Why are some taxis green in New York?
New York is famous for its iconic yellow taxis, but you'll also spot green taxis on the streets. Here's what sets them apart.
Green Taxis in New York: What You Need to Know
- New York’s streets are filled with yellow cabs, the iconic color of taxis in New York. But among the flow of vehicles, you’ll occasionally spot a green taxi.
- Despite what you might think, these aren’t electric or eco-friendly vehicles. Green taxis are “Boro Taxis,” licensed only to pick up passengers in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island—four of the city’s five boroughs. They can also pick up passengers in Manhattan north of East 96th Street and West 110th Street.
- Green taxis cannot operate in central Manhattan. They’re also not permitted to pick up passengers at JFK or LaGuardia airports unless a ride has been booked in advance.
Green Taxis vs. Yellow Cabs: What’s the Difference?
- Why this distinction and these restrictions? Green taxis launched in summer 2013 to expand the taxi fleet and distribute service more evenly across the city. The Taxi and Limousine Commission found that 95% of yellow cabs were picking up passengers below 96th Street and at JFK and LaGuardia, leaving other neighborhoods underserved.
- The solution was to add 18,000 new Boro Taxis to the fleet while ensuring they wouldn’t all concentrate in Manhattan.
- One last question: why green? The “apple green” color was chosen by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg as a playful nod to the city’s nickname, the Big Apple.