N.Y. Denies Reports of Curbs on Taxi Hailing

New Yorkers’ sacred right to hail their cabs anywhere, anyplace, any time is secure.

Christopher Lynn, chairman of the Taxi and Limousine Commission, denied reports that the city is creating mandatory taxi stands in the heart of Manhattan.

He said the city never planned to eliminate the hailing of cabs; it only wanted to enforce existing laws and reduce traffic.

“You can still hail a cab anywhere you want,” an exasperated Lynn said Thursday, claiming the story had been incorrectly reported.

Initial news reports said taxis in Manhattan between 30th and 60th streets would have to queue up at designated areas to wait for passengers, who in turn would have to line up politely for arriving cabs.

Cabbies complained that it would be bad for business. And riders laughed at the very notion of New Yorkers waiting in orderly fashion for anything.

After three days of confusion and complaints, Lynn set the record straight.

What will happen, beginning in February, is a pilot project from 46th to 53rd streets between 3rd and 8th avenues. Two hundred spaces around fire hydrants and “No Standing” signs will be created for taxi pickup and discharge.

Use of the new spots will not be mandatory. The real targets of the effort will be illegally parked cars, which will be towed away.

That will allow cabs to get closer to the sidewalk--under taxi commission rules, all cab entries and exits should occur within 12 inches of the curb--and may ease congestion in mid-town, where the average midday automobile speed is 6.5 mph.

“At this point, it becomes a giant parking lot in that area,” Lynn said. “The entire city suffers. Even the police can’t get through to enforce the laws.”

Larry Goldberg, president of the taxi drivers union, said he is pleased that the idea of “no hail” zones is now in his rear-view mirror.