In 1970, Joni Mitchell sang in her smash hit song ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ that they ‘took all the trees and put them in a tree museum and they charged the people a dollar and a half just to see em’. Now, nearly 40 years on, it appears that the powers-that-be in the Big Apple have finally listened to her message.

New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced that the famous fleet of yellow taxis will soon be turning green - albeit in engineering only, not in colour! The fleet will be adding around 300 hybrid cars a month with the aim being to phase out the non-hybrid cars.

Bloomberg initially made the promise to turn the taxis green in his election campaign. Now it seems he’s ready to back up his words.

The ambitious goal is to make all New York City taxis hybrids by October 01. The only exemptions to the target will be those that have special facilities for the handicapped. Nissan, General Motors and Ford will be supplying the vehicles.