Starting your own taxi or private vehicle rental firm, is by no means a quite tough task, as there are a lot of regulations and guidelines to follow in operating and running this type of transport business, and the rules may differ with each state or city.

In the city of New York , the famous taxicabs, with their distinctive yellow paint, are a world-renowned social icon. These taxicabs are operated by private companies and are licensed by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission.

New York's Taxi And Limousine Commission

Considering that the city of New York is a very large metro area, there has to be a viable, and tough regulatory agency to handle the city's really large transport sector. The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) was established in 1971, and was given jurisdiction over the city's medallion (yellow) taxicabs, livery cabs, "black cars", commuter vans, and some luxury limousines.

The TLC was organized to deal with the growing number of drivers, as well as to address issues that are vital to the well-being of the taxi and livery industries. The taxi commission was formerly known as the New York City Hack Bureau, and it operated under the control of the New York City Police Department.

New,Eco-Friendly Trends In NYC's Taxis

New York city recently introduced new regulations, and offered new incentives as well, to replace its current yellow cabs with electric hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape Hybrid.

In the spring of 2007, Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a five-year plan to make the city's taxicabs switch to more fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles as part of a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Around 90% of New York's 13,000 yellow cabs are Ford Crown Victoria types. This proposal will help to reduce greenhouse gas emission equal to removing 32,000 private cars from the road

Taxi Fares In The Big Apple

Taxi fares in New York City, as of 2006, have been pegged at $2.50 ($3.00 after 8:00 p.m., and $3.50 during the peak weekday hours of 4:00–8:00 p.m., and the increments are based on the distance traveled and time spent in slow traffic. The passenger also has to pay the fare whenever a cab is driven through a toll.

The city's cab drivers are not allowed to use cell phones while ferrying passengers, even if they use a hands-free headset. It is estimated that around 241 million passengers rode in New York taxis in 1999, and the average cab fare in 2000 was $6.

How To Start An NYC Taxi Service

Starting a taxi service is not as easy as it may seem. For starters, there are a lot of important steps that need to be thoroughly followed, to guarantee you will be able to properly operate such a business. The first step towards running a taxi business, Is to acquire a license to drive a taxi. This process begins at the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the department issues a particular license to drive this types of vehicles.

Next, find out how the city regulates the taxi industry. The only way to find out is to make a visit to city hall and ask this question. By asking this, you will probably come away with a great deal of information regarding this service.

Third, verify who licenses the taxi firms. New York requires the units to have a medallion located on the outside of the car. You also need to get in touch with someone from the Department of Transportation, as they will be able to assist you with this concern.

Once you've talked to the ones concerned, and fill in the appropriate forms and get the permits, you're ready to roll out and ready to join the rat race. The city's streets may look like they're eternally clogged, however, with some deft maneuvering and good management, you'll find out that operating a taxi service here is worth the hassles associated with the Big Apple.