• Wired – "The app makes a chore (calling up to complain) into a fun and easy piece of vengeance."
• Gothamist – "A few apps like this have popped up over the years, but Report A Taxi is the first we've actually downloaded to our phone."
• The Village Voice – "Complaining about taxi service is something of a New York City hobby, whether it's justified or not. But the systems through which you can complain can be cumbersome. However! There's an app for that, available free for iPhones and on the way for Blackberries and Androids. It has won an award, it's called Report A Taxi, and it is, basically, exactly what it says."
It has also gotten a lot of New Yorkers talking, dividing them into two camps: those that are excited to get justice for poor and potentially dangerous cab service, and others who feel that cabbies deserve to be left alone and not “tattled” on. Here are a few sample comments and tweets from people who believe R.A.T. is helpful and fosters safer and better service from taxi drivers:
• I would definitely like to report the cabbies who drive like complete psychopaths
• I'm often refused a #taxi to Astoria. Will use @reportataxi to report these a-holes. Could've used it this weekend.
• it doesn't matter. its the law. if they are worried about not making enough money then change career fields. i had some asshole cabbie who refused to cross the wb bridge from the les. he shut his car off and opened the hood claiming "i just broke down."
• could've used the report a taxi app last saturday when I approached an on-duty cab who quickly turned his light to off-duty once he saw me.
Then there are people who feel sympathy for the cabbies and believe that those who use Report A Taxi are “whiners,” “tattle-tales,” and “complainers,” among other things:
• I feel bad for a lot of cabbies. they put up with a lot of BS on a daily basis.
• leave the cabbies alone you self-entitled assholes
• Sometimes, cabbies have a legit reason to refuse, like their personal safety. It also sucks to drive to Brooklyn and return empty to Manhattan, often slowly in traffic over the bridges.
• Anyone who needs this app, who's anticipating the opportunity to report these drivers, is a whiny tattle-tale. Show some grace and have a life… Pathetic. If I saw that my date had this app, I'd dump them.
Where do you stand on this heated debate? Is Report A Taxi a good tool for passengers to ensure safe and respectful service from cabbies? Or should drivers be left alone to do their job in peace? Most importantly, is R.A.T a deal breaker when it comes to your next relationship?
Brian Baxter
Marketing & PR Manager
Y INTERACT
