Hit uber harder, gov urged

ALBANY — A disability rights activist is urging that any congestion pricing plan enacted by the state charge higher fees for appbased ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft than for yellow cabs.

Dustin Jones, head of United for Equal Access New York, sent a letter last week to Gov. Cuomo saying yellow cabs already charge a 50-cent-per-ride fee that goes to help fund the MTA, and have more stringent requirements to make their vehicles accessible to the disabled. Uber and Lyft pay an 8.875% sales tax, but only a small share goes to the MTA.

“It would be wrong — both morally and from a public policy standpoint — to treat yellow taxis and ride-sharing companies the same way in any congestion pricing proposal,” Jones wrote.

“Yellow taxis already provide a great deal of support to the MTA and to accessible transportation options for New Yorkers with disabilities. Uber and Lyft do not. We believe that difference can and must be reflected in any congestion pricing proposal.”

Cuomo’s Fix NYC panel recently released a proposed congestion pricing plan to help fund the MTA that would include a $2- to $5-per trip fee on all forhire car services that travel into a specified zone in Manhattan.