The city’s green cab program is really rolling.
More than 1,000 of the apple-colored outer borough cabs are up and running on the streets of New York — offering New Yorkers nearly 300,000 rides since the program launched in August.
“For too long, four and a half of our five boroughs didn’t have taxi service — and now they do,” Bloomberg said at a press conference in Williamsburg on Tuesday.
He added, “If there was ever a demand that showed itself when there was only a little bit of supply, it’s this.”
He then hopped a green cab and took it to a meeting in Midtown.
Taxi and Limousine Commission has so far issued 6,000 green cab licenses, the total available during the program’s first year. All 6,000 are expected to be out on the road by March, Bloomberg said.
In June 2014, 6,000 more licenses will become available.
Bloomberg may tout the figures as a transportation achievement — but mayor-elect Bill de Blasio is outspoken critic of the green taxis.
As public advocate, de Blasio worked with Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade’s failed attempt to stop Bloomberg’s plan to allow the green cabs to answer hails in outer boroughs.
Last month, de Blasio said he wants to go “back to the drawing board” when it comes to a plan for the outer-borough cabs.
The program survived a court challenge and opposition from yellow taxi drivers, who claimed the green cabs will encroach on their turf.
The program survived the court challenge and opposition from the trade organization, which represents 38 taxi fleets. But it was backed by the Taxiworkers Alliance, which represents cab drivers.
The Taxi and Limousine Commission is authorized to sell 18,000 street-hail permits for the new car service in total.
The TLC earlier this year issued 1,300 permits to livery car owners, had vehicles painted green and altered to include credit card readers.
The Big Apple boasts 63 green cab bases, including one in Staten Island, 17 in Brooklyn, 12 in Queens, 11 in Manhattan and 22 in the Bronx.
Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Yassky also cheered the success of the taxi program on Tuesday.
“This was a monumental undertaking,” Yassky said in a statement. “This effort required an unprecedented level of communication, cooperation and coordination with the neighborhood livery companies.”
Green cabs are permitted to stop for hails in northern Manhattan and all of the outer boroughs.