TLC To Finally Operationalize Meaning Of “Cab Light On,” Matching Literal With Metaphorical And Unconfusing Single Ladies

And now your friends won’t have the murky middle ground excuse of “I have my cab light on, but I want to make it clear that I’m headed directly to the garage”:

Taxi and Limousine Commission Chairman David Yassky said Tuesday medallion owners will be directed this fall to start removing the signs and adopting a simpler way of indicating whether a cab is available.

Under the current scheme, the cab-top signs have four different potential meanings depending on whether either or both the off-duty lights and the medallion number light are illuminated.

“It’s far too confusing for the average rider,” Yassky told the Daily News.

Under the new system, the cab-top signs will have only two potential meanings: available if the medallion number is lit, or unavailable if it’s dark.

. . .

For those [. . .] who don’t know what the current system means, here’s a primer:

* Off-duty sign on/medallion number off: Off duty.

* Off-duty sign off/medallion number on: Available.

* Off-duty sign on/medallion number on: Available for trips in the direction of the garage cabbie is heading.

* Off-duty sign off/medallion number off: Cab is occupied and not available.

I tell you what though, I had no idea there was a separate category for “available for rides in the direction of the garage” . . . I wonder how many drivers I got mad at for no reason! And does this mean that “I can’t take you to the airport because I’m only going to the garage” is no longer a valid excuse?

See also: Taxis.