Riding Dodo

Isn't it time for a reconsideration of taxi fare cruising in the city? We've made so much progress in urban transportation, why is it we're satisfied with such a wasteful, dirty and inefficient practice? The swarms of yellow roaches clog the streets, especially in Manhattan, but no longer serve the modern lifestyle. We have one of the most cost effective and comprehensive public transportation systems in the world. We are continually adapting the system to the latest innovations, such as computerized subway and bus fare collection and disability access. Yet the taxicab plague never changes.

Defenders, of course, will say that the cabs are adapting too, and point to greater fuel efficiency and safety features. But that only evades the issue. The real waste is in having the beasts roam about the city in packs, belching their fumes without letup, with no passenger inside! It's the equivalent of selling encyclopedias door-to-door. Does anyone remember that?

We need to devise a system to order, reserve and deliver pick-up service that uses the internet and mobile technology. A cab subscription service, for instance, can have a registered user dial a number from a smartphone and enter the destination points for the ride. The car can then be driven to the user's location, drive to the destination and then park until the next call. Or else, if one of the cars is already parked close by, the service can simply tell the user where it is. There should only be very brief periods of non-use in busy commercial areas.

The cars should look like normal vehicles and not be identified as belonging to the service until they are parked, when the driver posts a flag, or something like that, so that the subscriber can find it. Otherwise, when the car is between calls, the driver will be tempted to cruise the car like a regular taxi for a little off-the-books income.

I think that such a subscription service can be profitable. A simple study of the most frequent trips and times of use can reveal the right number of cars and the most accessible stations for them. This, in turn, will determine the monthly charges for the subscribers. And I bet that the city will be glad to set aside many parking spots for the cars because the system will reduce congestion so much.

The zipcar is a laudable attempt to provide an alternative to taxis, but non-drivers can't use it. My system provides full taxi service, but without the negatives. It's time for some enterprising entrepreneur to make the move. The urban taxi is on the way out -- it is a dodo -- and I'd like to hurry that along.