Colin Quinn Talked To NYC Cab Drivers About The Industry’s Suicide Crisis (HBO)

Earlier this month, a cash-strapped taxi driver in Queens took his own life. But the tragedy was hardly a unique situation: he was the eighth cab industry suicide in the past year as ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft continue to rise in popularity.
Driving a cab and owning your own taxi medallion used to be a path to a comfortable middle-class existence for many New Yorkers, especially immigrants. But since 2012, ride-sharing apps have flooded New York streets with new cars, undercutting yellow cab prices and depressing wages.
The value of a medallion, which gives cabbies the exclusive right to pick up street hails, has plummeted from its peak of over a million dollars to less than $200,000 today. It affected the industry across the board - even the president's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, lost millions after amassing around 30 medallions. But it left some cabbies, who had invested their live savings in buying a medallion and were counting on this as their retirement fund, in complete financial ruin.
Colin Quinn, the comedian and life-long New Yorker, is not nostalgic for the days where he was unable to get a cab to take him to Brooklyn. But it pains him to think that this new technology could spell the end for the yellow cab, one of New York City's most iconic sights.
VICE News sent Quinn to ride along with some drivers to figure out what happened to them and their livelihood - and what they think the city owes its cab drivers.
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[@VICENews]

VICE News sent Quinn to ride along with some drivers to figure out what happened to them and their livelihood - and what they think the city owes its cab drivers. NEXT: The Hidden Homelessness Crisis In California - bit.ly/2E1fnUK

[@Bleublaze]

VICE News a better title “ Taxi Cab Driver Suicide Climbs”

[@Buenzas]

Now do a report on veteran suicides......

[@terminalexotics]

There is a future for yellow cabs! All the city needs to do is partner them up with these ride hail companies. So they can pick up rides through the app and also if someone hails a ride, they can decide if they want to pick them up.

[@user-ue6cq7ux1r]

If you can't keep up with the pace of social progress, then you will be eliminated by the society. It's cruel, but it's reality. Truth is that you adapt to society, not society to you.

[@user-ue6cq7ux1r]

Survival of the fittest is the law of nature.

[@zdubzz1280]

Colin Quinn is really one of the most underrated comics, he’s just brilliant.

[@SoapLand]

So you are telling me that these assholes that constantly scammed me in the 2000s were unable to adopt to new technology and I'm supposed to feel pity because they finally got what they deserve?

[@KalElKryptonsFinest]

@King Zak It's ok for anyone to die who cannot adapt. It always has been, right?

[@SoapLand]

@King Zak These people had an individual choice on the free market to get educated and learn a new skill set. It's not that hard to drive Uber, and even possible to make six figure driving a ride sharing app. There are multiple competitors in the ridesharing space, and rideshare companies lose money on many of their rides, especially Uber. Ridesharing has been beneficial to the economy not only to protect consumers, but ridesharing is also a great way to make extra money for normal pepople. Extra competition has made the industry better and resulted in a higher quality product. Taxis were monopolies giving and didn't give a shit about the quality of their service. Competition is good and it is individual choice to not adopt, the pros far outweigh the cons.

[@jonammons5882]

It's been a rough month or so, I am still crying over those Blockbuster Video stores in Alaska closing. Edit: Lol they mention Blockbuster!

[@juliogomez9125]

2000s era cabs are avant-garde tho

[@heathweather5995]

Uber drivers are scums too.

[@alexanderbean7737]

Colin is an underappreciated national treasure

[@iamreveye]

I have stood by the side of the road with my thumb out and been disrespected by cabbies who never wanted to pick me up, never wanted to take me to Brooklyn etc etc. I am sorry at the suicides but I can't say I'm sorry that Uber or Lyft exists. My life in NYC got exponentially better when they came along. I could always get a relatively safe ride home and not be harassed or made to feel like some sort of an imposition. Uber/Lyft are here to stay!

[@ssenssel]

So many cabbies were a-holes everywhere for so long and now are playing the victim card. App drivers are a godsend.

[@mz610]

thats the fault of the ppl who look like you, not the cabbies.

[@SunShine-bb2nc]

Not gonna lie Every cab drivers scared to pick black folks, because they don’t know for sure whether they get paid or not many incidents like running without paying, robbery, murdered of cab drivers etc caused by black. I myself Uber driver and I have to be very cautious about who I pick and which area to work high ratings takes away the judgement but still I don’t work in the Bronx and some part of the Brooklyn area specially from projects

[@re1840]

You can't get a cab? I can't imagine how you look for someone to not want your money.

[@zbeast]

Sorry, I don't feel sorry for the cab system. it sucked it always sucked.. no pickups, limited hours, limited locations high cost. got to change with the times.

[@cookymonstergorawr]

Kobe Wild I hate the system, but I pity the cab drivers who paid into it hoping to make a better life and are now being hung out to dry

[@jarmonjohnson]

@@cookymonstergorawr That's the beast of capitalism baby.

[@mtumeumrani376]

And crazy racism and discrimination. They got what they deserved.

[@caleb9191]

​@@cyzcyt Yeah it must be insane to limit the amount of traffic in a crowded city by using a free market system based on a set supply of medallions. God, using the free market to solve problems sucks.... Oh wait, that wasn't your point

[@AndrewTGreen]

I feel bad for the individuals and those who are not able to feed themselves, their families or retire. That is a failure of the city to protect the value of the medallion they sold.

[@bryant505]

This was a great video with Colin! I would love to see another video with Colin!!

[@doubleuponbob3397]

In this video with Colin, Colin did a great job. Video!

[@ptm9907]

You know how many times i wanted to get a ride somewhere, and all the taxi's wanted cash only?? and they wouldnt take debit or credit? Of course I'm gonna take an uber... easier, faster....done. and i don't need to fetch down a cab.. i order a car to me when i want...its just a logical perspective from a consumer. uber is smart business.

[@NativeTexMexican]

Naw, shes right.

[@marcelrodriguez2067]

Not only that, but the times ive been rejected by wanting to go to the bronx is ridiculous. Glad they are being destroyed.

[@pietrojenkins6901]

And Uber only uses high quality cars unlike the low standard jalopies of the old taxi industry.Who wants to ride in a dirty smelly cab anyway?

[@t100base]

awww poor thing. get over yourself

[@drzoidberg844]

timedsauce I live in Vancouver we don’t want Uber here

[@SoUtHMeMpHis]

I would love for this to be a regular series with Colin. Let it cover the humble workers from around the world.

[@DavidNunezPNW]

Honestly that business model sounded like a monopoly to me. Limited cars to create a high demand? Racist on top of that FOH NYC.

[@PrivateAckbar]

David Nunez Exactly right. But allow an old man (Colin) his pretentious New York nostalgia.

[@combatenthusiast6297]

It's mostly Indians, Arabs and Africans who are taxi drivers in New York. Black New Yorkers don't pay for taxis, they run and leave immigrants struggling.

[@mchepen]

I live in Argentina and the taxi system is sort of the same way here, and i always thought i was a hell of a scam. People have to pay tons of money just to be a taxi driver, like it wasnt one of the worst jobs out there lol.

[@ohdayhan2602]

so uber and lyft came in to the game 4 years ago, and during those 4 years the yellow cabs didn't made any apps to compete with them or at least embrace the technology and form partnership with them ?

[@ctnative203]

mo juzt lol real gd point

[@maxr1826]

they already took out loans to pay for the $200,000 medallions. they can't pay those loans back no matter what they do because the cost of the medallion was based on a rate of fare and that rate of fare was based on the cost of the medallions. now that the rate of fare has been cut by uber, they are fucked. they can continue to work for less pay and will be swallowed by their bills.

[@Mnpctech_Giveaway_PC_Mods]

Well done Colin. I hope this leads to more NYC videos with you!

[@CHAS1422]

They purchased a state guaranteed lie. When they bought the medallion, the state ensured exclusive rights to offer taxi service. Uber used a loophole (requested limo service), and nobody saw it coming. This is the city who owes based on their leaky guarantee.

[@tapio_m6861]

At the same time, they provided a somewhat antiquated business model that was very slow to respond to any new innovation.

[@ServiEntrega24H.Gerona]

Uber and lyft does pay millions to cities in order to operate business and employ unemployed people

[@gdnh]

And on top of that, they have huge expenses to operate

[@shawntannehill]

If the city are not making uber drivers buy medallions whoever bought a medallion should get there money back from the city.

[@fightsports66]

Exactly, the city sold you something and then undercut you.

[@angelodiaz8089]

very good segment. thankyou.

[@doublehockeystix]

I definitely pity the drivers, some good, hard working people. But the system is definitely not ideal. Imagine NYC without yellow cabs....

[@brbjuke45]

I have and on one cares

[@asher_2789]

people commenting are clueless to how the taxi medallion operated. yes, it was a racket run by the city - artificially limited supply of medallions, so that to buy a taxi medallion was over $1 million. and then uber/lyft came in and undercut them, and arguably provided a more convenient service, and now these drivers are stuck with medallions worth far less than they paid for them. the city was supposed to protect them (as part of their contract) and failed. the cab drivers are mostly immigrants - if you worked hard, you could get ahead and have a nice middle class life that they immigrated here for. now what are they supposed to do? they cant be a yellow cab and an uber at the same time... the yellow cabs are going the way of the dinosaur, which is sad because they are so iconic, but whats even sadder is that the city government isnt doing much to help these people who are now heavily indebted with their own businesses that they can at best sell at a loss. no wonder people are committing suicide, they have few other options. funny how we can bail out the entire banking industry for their criminal behavior, yet when some vulture capitalists come in and harm the middle class its sorry, nothing we can do for you. the lack of empathy in the comments is quite striking. how about all of you go out and take a business loan to buy a medallion only to watch its value crumble. these immigrants did everything right and are getting fucked.

[@SuperKing604]

asher 2789 yes agreed finally someone said something compassionate. If wall street can get bailed out why not middle class cabbies it would cost less

[@InayetHadi]

The standards for limo companies and taxi companies needs to be applied to uber/lyft otherwise lower the the standards for everyone . Don't have a two tired system where one industry is heavily regulated and the other offering same service but no regulations. Of course uber/lyft have billions of $$$ so they can buy those government regulators.

[@dacman53265]

Hi. You sound like you know the problem. The problem isn't only in the states. London black cabs have been shafted. It's cost us a bloody fortune just to keep it on the road. Uber driver can just get in the car and go to work. We have to pass a 3 years London knowledge tests before we're aloud to work as a licensed cab driver. It just not fair. The government are crooks. S

[@FarlesNCharge]

Why don't the cab drivers sign up with uber and use the same car. 2 Incomes!!!

[@j565tyty]

DERRRRRR

[@NYGJMAP]

Most of them do

[@abdulakram6839]

Apparently they are quite dumb 😂

[@MattGreenland]

I have the same question!

[@JewTube001]

they can't take the payment from uber customers since they pay through the app

[@Coolgg]

I took a cab from Fort Lauderdale airport to Adventura and it cost me $50. The driver was driving around, took the long way and that’s why he jacked up the cost so high. A 15 minute ride at the most took 25 to 30 minutes. Because he was trying to get in my pocket. I took a Lyft to that same location when I came back to Florida and it was only $25. I’m sorry, I don’t feel sorry for them. Especially if you try to scam me in the Uber/lyft era. You’re dug your own grave for decades before Uber/Lyft and now people are supposed to feel sorry for you, FOH.

[@DirectorSkitsandBTS]

Damn this is crazy. but really insightful

[@Arwickxl]

Great video

[@commiewaffle3371]

The Netflix and Blockbuster saying in the end summed it all up.

[@brandonwalton443]

Love Colin! Tough Crowd forever

[@jrm04r]

More Colin please!

[@williamgregory1848]

Colin Quinn on Vice is something I never knew I wanted

[@chudyrobert4788]

use colin quinn like this more please and thank you

[@MyDoodad]

Colin Quinn is the MAN. Let him do more New York interviews. His grasp on history and comedic timing in his broadway shows are incredible. If you haven't seen them, I highly recommend it.

[@Ieatstopsigns]

PLEASE MORE COLIN QUINN

[@roninblax]

They had illegal cabs on Utica avenue in 1989.

[@bangbangboogie2155]

Yup what You think tlc gonna come and take care of it haha their scared to

[@chaseist5052]

*_thats tuff..._*

[@24kenscott]

I Never thought of this, thank you! Its seems The city owes the cab drivers something. Where they did and didn't travel is irrelevant, the city said "pay this to drive" and taxis did so apps should have to do the same.

[@kehidupankanada]

Respect🙏🤲

[@ctnative203]

yellow cabs are done! that block buster netflix comparison was spot on .

[@KillerAJ]

Before Uber and Lyft came around, my only options to get a cab would be the black TLC cars that charged stupid high prices and the rare green cabs. A lot of times, I’d walk along the route hoping I’d get a cab, but I would end up making it to the destination without seeing a single yellow cab go by. I live in Queens. If the yellow cabs refuse to pick up from Queens, why should we care if someone replaces them?

[@user-fb3jz2bn2q]

colin quinn is underrated

[@youtubeyoutubeyoutube9961]

Older generation of workers need to adopt to new technology, especially these men.

[@sharmaraul7953]

Irony here. That Sikh cab driver is Punjabi. In the Punjab, farmers are committing suicide door to drought and are abusing heroin.

[@asadashraf2128]

The same happened to the Black cab drivers in London. They had a monopoly on the service in Central London. As bad as Uber is as a company, it was positive for the people of the City. Uber offered cheaper prices (around half), and a prompt, reliable service.

[@bigtexas1231]

This Is so sad, But Vice puts Attention unto the situation, Hopefully their will be a difference!

[@mx5499]

This is all bullshit the city (Bloomberg) broke the law and disappeared to his own island at the Caribbean . He used the racket of bait and switch.. First to sell new medallions, he raised the fare by 20 % and put new medallions on the auction at high price... Why would Bloomberg put people in debt by owning taxis when he knew they not be worth anything after putting green cabs and right after Uber cars.. And the funny thing is the regulations that are implemented on yellow cabs and not on Uber when it comes to inspection and million other things.. The city (the crooked Bloomberg) played a dirty game along with the the cronies that become billionaires overnight.. They robbed people of their houses in the planned crash of 2008 they repeating the scenario with the cab business.

[@mickeypang]

Well done Vice! Get more comics to present topics please.

[@butterflygirl141]

Its because the cab drivers are rude! They honk immediately if you call one ahead of time and they have to wait more than 10 seconds, and they decide if they don’t want to go uptown or downtown.

[@j565tyty]

ALREADY FORGOT 'EM

[@ol_ksiy]

anybody know the title of the music at the end? kinda reminds me of the Doors, mellow piano...

[@Greenjah81]

Blah blah blah. Uber was smarter, deal with it. Business is business.

[@jonammons5882]

​@King Zak If you mortgage your house for any job you are taking a huge risk. I don't feel any more sorry for them than someone that mortgaged their house to start a restaurant. Businesses fail every day.

[@Greenjah81]

@King Zak by automation you meant automatic vehicles I assume?

[@Greenjah81]

@@jonammons5882 sorry for cabbies butt not for companies that users those, because they slept for too long about high tech developments.

[@habituallinestepper2883]

If they were smart they'd use they same structure. Pretty sure people would use them if they did.

[@Greenjah81]

@King Zak well that's just a matter of time. So if they have problems with it, they should address government and municipalities, to try to lobby automated vehicle regulations and such.

[@xan1562]

More Colin Quinn!!!

[@MrLarrybill]

Just here for Colin

[@Skullfire56]

One question tho what app should I download Uber or Lyft?

[@capitanm2166]

A dead industry..

[@j565tyty]

MO MURDAAAAAH

[@slapshot68]

U got to pay for the cab fees, Uber? U use ur own car

[@nitpoon7982]

Unfortunately there's going to be more companies like uber better switch now

[@tonynyc7709]

I agree with Colin, it's eventually in the near future going to be gone. My prediction in the next three years the real estate agent for the buyer is almost eliminated, the seller's agent role will be extremely diminished to the point where most agents who can't make a living now will be forced out permanently. The internet which is great is eating up a lot of industries because it's giving the consumer easy access to many things. Those of you who are reading look around your cubicle, your job maybe one day be replaced by an app or a website. Most jobs are not secure anymore.

[@Julius064]

People who are saying this is Social Darwinism and its okay are the most ignorant posters here. No jobs other then skilled labor is safe anymore, and really those jobs are not worth the cost. You'll sell labor for a slightly above average wage to maybe a great wage (for older guys), and a retirement with a broken, painful maybe crippled body. One example is accounting software is getting exponentially better every year, I say 20 years and half of accounting jobs will be eliminated. If anyone wants an industry its happened to already look at stock brokerages, software eliminated most of the jobs. One computer can do the same job as a hundred brokers. These cabbies were promised protection for their jobs, and uber came along and found a loophole and officials do nothing.

[@csweet207]

I'll watch anything featuring Colin Quinn.

[@donalphadawg2794]

Colin the legend!

[@toonceshere9668]

OUTRAGEOUS. City officials who let Uber into a government controlled market (without paying a medallion type fee) should have offered cabbies some kind of reimbursement. Cabbies must abide by many state regulations and due to the costs of operating, the market competition is unfair. Uber/Lyft have many unfair advantages.

[@pearlharbour3300]

mr panther i agree.

[@napdaily]

Ya Colin!!

[@bobbobbington6650]

i love colin quinn. seems like a really good dude.

[@mikefatah]

Colin is all NYC! 💯

[@robomop9711]

It’s easy for us to say “adapt or die” to the taxi drivers, but many of us may soon be in their position with automation.

[@DurzoBlunts]

Being a business owner it is a fact of life you can fail. These guys are business owners.

[@TonyGore]

Same rule applies adapt or die. Automation is already here. Learn to program and build the robots.

[@BIGGEST5LATT]

Robo Mop they could just sign up for Uber lol

[@dumpsterstu4474]

+Tony Gore Why so Disney can have an automated army so we can't overthrow our corrupt government.

[@ibieiniid4240]

@@TonyGore "Learn to program and build the robots." Like, I don't understand how somebody can say this and seem to not even acknowledge the longer term reality. Such short-sightedness.

[@mainroad3494]

Mr New York Colin Quinn. The mayor of it all. Getting up close and personal with his people. He'll figure it all out one day just you wait and see

[@chrisginoc]

You know who I feel bad for? The cabbies who bought medallions at the peak of their value a year or two before Uber arrived. Talk about massive debt.

[@mrolafdotcom]

Uber and Lyft drivers aren't safe either. Ultimately a temporary service until autonomous vehicles becomes the norm. Pay a monthly fee like Netflix and a vehicle picks you up and drops you off. Years down the road essentially vehicle ownership will be dramatically low and parking lots and parking garages will be removed since there isn't a need for vehicles to park. You only need drop off and pick up lanes.

[@bltvd]

I don’t remember hearing about Blockbuster owners killing themselves over streaming video.

[@GuidelineSalt]

Bring back Tough Crowd! Our country needs it more than ever!

[@DisHappah]

When I was in New York in 2013, my friend Jabari who was a black guy flagged down a taxi and the taxi didn’t stop but kept going and picked up a white guy instead. I told him don’t trip and I hailed an Uber with my iPhone. Uber picked us up 2 minutes later and we were good to go. 2 years forward taxis would always try to pick him up when the competition against ride share became very fierce. Competition is great because it keeps them on their toes and will try harder to better themselves so they can make an honest living.

[@mpat100]

Blessings for all taxi drivers in New York

[@notreallyjerome2420]

MORE COLIN QUINN

[@allseeingeye93]

I don't think the government should interfere with Uber or Lyft taking passengers away from taxi drivers. However, I do think the city should buy back the medallions since they initially issued and sold them with the promise to protect their jobs from competition.

[@fightsports66]

Exactly. That would be the fairest thing.

[@blaze-mh9eg]

I agree

[@drigodamus]

Decades of treating people like cattle, being rude, ignoring fares, not going below 116th….consequences

[@LindsayKay]

As soon as he said that warm empathic HELLOOO I knew he was a New Yorker.

[@Juunkead]

Love me some Quinn

[@rawbertdogler]

lol colin quinn talks with his hands so much he had to stick them through the window when talking to the cab driver

[@RyokoAsakuraLastFan]

I don't feel bad for the cabs, they introduced the problems because of the medallions

[@pedromolina9558]

The yellow cabs fucked up by not partnering up with Uber. I remember so many times back in the day I tried catching a yellow cab and they never wanted to drive uptown. They fucked up their own business not Uber or Lyft.

[@KalElKryptonsFinest]

I don't see how cab drivers are more entitled to an overpaying consumer than real estate brokers who went broke in 2008.

[@JonathanMakhi]

Sergei no, we need you to drive us around China Town without charge.

[@poppaboppa6000]

Colin Quinn is the greatest comedian in the entire fucking universe

[@blazinpyromaniac]

People are screaming now, "you're not adapting to the technological times!" or "business is business!" And then when Uber and Lyft comes with automated driving and all of these Uber and Lyft drivers lose their jobs and livelihoods, then they'll really see that just cause it's technologically available, doesn't mean it's good for society as a whole.

[@hmackprotection1]

Good job Colin

[@jimmydiresta]

I can not feel sorry for the yellows. They need to roll with the changes. All the cabs are always dirty and too cramped and never smell pleasant. They always had a “take it I’d leave it” attitude if they stopped at all.

[@jimmydiresta]

I do believe the city should buy out the medallions.. a system they put in place. Let the city become all Uber and then regulate the entire lot again. 🤔

[@Khethatipet]

NYC is an oppressive hellhole. Their overreaching regulations locked cabs into an inability to compete, and this destroyed an industry. Would never live there.

[@gmb7200]

Bring back Tough Crowd!!!

[@pcb8059]

I drove taxi 10 years, weekend night shift, because it was the most profitable. I Quit when Uber came to my city and within months, literally doubled the supply of taxis in my city = half the wages for everyone.

[@WindFireAllThatKindOfThing]

See, you just don't hear about this with Coal Miners. They don't have to commit suicide. The job does it all by itself.

[@genekwagmyrsingh9433]

Bullshit. >Coal Miner's Grandson

[@WindFireAllThatKindOfThing]

@@genekwagmyrsingh9433 Black Lung isn't hereditary, my dude

[@pearlharbour3300]

colin quin...a rare breed of a gent...and looking healthy.

[@j565tyty]

Sorry, not sorry! Not in the least taxis were the WORST

[@sidraansar4319]

The city always had the say in how many taxi medallions can be put out per year which is why taxis have always been so limited, but they have no say in how many uber or lyft cars are out there since those are owned by private companies which is why it’s so hard for the taxi business to compete with the uber/lyft business.

[@JohnDoe-cd6ro]

I feel no remorse for taxis. I barely make any money and they charge an arm and a leg for going just a mere couple blocks. Uber and Lyft is a Godsend for people like myself.

[@annabmedvedeva]

I got robbed by yellow cab driver - 15 000 loss. what are you talking about? detectives are still looking after him. no luck so far

[@lithium23]

Uber has yet to make profit, they are just surviving on outside investments until taxi competitions are out of business then they can charge rates that actually make them profit, rates that if they attempted now would allow Taxi Cab drivers to compete.

[@rnqtn]

Just like you said, no ones gonna shed a tear just like Netflix killing BlockBuster. Although I feel bad for them trying to make a living, cheap and easy always wins.

[@casucasueq4479]

If Lyft & Uber didn't crush the cab industry now, self driven cars of the future would have.

[@alfredoalcantar8691]

Darnell Jackson. You’re right then what

[@deadacct1286]

The only time I took a cab was after my flight to California and it was $40 for a half hour drive. That’s absurd! Uber is the way to go.

[@chrisrosadonyc]

know how many times cabs wouldnt give me a lift* pun intended when i would try to take a cab from midtown to brooklyn??

[@molotov8328]

The thumbnail looks so happy though

[@SLATEcaps]

Colin is top 5 imo.

[@bazx7786]

I’m Colin. SILENCE Alright 🤣

[@groovydon]

Now the TLC plate price is going up, due to new law passed by the city council which states that for one year DMV won’t issue new TLC plate and new drivers who want to drive for Uber/Taxi have to for. Year to apply for the license. No body knows what’s going to happen near year. Right now TLC plate is like cab medallion.

[@mattmurray517]

Holy Shit Colin!!

[@Z3r0Sk83r]

What a thumbnail & title combo.

[@scorpiusjones5436]

The Netflix comparison is apt. Change can suck for some, but it's used more often for a reason.