Uber cars outnumber yellow taxis by 500 in New York... but the classic cabs have 400,000 more rides each day

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There are 14,088 registered Uber cars and 13,587 yellow cabs in New York
But there are about 440,000 yellow cab rides a day and just 20,000 to 30,000 Uber rides
Uber cars, which can be summoned by a smarthphone app, were introduced in New York City in 2011 and has grown steadily in popularity

Published: 00:28 EST, 19 March 2015 | Updated: 13:07 EST, 19 March 2015

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New York City's storied yellow cabs are taking a back seat to black cars.

Uber cars, often black sedans that can be summoned with smartphone apps, now outnumber the yellow taxis that city riders have hailed with a whistle and a wave for generations.

It was a changing-of-the-guard moment that passed with little fanfare this week in figures released by the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission: 14,088 registered Uber cars compared with 13,587 yellow cabs.

Uber cars, which are hailed by an app, now outnumber the yellow taxis in New York City, a place famous for its classic yellow cars (file photo)

But it hardly means yellow cabs are out of favor. In fact, there are about 440,000 yellow cab rides a day, compared to just 20,000 to 30,000 Uber rides.

That's because Uber drivers often own their own cars and work less than 40 hours a week, while most yellow taxis are owned by cab companies, have more than one driver and are on the road close to 24 hours a day.

'Yellow cab rides significantly outstrip the number of black car rides,' said Meera Joshi, chairwoman of the taxi commission. 'So the number of their affiliated vehicles in and of itself doesn't paint a complete picture.'

Uber was introduced in New York City in 2011 and has grown steadily in popularity, particularly among tech-savvy customers who are comfortable hailing rides through an app that shows when a car is on the way.

A customer can even follow its progress with a blip on a street map. Similar companies such as Lyft use apps to connect with riders.

Prices are comparable, but some Uber riders have complained about fare add-ons for larger vehicles and 'surge pricing' during rush hour, bad weather or holidays.

Figures released by the New York's Taxi and Limousine Commission shows that 14,088 registered Uber cars compared with 13,587 yellow cabs in the city (file photo)

'I absolutely do love the convenience, and if it's not surge pricing I find the costs very comparable and in some cases cheaper than yellow taxis,' said Kerry Farrell, a paralegal who uses Uber about three times a week.

Uber spokesman Matt Wing declined to comment on the significance of the numbers of Uber cars surpassing yellow cabs.

But some drivers and their advocates grumbled that Uber's growth has flooded the market, lowering average incomes for all drivers.

'Uber having an unlimited number of cars means no drivers — taxi or black car and livery — will earn a decent living,' said Bhairavi Desai, executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, an advocacy group that includes both Uber and yellow cab drivers as members.

Mamadou Diallo, who has been driving a yellow cab since 2004, said he once could count on at least 30 fares a day. But his take has dropped 30 to 40 percent since Uber and other such car services entered the New York market.

'It's a jungle,' he said, 'and the big fish always eat the small fish.'

WHICH OPERATION COMES OUT ON TOP? UBER CARS VS YELLOW TAXIS

New York's 13,587 yellow cabs are in competition with smartphone-driven newcomers on city streets, especially the 14,088 registered Uber cars that now outnumber cabs. Here's a look at how the basic operations of the two compare.

Yellow Cabs

Hailed on the street by customers looking for an 'on' light on the vehicle rooftop, meaning it's available. One of the most common scenes on New York City streets are people waving their hands in the air, often shouting 'Taxi!'
Fares are set by the Taxi and Limousine Commission, at an initial fee of $2.50 plus 50 cents per 1/5 mile, or 50 cents per 60 seconds in slow traffic or when the vehicle is stopped.
Taxis operate under a medallion that now costs as much as $800,000. Most drivers do not own the medallion or the car; they must lease the medallion at a cost of up to about $140 per 12-hour shift, plus fuel.

Uber

Cars are hailed with a smartphone linked to the Uber driver, using an app that's set up ahead of time with a credit card. The car nearest to a customer responds, with location automatically designated through the app.
Basic charge is $3 plus 40 cents a minute, or $2.15 per mile, but larger or fancier cars cost more. Uber fares can skyrocket at market rates based on customer demand during rush hours, bad weather or holidays; customers are warned if they're riding at a 'surge pricing' time.
Most Uber drivers own their vehicles, but others are given use of a new car at special financing rates, regardless of credit history.