Policy

New York City Approves Taxi Apps

Government permission needed to hail cabs the way users might want to

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Raising your arm and yelling "taxi!" will soon be the old-fashioned way to nab a New York City cab. Soon, all you'll need is a smartphone app.

On Thursday, New York City's Taxi & Limousine Commission approved a plan that will allow riders to "e-hail" yellow cabs, starting Feb. 15 on a test basis.

"We should not ignore technology that's out there. This is not speculative, this is real," said TLC Commissioner David Yassky after the pilot program was approved.