Taxis To Strike Over New GPS System
Today, the [Taxi Workers Alliance] will announce that [a September strike](http://www.nysun.com/article/59120) will no doubt occur if the Taxi and Limousine Commission does not cancel its plans to add new technology in the citys [13,000 yellow cabs](http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_206062932.html). The new touch-screen monitors provide passengers with on-demand information and allow them to pay by credit card, but also include [GPS tracking](http://nypress.com/20/20/informationagent/agent5.cfm)which many drivers say is an [invasion of privacy](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/07/25/2007-07-25_cabbies_gearing_up_for_a_strike.html), not to mention an affront to their wallets. The systems will cost cabbies $7,200 over a three-year period and a 5 percent service charge to the banks. The Alliance represents about 8,400 taxi drivers, and says it hopes to have [Strike Pledge Cards](http://www.amny.com/news/local/transportation/am-taxi0725,0,3815213.story?coll=am-topheadlines) collected from most of them soon.
Meanwhile, commuters may soon have the privilege of paying [$30 to enter the Lincoln Tunnel]. Port Authority officials have been distributing surveys asking drivers if they would pay such a sum for access to a special lane that would cut their commute by 20 to 50 minutes. Tunnel traffic heading into the city has increased by eight percent, or [1.6 million vehicles](http://www.1010wins.com/pages/713753.php?contentType=4&contentId=715918), over the past 10 years, so were guessing motorists would gladly pay upwards of an arm and a leg to speedily pass through a [High Occupancy/Toll](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/07/25/2007-07-25_you_may_pay_30_at_lincoln_tunnel.html), or HOT lane.
Photo courtesy of [cwbuecheler on Flickr]