Add Listing
Add Listing

The Future of NYC: AVs & Yellow Taxis | A Smarter Cap Strategy

autonomous vehicles NYC yellow taxis smarter cap

🚗 AVs Are Coming — Let’s Not Repeat the Past

Waymo is now mapping Manhattan with plans to deploy autonomous vehicles (AVs). According to CNBC, these cars will initially operate with a driver behind the wheel for safety testing.

Without clear regulatory limits, we risk another FHV-style flood of underutilized vehicles chasing limited demand—just like the Uber/Lyft boom that crippled NYC streets. The Future of NYC: AVs & Yellow Taxis is unfolding fast. With autonomous vehicles, NYC yellow taxis, and over 100,000 FHVs on the road, the city must rethink how we move. It’s time for a smarter cap strategy to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

🧠 A Smarter System for AVs, FHVs & Yellow Taxis

NYC’s traffic has never been worse — with over 100,000 for-hire vehicles (FHVs) flooding the streets unchecked. We must rethink the future of NYC: AVs & Yellow Taxis with intention.

📊 The Reality in 2024

  • 178,917 active TLC-licensed drivers
  • 120,000+ TLC-licensed vehicles
    • 13,587 yellow taxis
    • ~106,000 FHVs (Uber, Lyft, black cars, liveries, limousines)

Source: TLC 2024 Annual Report

✅ NYC Before the FHV Surge

NYC functioned smoothly with:

  • ✅ ~13,500 yellow cabs
  • ✅ ~20,000 black cars/liveries

That lean fleet handled over 500,000 daily trips — without gridlock or driver poverty.

🚨 What FHV Oversaturation Caused

  • Clogged streets
  • Crushed driver earnings
  • Forced NYC to add the CRZ congestion fee — unfairly applied to yellow taxis and citizens

🚗 AVs Are Coming — Let’s Not Repeat the Past

Waymo is now mapping Manhattan with plans to deploy AVs. Without a smarter cap strategy for the future of NYC, we risk another flood of underutilized vehicles chasing limited demand.

✅ The All Hail Taxis™ Proposal: A Smarter Cap for the Future of NYC

We support a targeted cap that balances innovation and sustainability:

Vehicle Type Cap Purpose
Yellow Taxis 13,500 Street hail backbone (AV-eligible)
AVs + FHVs 25,000 max App-based & pre-arranged trips
Total Fleet Size ~38,500 Balanced, sustainable NYC vehicle mix

🔧 Why This Works

Yellow taxis can transition into AVs while remaining transparent and regulated.

  • ✅ Less congestion
  • ✅ Cleaner air
  • ✅ Higher earnings for full-time drivers
  • ✅ A level playing field for medallion owners

FHVs caused the current crisis — they shouldn’t be allowed to dominate again.

🚖 Yellow Taxis Are NYC

Yellow taxis are part of NYC’s DNA. Whether human- or AI-driven, they are:

  • The most regulated and transparent for-hire option
  • Essential for airports, outer boroughs, and wheelchair service
  • Capable of evolving with the city

📣 Join the Movement for the Future of NYC: AVs & Yellow Taxis

All Hail Taxis™ supports smarter—not more—transportation. We believe in tech that respects:

  • Drivers
  • Medallion owners
  • Riders
  • And the city we all share

🛑 Let’s not make the same mistake twice. Visit AllHailTaxis.com to learn more and get involved.