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A dollar van (also known as commuter van or jitney) is a privately owned transportation vehicle used to carry passengers. Dollar vans typically operate in neighborhoods within a city, such as New York
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
, that are under-served by public mass transit or taxis. Some of the dollar vans in Queens are licensed and regulated, while others operate illegally without licenses. Passengers may board them at designated stops along their route or hail them as share taxi
Share taxi

A share taxi is a mode of transport that falls between private transport and conventional bus transport, often with a fixed or semi-fixed route, but with the added convenience of stopping anywhere to pick or drop passengers and not having fixed time schedules....
s (although the latter practice may be technically illegal).






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A dollar van (also known as commuter van or jitney) is a privately owned transportation vehicle used to carry passengers. Dollar vans typically operate in neighborhoods within a city, such as New York
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
, that are under-served by public mass transit or taxis. Some of the dollar vans in Queens are licensed and regulated, while others operate illegally without licenses. Passengers may board them at designated stops along their route or hail them as share taxi
Share taxi

A share taxi is a mode of transport that falls between private transport and conventional bus transport, often with a fixed or semi-fixed route, but with the added convenience of stopping anywhere to pick or drop passengers and not having fixed time schedules....
s (although the latter practice may be technically illegal). The name comes from the fact that it would only cost about one dollar or so to ride with such transit. Dollar vans are primarily owned and used by inner-city African/Caribbean American, Latino, and Asian American populations. The vehicles used range from 15-seat Ford Econoline
Ford E-Series

The Ford E-Series, formerly known as the "Econoline" or "Club Wagon", is a line of Full size van vans and truck chassis from the Ford Motor Company....
s to 29-seat minibus
Minibus

A minibus or minicoach is a passenger carrying motor vehicle that is designed to carry more people than a minivan, but fewer people than a full-size bus....
es.

During periods when even limited public mass transit is unavailable, such as the January 2005 Green Bus Lines
Green Bus Lines

Green Bus Lines was a bus company in New York City, United States, run by Mr. Jerome Cooper, operating local service in Queens and express service to Manhattan until January 9, 2006, when the MTA Bus Company took over its routes....
 and Command Bus Company
Command Bus Company

The Command Bus Company was a bus company in New York City, United States, operating local service in Brooklyn and express service to Manhattan until December 5, 2005, when the MTA Bus Company took over its routes....
 strike or the December 2005 New York City transit strike
2005 New York City transit strike

The 2005 New York City transit strike was a strike action in New York City called by the Transport Workers Union of America . Negotiation for a new contract with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority broke down over retirement, pension, and wage increases....
, dollar vans may become the only feasible method of transportation for many commuters. Consequently, city governments may pass legislation to deter price gouging
Price gouging

Price gouging is a pejorative term for a seller pricing much higher than is considered reasonable or fair. In precise, legal usage, it is the name of a felony that applies in some of the United States only during civil emergencies....
 in such situations.

See also

  • Share taxi
    Share taxi

    A share taxi is a mode of transport that falls between private transport and conventional bus transport, often with a fixed or semi-fixed route, but with the added convenience of stopping anywhere to pick or drop passengers and not having fixed time schedules....
  • Transportation in New York City
    Transportation in New York City

    The transportation system of New York City is a cooperation of complex systems of infrastructure. New York City, being the largest city in the United States, has a transportation system which includes the New York City Subway, measured by track mileage; the world's first mechanically ventilated vehicular tunnel, and an Roosevelt Island Tramw...


External links

  • , Queens Chronicle, Jan. 20, 2005 (dollar van price gouging during Jan. 2005 strike).
  • , Queens Chronicle, Dec. 22, 2005 (dollar van use during Dec. 2005 strike).
  • , Queens Chronicle, Apr. 6, 2006.