Image: Rappler

CEBU, Philippines – It was unusual for motorcycle taxi driver Eric Arnival to wait 30 minutes before getting booked to ferry commuters in Cebu City on Wednesday, March 18.

For him and fellow driver Jobert del Servandil, bookings typically took only a few minutes before they had to return to the road, finish the journey, and repeat the same process for a day’s worth of work.

According to them, their earnings really depended on the number of ride bookings they could accomplish. If there were only a few, the best they could earn in a day was less than P1,000.

Following the second oil price hike on Tuesday, March 17, due to the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran, motorcycle drivers-for-hire braced for impact, specifically in the form of reduced earnings.

Source: Rappler

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Lisa Daglian, Executive Director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, speaking at IATR’s 37th Annual Conference in Ft. Lauderdale

Ridership growth on the New York City Subway more than doubled in 2025 from 2024, the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC) found in a new report released today entitled: Ridership Returns: Mapping Post-Congestion Pricing Ridership Trends. Largely driven by the implementation of the Congestion Relief program, almost 93 million more subway trips were taken in 2025 than in 2024, bringing overall ridership to 1.3 billion. This 7.7% rider increase was up from 3.7% in 2024, showing a strong bounce back a year after slowing post-pandemic growth. 

Looking station-by-station at ridership trends across the city, PCAC identified and mapped neighborhoods and subway stations where growth far outpaced the average, and examined both overall ridership trends and those in the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ), as defined by the area below 60th Street in Manhattan. The report also found that weekend ridership growth continued to outpace weekday ridership, especially outside Manhattan. The rider advocacy group also makes a number of recommendations for data-driven service improvements the MTA should consider implementing as ridership growth continues.

“Our rider councils have long wondered how the implementation of the Congestion Pricing would impact ridership around New York City,” said Brian Fritsch, Associate Director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA. “While it’s not possible to ascribe all the ridership increases last year to the start of the program, clear trends have emerged that show the program’s influence on ridership increases, which we detail. We hope our report illuminates yet another aspect of the congestion pricing program that has positive implications for the MTA and New York City, and hope the agency will continue to support the ever-increasing number of frequent riders through enhanced fare incentives and programs that continue to make transit the most affordable way to get around our city and region. Above all: Congestion Pricing is working!”

Created by the New York State Legislature in 1981, the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC) represents transit and commuter rail riders in the 12-county MTA region. PCAC regularly researches issues, recommends viable solutions, and advocates on behalf of the region’s subway, bus and Staten Island Railway riders, and Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad commuters through its three rider councils – the Long Island Rail Road Commuter Council (LIRRCC), the Metro-North Railroad Commuter Council (MNRCC), and the New York City Transit Riders Council (NYCTRC). These councils and their non-voting MTA Board members were created to serve as the official independent voice for users of the MTA system in the development and implementation of policy, and to hold the MTA Board and management accountable to riders.

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The Great EV Pullback: All the Obstacles, Cancellations, and Delays

The auto industry bet big on electric vehicles, but now those ambitious goals are falling apart. Demand was already slowing down when Donald Trump took office and took an ax to pro-EV policy: the elimination of the federal EV tax credit, kneecapping clean energy, and bulldozing emissions rules.

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State DOTs Should Spend Their Safety Money on Safety or Hand It Over to Locals

This Congress is focused on how federal dollars go out the door in the next surface transportation reauthorization, and it looks like states might win big time. But with a track record like theirs, why shouldn’t Congress consider who else might use their money better?

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A New Generation of Digital Taxi Ads Is Coming to Las Vegas

Las Vegas has introduced a novel advertising method that turns taxis into moving, multi-screen advertising platforms designed to grab attention in a city already known for sensory overload. Competing with Vegas’ towering LED facades and immersive displays will be a perfect proving ground for this new advertising approach.

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Why Cycling Is Gaining Ground in Canada’s Big Cities As Car Ownership Declines

Cycling is growing in relevance as an affordable, healthy, and sustainable option. National Statistics Canada data shows that active transportation — walking or biking — accounted for about six per cent of commutes in 2024, and while newer figures show a slight dip from pre‑pandemic levels, the share of Canadians choosing these modes is rising again as cities invest in infrastructure and riders demand safer streets.

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Canada to Spend $183M on Toronto’s Infrastructure, Transit

The federal government announced Thursday it would spend $183 million in Toronto’s 2025-26 fiscal year for infrastructure and transit projects.

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Tourism Official Says There Will Be ‘Wait-and-See’ Approach on Impact of Muskoka Airport-Air Canada Bus Service

James Murphy, the chief executive officer for Explorer’s Edge said it would be difficult at this point to gauge what the response will be for the new service, which will be starting June 15, and will offer two daily round-trip journeys between Muskoka Airport and Toronto Pearson Airport to Air Canada customers.

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Tesla Delays FSD Approval in Europe Again, Now Expects April 10

Tesla’s European arm announced that it has completed all vehicle testing for Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in the Netherlands — but the expected approval date has slipped yet again, from March 20 to April 10.

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Portugal: Taxi Drivers “Reject Insufficient Fuel Subsidies”

Portugal’s federation of taxi drivers (FPT) has said that government subsidies intended to mitigate the rise in fuel prices are “insufficient”, given the increases expected next week. In a statement, the body led by Carlos Silva dubs government support “insufficient” and calls for structural measures for the sector.

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Taxi Industry Voices Urge Fresh Financial Backing As London Taxi Numbers Keep Falling a Year After Mayor’s Action Plan Released

27 March 2026 marks one year since the publication of the Taxi and PHV Action Plan, which set out ambitions to support the capital’s taxi and private hire industries. The plan described taxis as a vital part of London’s transport network and included a commitment to halt the decline in black cab numbers. Since then, however, licensed taxi numbers have continued to fall.

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Taxi Drivers Wait in Long Fuel Lines As Cuba's Economic Crisis Worsens

As Cuba's economic crisis worsens, taxi cab drivers are being forced to wait in long lines for fuel and tensions are growing between shoppers buying groceries.

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Thailand: Fuel Shortage Thinning Suvarnabhumi Taxi Ranks

A fuel shortage is severely disrupting taxi services at Suvarnabhumi Airport, with large SUV taxis gradually suspending operations and only about 2,500 vehicles currently in active service, out of a fleet estimated at more than 5,000, operators say.

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Singapore Taxi Fare Increase for Tourists Sparks Travel Budget Shift As Global Fuel Prices Push Transport Costs Higher Across the City-State

Singapore is experiencing a noticeable rise in taxi fares, and international visitors are feeling the change immediately. The increase is mainly affecting tourists who depend on taxis for airport transfers, hotel commutes, and city sightseeing. With Singapore remaining one of Asia’s most visited destinations, even small fare adjustments have a visible impact on travel budgets.

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Image: Belfast Media

The Department for Infrastructure has launched a public consultation to seek feedback on the current Experimental Traffic Control Scheme which permits taxis to use some bus lanes in Belfast city centre.

The ongoing Experimental Scheme will also be extended for a further six months to enable departmental officials to monitor the effectiveness of the scheme since the reopening of Durham Street. 

A DfI spokesperson said: “As the Experimental Scheme permitting taxis to use some city centre bus lanes has been in place for a period of time, we are keen to hear views from interested parties. The public consultation now open will provide road users and key stakeholders with the opportunity to express their views and make representations for the Department to consider in our future decision-making on this issue. The Department will also continue to monitor the effectiveness of the scheme and the impact on road users.

“An online survey is available at: Taxis in bus lane Citizen Space survey and we encourage people to respond by 5pm on Wednesday 10 June 2026.”

Source: BelfastMedia

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