Results tagged “taxicabs”

Hell hath no fury like a cab driver handed an American Express card. Technically-speaking, cabbies are supposed to allow payment with credit card; however, we suspect that, technically-speaking, many of you out there have gotten into arguments - or have been flat-out refused a ride - because you tried to pay with plastic. But taxicab travel is set to improve immediately now that New York-based Creative Mobile Technologies and Chicago's Taxi Medallion Management, home of the 2,600 cars of the Yellow, Checker, and Blue Diamond fleets, are beginning to install touch-screens as part of a ten-year deal signed last December.

Could Chicago cabs be going hybrid? Finance Committee Chairman Edward M. Burke (14th) and Transportation Committee Chairman Tom Allen (38th) are proposing a city mandate requiring cab companies to begin incorporating hybrids into their fleet of vehicles, with a complete conversion of all Chicago cabs by January 1, 2014:

Last week we heard that a bulk of the city's cab drivers are starting to consider forming a union. That sentiment may be put to the test when we see whether any drivers heed a flyer calling for cab drivers to stay parked tomorrow.

Chicagoist is not sure why it's such a big deal to put ads on cabs since our buses and trains and even train station turnstyles already have them, but it's been a "forbidden" practice for a long time. Yesterday Mayor Daley introduced a proposal that would permit ads on the roofs and doors of Chicago taxicabs.