Dollar Dollar VansVans

What is a Dollar van?What is a Dollar van? It is a Semi-Formal It is a Semi-Formal

TransportationTransportation Dollar vans currently Dollar vans currently

serve West Indian serve West Indian neighborhoods in neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens and Brooklyn and Queens and tend to be staffed by tend to be staffed by West Indians themselves. West Indians themselves.

Dollar Vans are similar to Dollar Vans are similar to por puestos in South por puestos in South America, tap-taps in America, tap-taps in Haiti, and matatus in Haiti, and matatus in Kenya, Tanzania, and Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Dollar vans Uganda. Dollar vans sometimes charge more sometimes charge more than a dollar. than a dollar.

New York is distinguished from all other American cities by its use of public transportation. While nearly 90% of Americans drive to their jobs, public transit is the overwhelmingly dominant form of travel for New Yorkers.

1980 (11 Days) and the 2005 (3 Days) Transit Strike.

Why is the City punishing them?Why is the City punishing them?

The MTA and its Union feel it is a threat to the The MTA and its Union feel it is a threat to the regular bus service, which often fails to meet regular bus service, which often fails to meet the needs of the working poor, especially the needs of the working poor, especially those who live in Black and Hispanic those who live in Black and Hispanic communities. communities.

Local Law 115 which was enacted in 1993, Local Law 115 which was enacted in 1993, giving the City Council veto power over the giving the City Council veto power over the ability of the Taxi and Limousine Commission ability of the Taxi and Limousine Commission to issue licenses to the dollar vans. The law to issue licenses to the dollar vans. The law went a step further and made it illegal for the went a step further and made it illegal for the vans to pick up passengers along bus routes. vans to pick up passengers along bus routes.

Is It Really a Dollar?Is It Really a Dollar?

During 2002 Bus Strike in Jamaica, During 2002 Bus Strike in Jamaica, 50,000 people were being charged $1.25 50,000 people were being charged $1.25 while the MTA at that time was charging while the MTA at that time was charging $1.50$1.50

These days it appears to be $2.00These days it appears to be $2.00

Where To Find Dollar VansWhere To Find Dollar Vans Dollar vans are generally found in West Indian Dollar vans are generally found in West Indian

neighborhoods in Queens and Brooklynneighborhoods in Queens and Brooklyn In Queens they can be found in Jamaica (starting point), In Queens they can be found in Jamaica (starting point),

Springfield Gardens, Rosedale, Laurelton, and Cambria Springfield Gardens, Rosedale, Laurelton, and Cambria Heights and other neighborhoods in South east Queens.Heights and other neighborhoods in South east Queens.

In Brooklyn they can be found in the Flatbush and Crown In Brooklyn they can be found in the Flatbush and Crown Heights sections. They operate along Flatbush and Utica Heights sections. They operate along Flatbush and Utica avenues.avenues.

They operate along MTA bus routes.They operate along MTA bus routes. The drivers stand outside of the buses and announce The drivers stand outside of the buses and announce

their destinations e.g. 5 going to Green Acres.their destinations e.g. 5 going to Green Acres.

Dollar Vans and their positive Dollar Vans and their positive effectseffects

Cheaper then transit system.Cheaper then transit system.

Reliable for all types of Reliable for all types of inconveniences.inconveniences.

Follow same route as MTA Follow same route as MTA

ReliabilityReliability

Dollar vans can be dependent on in Dollar vans can be dependent on in situations such as..situations such as..

StrikesStrikesSnow StormsSnow StormsHigh volume of people on busHigh volume of people on bus

People save more on dollar van People save more on dollar van ridesrides

MTA service is currently $2.00/ride MTA service is currently $2.00/ride

Risk of price inflation exists in any momentRisk of price inflation exists in any moment

Provides same service as Provides same service as MTA busMTA bus

Dollar vans take similar routes as Dollar vans take similar routes as MTA busMTA bus

People can still get to destination People can still get to destination without having to take different without having to take different routes.routes.

Dollar Vans (Negatives)

Dollar Vans

Dollars Vans are consider a threat to public transportation of New York City.

These Vans steals revenues generated from rider originally from mass transportation.

Profit Takers

Stealing revenues from mass transportations, public workers (bus drivers, subway operators) could lose their jobs.

Dollar van made profit most when public transportations shuts down i.e. strikes or snow storms

Illegal

Many of the operators for dollar vans aren’t licensed to operated it.

If anything where to happen it would be very difficult to sued the drivers

There are about 5,000 of these Van being rid by 40,000 people everyday

Many of the dollar vans are reckless drivers

Accidents waiting to happen

Many of these drivers do not obey traffic law and can be a danger to the comminutes. They can be highly accident prone.