NY Taxi Strike

It has been a busy day and although I tried to blog a few times today, nothing came out. It wasn’t writer’s block as much as there seemed nothing really interesting to cover. Many times I blog when I feel passionate about something.

So what caught my eye today is the taxi cab strike — striking twice in 30 days, what is this France? The cab drivers are striking again because they are adverse to credit card machines and GPS. And yes as you might have guessed, I think they are all nuts.

I was in a New York taxi last week and paid by credit card. I marveled at the convenience. The system let me know exactly what a 15% tip was. I believe it even had the option to tip 17% or 20%.

The addition of GPS into cabs is the issue most taxi cab drivers are upset about and the largest cause for many of them to strike. Again, I think it is silly for them to strike as they just don’t understand where technology is going.

Even the cab drivers who understand the need for GPS don’t see the big picture. I think I do. You see, in a matter of months, some company will announce there is a system linking the cabs with potential passengers. For the first time in New York history, potential passengers will know where the cabs are and the cabs will know where the passengers are.

GPS-enabled mobile devices will allow passengers to see where all the empty cabs in the city are located and in what direction they are moving. They will even be able to – say it isn’t so – request a cab to the street corner on which they are located.

It won’t just be GPS-enabled devices with this capability mind you. Regular phones will also have this ability as potential passengers will seamlessly be able to enter their location into a mobile application.

Likewise, the cabs will be able to rapidly see where the potential passengers are.

Sure the loss of privacy is an issue but credit card acceptance means more fares and likely bigger tips. GPS means less time looking for fares and more time carrying them.