The number of NYC taxicab medallions has not increased since 1937

[Recursion]

I want everyone who gripes about Uber or Lyft to just digest that for a moment: the number of taxi's in Manhattan is the same now (actually slightly lower) than it was in 1937.

This is everything that is wrong with regulation. It's not about safety, or hygiene, or whatever, it's about protecting an existing monopoly. It's regulatory capture. And it's very visible here.

[MADem]

1. A lot of people I know patronize private car service. nt

[msanthrope]

4. We call it "gypsy cab." nt

[MADem]

9. When I am in NY, I use the guy who lives across the street from where I stay.

He has fixed price destinations, he's reliable, you call him up, he knows you, he takes you where you want to go.

[badtoworse]

2. We also have the same amount of streets.

Traffic in midtown has been a mess for decades - where would additional cabs drive without making traffic worse?

[Recursion]

3. But more people (nt)

[herding cats]

5. And, the additional ride sharing services mean fewer personal vehicles are needed.

Which helps to reduce traffic by single user vehicles.

[geek tragedy]

6. Actually, not by much. Less than 10% increase since 1940

Which should have been more than absorbed by expanded subway and bus and ferry service.

Not to mention private car services which can be reached by phone and collectivo-style vans.

[Spider Jerusalem]

7. The total population increase between the 1940 and 2010 census is around 600K

from 7.4 million to 8 million. The population of Manhattan has declined by 300K since 1940; most of the growth is in the outer boroughs (notably in Queens which has nearly doubled in population, from 1.2 million to 2.2 million). Most of the demand for taxis is in Manhattan. Which makes the lack of increase in licensed hacks not such a big deal, really.

[badtoworse]

8. I've worked on and off (currently on) in mid-town Manhattan since I started my career in1973

This probably explains why it doesn't seem any harder to get a cab now than it did when I started. Getting a cab when it's raining has always been a pain.