This week, New Yorkers enjoyed seeing the old Checker cab next to the Karsan V-1, one of three finalists in Mayor Bloomberg’s Taxi of Tomorrow competition. The Checker was made possible in the 1930s because the City of New York mandated that taxis be special purpose vehicles, not adaptations of standard production models. The Checker included jump seats, beloved by New Yorkers (see below). The other two finalists are the Nissan NV200 and the Ford Transit Connect. A winner will be chosen by month’s end and the first new cars will be rolled out by the fall of 2014. The Karsan taxi boasts a dramatically large passenger area, larger than even the classic Checker! ….with a jump seat that enables four passengers to sit comfortably together and still have enough room for a wheelchair, bicycle, stroller, luggage or skis!!
