RIDE-HAILING giant Uber yesterday announced it would list all New York taxis on its app in a bid to address the ongoing driver shortage across the city.

The agreement was announced by Creative Mobile Technologies, which makes apps for the city's yellow cabs, and Curb, a ride-hailing app for licensed US taxi and for-hire rides.

Confirming the news with City A.M.,

Uber shared a statement from senior vice president of mobility and business operations Andrew Macdonald.

"Our partnerships with taxis look different around the world, and we're excited to team up with taxi software companies CMT and Curb, which will benefit taxi drivers and all New Yorkers", he said.

To many, this partnership is a winwin: taxi drivers will get more access to demand, cities will get less empty miles driven, and riders will have access to more ride options. It is understood that passengers will also pay roughly the same fare for rides as for Uber X rides.

However, like London, the relationship with the Big Apple and Uber has not been an easy one.

The NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission capped the number of Uber vehicles in 2018 following rising congestion and drivers' wages worries.

Speaking to City A.M., James Farrar, the general secretary of App Drivers and Couriers Union in the UK, said: "In general, unregulated incursion of apps into the regulated fares market is fraught with problems.

"Publicly set tariffs in New York and London are designed to protect the consumer and to ensure the driver is paid a living wage. When apps take over the distribution it's a bit like a cuckoo entering the nest."

(c) 2022 City A.M., source Newspaper