Russell Robertson of Hybrid Product Design + Development is one of the presenters at tomorrow night’s Bi-Fold III: GRN. Mr. Robertson will be discussing the future of urban transportation, specifically, the future of taxis in NYC.

In 2005 Russell participated in a concept workshop with the Design Trust for Public Space to create a new mini module hybrid taxi. Russell’s lightweight design keeps the checker taxi iconography intact, while adding heavy duty tires, more glass for panoramic views, wheelchair entrance, and wireless functionality for payment and route-finding. You could also hail one of these cabs with your cellphone.

Reducing the output of taxis would significantly cut back on automotive pollution in NYC. NYC’s approximately 13,000 taxis never stop running. They consume all day long.

To get an idea of Russell’s work before he and Marci Zaroff from Under the Canopy present at Bi-Fold III: GRN, watch a video of his presentation of the mini module hybrid taxi: “Channeling the Checker.” If you’ve got any taxi horror stories, or ideas for how to make NYC transit more efficient and comfortable, send us your comments. We’ll pass them along.