OPINION: Study envisions ride-sharing future of transportation in NYC
Imagine a taxi-less New York City. It isn’t hard to do, thanks to a new study.
Swapping Manhattan’s iconic yellow cabs for sedans connected to ride-hailing apps could reduce traffic by 75 percent, slash pollution levels and streamline commutes, according to researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
An algorithm developed by the researchers found that just 3,000 four-passenger Ubers could theoretically satisfy 98 percent of New York’s taxi demand, with wait times averaging 2.7 minutes, if they were to replace the city’s existing 14,000 licensed yellow cabs — provided passengers don’t mind carpooling with strangers through services like UberPool and Lyft Line.