license drivers, not medallions. Non-transferable right to operate. - license taxis with regular inspections - use technology to track cabs - have the city run a centralized, mostly web-and-touchtone based dispatch system
Which is exactly the model within which Uber et al operate: livery drivers and webapps.
- good (safe, knowledgeable, rested) taxi drivers - taxis in good condition - a sufficient number of taxis on the road - a reasonable price to the customer - and a system to handle complaints
It seems to me that medallions actually fail on some of these points. Instead, it would be worthwhile to:
- license drivers, not medallions. Non-transferable right to operate. - license taxis with regular inspections - use technology to track cabs - have the city run a centralized, mostly web-and-touchtone based dispatch system - and adopt suitable regulations to avoid feast-or-famine at the airport, downtown, and that socio-economic region that the cabs tend to avoid