Brian Lehrer: Brian Lehrer on WNYC. We've got 10 minutes left in the program and I'm going to give it to yellow cab drivers listening out there right now. I think you can figure out why there's this new news that everybody's trying to figure out, riders are trying to figure it out if they use taxis. I'm sure you're trying to figure it out as a driver. This merger between Uber, your arch-enemy, and the yellow taxi system. Give us a call, yellow cab drivers. Tell us how you understand what's going to change and how much you think it's a good thing or not. 221-433-WNYC.

Yellow cab drivers, this call-in is for you for the last 10 minutes of our show. We'll really just be able to get a few people in here, but if you're listening and you drive a yellow cab, preferably not behind the wheel at this moment, what is this thing as you understand it, how should rider understand it? Do you think it's good or bad for you? I think it might affect for the worse the rates you get per ride in many cases, but maybe it's a good thing because it makes Uber less of a life-destroying competitor. Read part of the New York Times version of this story.

It says, ''Starting later this spring, riders will be able to open the Uber app and choose a taxi. Uber will then refer the request to the two taxi technology companies, which will notify drivers to pick up the passengers. The fare will be based on Uber's pricing and policies, including surge pricing which can significantly increase the cost at peak times.'' It says, ''The app will display an upfront price as with all Uber rides before the rider requests the trip.'' ''Riders will pay roughly the same price for a yellow taxi as they work for a standard individual Uber ride known as Uber X,'' the company said.

Yellow cab drivers who respond to Uber app hails will also see a ride's pricing upfront and under the deal, you will have the option to accept or reject it. Under city regulations, e-hail taxis, unlike street hail taxis, the yellow cabs, do have the right to refuse fares. Though Uber has clashed with taxi groups for years, The Times says, as it has attempted to take over markets around the world, it has discovered that partnering with taxi companies instead of fighting them can turbocharge its business, especially overseas.

Partnerships with taxi fleets and technology companies in other countries allow Uber riders to order taxis on the app as will be the case in New York. This is the first such deal in the United States. Any yellow cab drivers listening right now, let me open it up a little further to any Uber drivers who cares about this one way or the other. We'll take a couple of you cab driver callers. Jimmy in Ridgewood, you're on WNYC. Hi, Jimmy.

Jimmy: Hey, Brian. How's it going? Please forgive me if I sound nervous. It's a pleasure to talk to you.

Brian: Same here. I'm nervous as well as you. Go ahead.

Jimmy: All right. Personally speaking, I want no part of this. Uber has really crapped on us over the last few years. I just feel this is a ploy for them to continue their dominance. I actually am thrilled at the fact that the last year or so it started to feel that riders have been starting to come back to us as opposed to Uber.

Brian: Just for time, I'm going to jump in and follow up. Do you think this is going to mean more rides for you than you would have without it? Jimmy, could you hear that?

Jimmy: I'm sorry, Brian, I didn't--

Brian: I asked if you think this will mean more passengers for you than you would have without it?

Jimmy: I believe it would probably mean more opportunities. Yes, it definitely would. Personally speaking, I'd rather do without it to be honest with you.

Brian: You just hate them because of what they did to the market? I got it. Diop in Manhattan, you're on WNYC. Diop, hello.

Diop: Hi. Good morning, Brian. How are you?

Brian: Good. You like this?

Diop: Yes, I'm a yellow cab driver and I just saw that yesterday. I agree it's a good thing, but Uber is very smart to come to the table because they know they could not beat the yellow taxi industry. We were very relaxed honey badgers. We've been through a lot, but we still around. Now they know that they need more cars on the road and the demand is higher than what they can give. Now they come to us because we have our own application called Curb and [crosstalk] it's working fine.

Brian: Yes, there is a yellow cab app. That's right. I like your honey badger reference as a yellow cab driver. [chuckles] That's right. One of the underlying reasons for this appears to be that there has been now in the latter stage of the pandemic, we hope it's the latter stage, a shortage of Uber drivers compared to demand, and that's been a problem for them. Kwame in Manhattan, you are on WNYC. Hi, Kwame.

Kwame: Yes. Good morning.

Brian: Good morning.

Kwame: Good morning. Yes.

Brian: You happy about this?

Kwame: No. Tell Uber to go to hell. We don't need them. We can live without them. They screwed my son. My son used to be a Uber driver. He pick a fare for $92, and he end up getting only $40, and because of that, thanks to Uber, he left and went to do the writing, and now he's a medical practitioner.

Brian: [chuckles] Indirectly, they helped your son by, if your story is accurate, screwing him out of that money as you put it? One more, I think. Que in Queens, you're on WNYC. Hi, Que. We have 30 seconds for you.

Que: Hey. Hello, Brian. I have a unique perspective. I'm a yellow cab medallion owner. Now I do Uber. I sold the medallion about 5, 6 years ago. Quite frankly, it's Uber attempt to assault on yellow cab industry one more time. There's no driver shortage. I sit in my car for hours waiting for a fare to come. It's the passenger industry shortage. New York City culture has changed. People work hybrid. When we will understand it's a demand-imposed industry. Hybrid working lifestyle has changed the demand industry. It's not only Uber that is suffering is, everybody else's. The only difference is Uber will scavenge again on yellow base industry.

Brian: Que, thank you very much. Que gives us his A and that's going to be the last word for today. Have a great weekend, everyone. Brian Lehrer on WNYC.

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