Commuter van drivers say unaffordable insurance isn’t insurance at all.
Dozens of commuter van drivers joined with supporters and elected officials outside of One State Street Plaza on June 8, where they plead for assistance for those locals who provide travel to and from transportation deserts, helping some of the community’s most vulnerable residents, and are now stuck paying for a hefty insurance hike.
Commuter vans typically travel along bus routes, charging customers less than the price of a MetroCard to transport them to the nearest train station or bus stop. Historically, these vans date back to the 1980 transit strike in New York City, and have since found a niche within transportation-starved neighborhoods. For those living in the outer boroughs, public transportation can be hard to access — especially with limited bus schedules and during inclement weather