders would pay a flat, discounted fee to travel between major transit hubs and common destinations around the city. It would also set up livery cab stands outside Manhattan to compensate for the lack of yellow cabs.

The TLC says the plan would save passengers money, earn cabbies more and reduce congestion, but a taxi drivers’ group worries drivers would undercut each other, saying, "for every one cab with three group-ride shares...two cabs remain empty." Other critics are raising safety concerns.

Does the plan sound reasonable to you or is creating new taxi technology more trouble than it's worth? Would you be willing to share your cab with someone else to save a few bucks? E-mail your thoughts, along with your first name and neighborhood, to the address above.

Split the cost equally among strangers while riding a cab together is good business. Ridership on the surface will increase as a result and it will be much better for riders than running up and down the stairs in the subway. You ride much comfortable and see the sights.

Anna
Kips Bay

Share a cab?
Don't think so.
I know of areas of Queens and Brooklyn that have the "dollar cabs" ($2.00 now) and it's very inconvenient.  Although the proposal to do this in Manhattan would be somewhat different with fares that are equivalent to a cab ride and with separate meters,  I wouldn't do it.  Some of the best perks about a cab are not having to share a ride with some inconsiderate person yakking on his cell phone, smashed against you with packages and bad B.O., music blaring out of headphones, or a screaming kid.  These things are sure to happen once the cab sharing starts in Manhattan.  If I'm going to put out the fare for a cab ride, I want to be relaxed, or what's the point?  Otherwise you could just take the train or bus for less money but withe same types of passengers. 

Winifred
Queens

Sounds like a great plan. Watch Bloomberg take credit for it!

Rich Midtown East

Just shared a cab with someone this morning. Bus didn't come, and we two bus riders were waiting for over a half hour. I hailed it, and the stranger asked to come along. Now I know someone from my bus stop and they saved me $5!
Plenty of people already share cabs. Is this another Bloomberg idea to lessen the income of middle class people, i.e., in this case, cab drivers?
Ever look outside on Park Avenue during the week, in the afternoon? There are literally hundreds and hundreds of cabs. It'll always be the same. Inclement weather? Can't get a cab. Good weather? Usually no problem, unless it's rush hour.
Thank you, NY1, for being there for us.

Liz from Sunnyside

I disagree with sharing. People take Taxis when they dont have time to take the bus/subway and are usually in a hurry. Taking a Taxi is a privilege not a communal way of transportation in NYC. This reminds me of the system they have in Long Island near the railroad stations. It's annoying to have to share a cab with total strangers so the cab driver can get the most for his buck and you still get dropped off last.

Saira

Who cares? I like the cabs in Lisbon they go to the wrong hotels and drive away with the bags. And then the Tourist authority claims it doesnt speak English. Go there for the religious shrines and pray they dont steal your luggage. In answering your question though I wouldnt mind a cabshare unless it was a vampire or a republican.

John Kissena Park

The TLC can propose anything they want-The reality is that because the City has closed down many streets to vehicular traffic they have created the worst gridlock on the face of the Earth. To sit in a cab with a total stranger under these circumstances will be interesting to see.

Chip, Upper East Side

The whole point of grabbing a cab is getting there quickly and safely in a relatively comfortable car. Four people four destinations? You might as well grab the subway.

Dan
Battery Park City

What is the big deal. That has been going on in Queens since I have been going out there to visit for over 35 years. The cabs involved are not yellow cabs but gypsy cabs. They line up at certain points and each person pays a fee depending on where they are going. I do not know anyone who lives in far out Queens who has a problem with this.

Glorym - NYC

In a city of 8M people, the taxi ride is often the one place you can be alone in your own, uncrowded space. Now, they are trying to take this away. The stated reasons for this, to make it faster for people to travel during rush hour and saving riders money, do not make sense. If these are you goals, take the subway.
I am not looking foward to a world where taxis are stoping for every person hailing a cab simply to see if we are going in the same direction. I will never take one of these shared cabs.

Upper East Side
Mike

It sounds quite complex and potentially confusing. I admit that there are days when it is difficult to find a cab but I am not certain that this would ease that problem. If I were in a cab already I am not so sure I’d like it to stop to pick up others. And how would the plan differentiate between strangers using one cab, and a group of friends or family sharing a cab – especially if everyone gets in (and out) at the same places. Would they start making everyone in the cab pay their own fares?

Sue
Chelsea

As someone who is unemployed presently, I am all about saving a buck. But the fact that someome knows where I live or work freaks me out. I can see airport/tourist destinations but not sure I would use as a New York City resident.

Josie
Kips Bay

The TLC & Limousine commissioner either are crazy or insane to asked people to share a cab with stranger,did he know to do that means to asked criminal to commit crime without feeling guilt. Why don't they let their family or love one to share a taxi with strangers for a try out before they enforced the system.

-- Jh

I'm sick and tired of heaping all the fees and taxes on native New Yorkers, especially in Manhattan, while people driving in, who have mass transit available, are still fussing over higher bridge and tunnel fees! People who drive into the city regularly and have mass transit available don't deserve all the tender consideration they get! New Yorkers -- who are far greener than most suburbanites -- should have their local transportation safe, convenient, and affordable.
What's overlooked in all the buzz about taxi use and surcharges is the fact that many Manhattanites use them not as a luxury but as a necessity. The elderly going to the doctor, e.g., or myself, to get my groceries home from Fairway at 74th Street uptown to where they do not deliver -- at my age, the grocery bags are heavy enough to cause injury to my forearm and wrist. I still need a taxi uptown if I buy more than a couple of light bags. Taxiing from 74th Street Fairway became a necessity when overdevelopment of the Upper West Side eliminated almost all of the usual neighborhood supermarkets Coming home late at night after a performance is another health and safety issue, especially with the planned mass transit cuts! And so on.
If people want to drive in here, clog our streets and pollute our air, they should pay dearly. And our mass transit as well as certain transportation such as taxis should remain affordable for those who need them, both residents and visitors.

Margaret F.

I refuse to ride a cab with a stranger; what has this city and government come to? Have they lost their mind!

Jeanette

While I'm sure the powers that be thought sharing cabs was a good idea, I have to disagree. I for one wouldn't want to share a cab with a complete stranger .....just to save a few bucks. I would prefer to to take the cab by myself and pay a higher fare just for safety measures.

Cheers!
Mike
Staten Island

It has become so difficult to get a cab from the East Village during the morning rush. This could really help alleviate that problem.
I have split the fair in the past and have met some wonderful neighbors.
A nice way to start the day!

Mike
Alphabet City

Come on NY1! You guys are always better than this. Phrases like "are you going to get in a car with a stranger" is making a heck of a lot of hullabaloo.
But at least it wasn't as bad as one other network this morning that
suggested we could possibly pick up germs from "the other passenger".
What are we small children now? Sheesh!! I don't take alot of cabs, but I'd have no problem. Subway or bike is better anyway.

Tom R.
Red Hook, Brooklyn

I don't mind sharing a Cab with nobody, but I can't take a Cab for the simple fact that drivers are very disrespectful and just go by without stooping when they see a physical challenge on a Wheelchair. So I prefer to take the bus or trains, if they have an elevator.

Eric, Bronx, NY

What if you and your friends are riding together to go to the same destination? Would the cab driver demand each passenger to pay separately based on the shared cab fare? (I am assuming that the sum of the total of each passenger on a share cab maybe higher than one passenger cab to the same destination).

Yoko
Manhattan

A great idea..........have you ever tried to get a cab in the rain? this would be the way to go.
Overall, a great way to save and money and expedience.

Barbara
Queens

of course it's a good idea and a win win situation.
if someone feels there a safety issue they have the option to not choose to ride with others. everyone rides the subways together so what's the difference. taxi cab drivers should be happy they get more money.
mta bye......................

rich/chlesea

I stopped taking cabs decades ago when I realized that the meter kept running when the cab was not moving, like at a red light. The rates on the cab doors always said, "per mile," not "per minute."
If I did take a cab (not likely, especially since you can never get one anyway), I certainly wouldn't share it would someone else. My reasons are, that with my luck: 1) the other person would be a smoker who smells like a toilet 2) they'd be blasting their iPod deafening themselves as well as those close to them 3) they'd be a screamer on an iPhone which is just as bad 4) sharers are more likely than others to be chatters, even if you're reading, taking a nap, or showing no interest.

Regards,
Walter,
Staten Island

I think it could be very funny but then it could also be very dangerous with all the drunk people leaving clubs and pubs late at night…..
But then again What a great way to meet people? Maybe we could do cab dating tours of New York Next……
I think its up to the individual to make the decision

Bryce C.

I could not get through on the phone line, but think it's an interesting idea. They will need to work out how this would work if 3 people wanted to pay by credit card. The drivers will not feel it is a good idea, if they lose $$ on the service charges incurred by these payments.

Gail
Morningside Heights

I would agree to share the cab with others. I take the cab to get to catch the F train on 41st Avenue and 21st Street in Astoria or even take the Cab all the way to manhattan. I’ve done this before and by far it saves money
I would only do this for shorter trips for safety reason.

Socorro

it will be a good idea to have people save money and taxi make more money on a ride .but this way u r shorting 2/3 of chances for last taxi to reach the fair so they will speed more they will fight the road harder then ever to get more rides, some because r greedy some because were not lucky to pick a fair and will kill pedestrians and more accidents

anonymous

Sharing a cab is so dangerous what
If the person your sharing a cab with
Is a sex offender.

jaclyn