Dollar vans in the New York metropolitan area

In the New York metropolitan area, dollar vans are a form of semi-formal public transportation. Dollar vans serve major corridors in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx that lack adequate subway and bus service. A variant of the dollar van, the , also serves areas in eastern New Jersey and transports them to Manhattan.

Dollar vans started operating after the 1980 New York City transit strike, when all transit operated by New York City Transit Authority was stopped. Residents of transit-deprived parts of New York City started a share taxi service with minibuses and their own private vehicles. The fare on each of these share taxis was one dollar. Even after the strike ended, share taxis continued to operate, evolving into higher-capacity "dollar vans" with seats for up to 13 people. During the 2005 New York City transit strike, dollar vans were also used.

Dollar vans and other jitneys mainly serve low-income, immigrant communities that lack sufficient bus and subway service. Although dollar vans are often dependably punctual and frequent, they often do not have any websites, brochures, stops, or customer service booths. Most riders become familiar with dollar vans either by word of mouth or by actually seeing the vans in public. The vans can pick up and drop off anywhere along a route, and payment is made at the end of a trip. During periods when even limited public mass transit is unavailable, such as the January 2005 Green Bus Lines and Command Bus Company strike or the December 2005 transit strike, dollar vans may become the only feasible method of transportation for many commuters. In such situations, city governments may pass legislation to deter price gouging. However, many such vans are low-priced anyway and are cheaper than the subway and bus.

...
Wikipedia