The New York City Taxi Commission drove into the future on Thursday, voting 7-0 to unanimously approve a new set of temporary regulations that will allow passengers to hail cabs from smartphone apps beginning in 2013, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The move doesn’t give a pure green light to companies such as Uber, though, imposing strict requirements such as that only allowing drivers to accept business from people who hailed the cab within a half-mile radius in Manhattan’s central business district and one, and a half miles throughout the rest of Manhattan and the other four boroughs. Apps will also be required to interface with existing cab payment systems and drivers will not be allowed to collect additional fees for those using the app.
