The boxy Nissan NV200, popularly nicknamed the "Taxi of Tomorrow," officially took over Tuesday as New York City's cab of choice. The vast majority of drivers looking to replace their old vehicles are now required by law to switch to the minivan taxi, a decided departure from the more traditional sedans.

The vehicle is packed with features providing convenience and comfort, reported Gizmodo. It features USB charging stations for cell phones, a sunroof and extended leg room to make the travel experience more pleasant for riders. Drivers get more comfortable seats, GPS navigation and an intercom system as upgrades. The car also features sliding doors and rear-seat air bags for improved safety. And, in a city that often sounds like an orchestra of honks, New York's new cabs will boast a "low annoyance" horn.

It was a rocky road to this point for the Nissan NV200. A taxi group and the city government argued over whether New York was allowed to mandate a single cab, a case that the city won in June. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio had opposed the plan originally put forth by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, but de Blasio came around and renegotiated the deal instead of canceling it.

The NV2oo runs entirely on gas, but some drivers will still be able to choose from a short list of hybrids and wheelchair-accessible vehicles instead of the Nissan model. Drivers can also opt to purchase a wheelchair-accessible NV200, but it has proven unpopular. Nissan is also developing an electric version of the NV200, but it is unclear if and when it will become part of the "Taxi of Tomorrow" plan.

Still, some 80 percent of New York City's taxi fleet could eventually be "Taxis of Tomorrow," reported the New York Times. Some drivers have already implemented the change. There are about 750 NV200s on the roads already, just a small portion of the city's approximately 13,000 cabs. More should be on the way soon. In a typical year, about 2,500 to 3,000 taxi drivers change their vehicles,  the Times reported.

The switch to a new vehicle also comes at a time when ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft are providing competition to the city's yellow cabs.

http://www.ibtimes.com/nyc-taxi-tomorrow-nissan-nv200-phone-chargers-sunroof-arrives-new-york-city-2077949
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 Taxi enforcement officers at Ribble Valley Council have joined forces with the police and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency to swoop on unroadworthy vehicles.

Twelve vehicles were targeted at inspection at sites in Clitheroe, with three drivers served with advisory notices requiring work to be carried out on their vehicles within seven days.

Council taxi enforcement officer Carl Rung, said: “Maintaining a high standard of vehicles is something we take seriously and we carry out regular checks to ensure taxis and their drivers are meeting licensing requirements. This was a joint operation, where vehicles were subject to a rigorous inspection to ensure they were compliant with licence conditions.”

He added: “The council requires the immediate withdrawal of hackney carriage or private hire vehicles constituting a risk to public safety, or work carried out to ensure the vehicles are of a high standard.”

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/swoop-to-check-valley-taxis-1-7437551
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GETT LONDON

  They have teamed up with a rival app that allows passengers to set the price of a trip before they get in the car. Fares are normally charged on the distance of the journey and the time it takes to get to the destination.

Gett, an Israeli start-up backed by billionaire Len Blavatnik, will cut the fare by 30pc if the journey is more than six miles. The discount will be available outside of peak hours on weekdays.

The company claims to have signed up 6,000 drivers in the UK capital, out of a total of 25,000.

Uber, which operates in about 250 cities in 50 countries, has become an object of scorn from traditional taxi companies fighting for survival against the rise of the Silicon Valley challenger, founded in 2009.

 As Uber’s popular smartphone app can turn anyone into a minicab chauffeur, those drivers can set their own prices for the journeys they make.

As a result, the company has become the target of a string of lawsuits around the world for unfair competition. However, the legal action has spread to include drivers themselves.

On Tuesday night, a US judge ruled that Uber drivers are entitled to class action status in litigation over whether they are independent contractors or employees.

Three drivers sued Uber in a federal court in San Francisco, contending they are employees and entitled to reimbursement for expenses, including petrol and vehicle maintenance. The drivers currently pay those costs themselves.

In the ruling, US District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco said drivers could sue as a group on the question of whether they are employees or contractors, and over their demand for payment of tips that were not passed on to them. Drivers' attorneys must submit more evidence to sue as a group for reimbursement of other expenses.

Class action status means the 2013 suit could cover more than 160,000 California drivers, according to court filings, and could give plaintiffs more leverage to negotiate a settlement.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/11838318/UK-cabbies-fight-back-against-Uber.html
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 A Belfast taxi driver has told a jury how he thought he was going to be shot after a passenger pointed a gun at him and threatened to blow his brains out.

The Value Cabs employee, who was giving evidence at Belfast Crown Court, claimed the threat was issued by a passenger who asked whether he was “a Prod or a Taig”.

When asked about the threat and how it left him feeling, the taxi driver tearfully said: “I honestly believed he was going to shoot me.”

Currently standing trial on three charges arising out of the alleged incident in December 2012 is Lee Hosie, from Shore Road in Belfast.

The court heard the alleged offences occurred on the same night of the first rioting linked to the loyalist flag protest.

The 23-year-old denies possessing a firearm or imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, threatening to kill the taxi driver and making off without paying the £6.60 fare.

Hosie’s barrister said that while his client admitted being a passenger in the taxi, and being “rude, obnoxious and quite disgusting” to the driver, he didn’t have a gun.

The jury heard that in the aftermath of the alleged incident, the taxi driver picked Hosie out during an identification process.

Hosie initially denied being in the taxi on the night in question. However, during a later interview he admitted he was a passenger, denied having a gun and claimed the taxi driver made up the allegations about the weapon and threats following a dispute over the fare.

http://goo.gl/k7ghpG

Comment: Luckily this will not happen in Manchester, you have to be some shot, to find the brains.