[zero_intp]

My brother was driving his beater as an unlicenced hack in Baltimore for a year. I observed a number of issues.

I think a barrier between the passenger and the cabbie is generally good.

I think a meter system or a zone system that is externally verifiable is better than some dude's cell phone.

After you spend 40-60 hours in one week schlepping people in your un-designed hack, an understanding will form of why modern cabs have fairly universal accoutrements.

[lostnet]

Greater Boston is mostly non-barrier cabs, but I don't recall the specifics for Boston proper vs Cambridge, etc.

I was referring to the idea that the medallion in Boston is a safety feature rather than a monopoly piece.