| dbo:abstract |
In the New York metropolitan area, dollar vans are a form of semi-formal public transportation. Dollar vans serve major corridors in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx that lack adequate subway and bus service. A variant of the dollar van, the jitney, also serves areas in eastern New Jersey and transports them to Manhattan. Within the New York City area, the term "dollar van" originates from the vans which charged one dollar during the 1980 New York City transit strike. Drivers capitalized on the lack of transportation available and subsequently needed throughout the city. Today, dollar vans can still be seen across multiple boroughs. However, prices now typically range from two to six dollars per fare. Often, dollar vans serve what are known as transit deserts, areas that are made up of poor modes of travel and often have many gaps in their transit systems. These "transit deserts" result from a lack of service from MTA Regional Bus Operations routes, or the removal of such service. Traditionally, the operation of dollar vans has been by immigrants who bring their own culture stateside. Usually Caribbean and Haitian immigrants operate in eastern Queens and Brooklyn, while Chinese immigrants operate within New York City's Chinatowns. Often, drivers modify their vans to add additional amenities, usually inspired from one's culture. The dollar vans have numerous benefits in that they can transport passengers efficiently, and provide a sense of community to the ethnic groups that use them. However, dollar vans also provide competition to licensed drivers, which cannot pick up passengers at MTA bus stops, and are generally more flexible in operations. While permits are available via application through New York City's government, intense licensing requirements and an especially high cost of insurance results in many drivers staying unlicensed and unregulated. (en) |
