NEW YORK

A judge in New York cleared the way for a $2.50 surcharge to be added to a taxi fare. An extra $2.75 will be added to the cost of Uber, Lyft and other for-hire rides.

The extra fees apply to rides in Manhattan that begin, end or pass through south of 96th Street. They were included in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s state budget to ease traffic and raise an estimated $1 billion per year to help fix the subways.

 A group of taxi drivers sued to block the fees, which, they argued, would make “taxicab rides so financially unattractive to consumers that the industry is sure to collapse in its entirety.”

Judge Lynn Kotler of State Supreme Court in Manhattan rejected the warning, writing the taxi drivers “have not demonstrated irreparable injury” because the congestion surcharge is meant to be passed directly to consumers.

The judge’s order lifted a temporary restraining order but allowed the taxi drivers’ lawsuit to continue.

"We feel triumphant that the state's motion to dismiss was denied and it gives us hope that ultimately the state will do the right thing and spare drivers the poverty and crisis that would result from this congestion fee,” said Bhairavi Desai of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance.
PHOTO: A man walks through traffic in Times Square on July 30, 2018, in New York.Getty Images, FILE
A man walks through traffic in Times Square on July 30, 2018, in New York.

The surcharge will be collected beginning 12:01 a.m. ET on Feb. 2. It applies to for-hire transportation including taxis, "green cabs," limousines, black cars, livery and rideshare vehicles.

“The judge’s decision is a positive step in our efforts to find a dedicated revenue stream for our subways and buses, as well as easing congestion in Manhattan’s central business district,” said Patrick Muncie, a spokesman for Gov. Cuomo. “We will continue to defend the law, which was approved by the legislature, at the next court date so that New Yorkers have a safe, reliable transportation system.”

Uber said it would immediately increase the price of its rides in New York.

“We agree that street congestion is a problem in NYC, but we believe the best way to address it is through the adoption of a comprehensive congestion pricing plan that is applied to all personal vehicles, trucks, and commercial vehicles, not just for-hire vehicles and taxis,” Uber said in a blog post.

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 COVENTRY

 A plea has gone out to all parents after a baby was hurt in a crash in Coventry.

The baby suffered a cut to the face after a taxi and a car collided at the junction of Hall Green Road and Windmill Road, Aldermans Green, at around midday today (Saturday, February 2).

The youngster had been travelling with their family in the back of the taxi and fire crews who attended the scene said they weren't wearing seatbelts.

The baby was taken to hospital by medics as a precaution.

The photo above shows the aftermath of the crash which closed off the road for over an hour.

Crew commander Simon Hall, from Foleshill fire station, said: "A car had collided with a taxi and a family were in the back of the taxi with a baby.

"They weren't wearing seatbelts, otherwise they wouldn't have been injured."

Crews at Foleshill fire station also posted about the incident on its Twitter account, stating: "PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, this is not a safe or acceptable practice! Buckle up your child, in an appropriate age related car seat!"

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MANCHESTER

A drunk passenger in a taxi grabbed the handbrake before attacking the driver and trying to steal his car, a court heard.

Benjamin Taylor, 28, said to be 'incredibly drunk' at the time, has now been jailed after being found guilty following a trial.

Taylor, from Newton Heath, had been out drinking in the city centre, and the driver picked him up from outside the Millstone pub in Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter.

He sat in the back and asked to be taken to an address in Newton Heath, just after midnight on August 17, 2017.

The driver put the destination into his sat-nav, and Taylor also helped to direct him.

Suddenly Taylor pulled at the handbrake and punched the driver to the back of his head and shoulder.

The car came to a halt at an angle in the entrance to a factory.

Taylor then got out of the car, dragged the driver out and punched him.

He demanded the driver to hand over the keys to the car.

But the taxi driver began to shout for help, and was waving his arms in desperation.

Luckily a police car was driving by at the time and pulled over.

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