Every cabbie I've ridden with calls into the dispatcher as soon as they get a fare, whether they were an arranged pick up or off the street, and the intended destination.
I've had cabbies give me a card and ask me to call them when I need a ride home. This is the same idea.
Plus a lot depends upon how the relationship between the driver and company exists. The companies own some cabs but a lot of times the car is owned by the cabbie and he pays to lease the plate company.
This app is showing the cab companies aren't needed, and if they aren't needed then I can see the city saying any new plates, or plates coming up for renewal, going to more private cabs. The app is removing the necessity of the dispatcher.
The past couple of New Years I have asked the cabbie about the shortage and the one 2 years ago said he wasn't overly busy (even though I couldn't get through on the phone, I flagged him down on the street), and this year they cabbie went on a real diatribe about how much he had to pay to the leasing his plate and they won't put enough dispatchers in place and how many nights, when there aren't special events or Stampede, he can drive around for hours with no fares.
Some of the cabbies who have been around a while have a pretty good perspective on the issues.
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—Bill Clinton
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