Uber just announced recently that it’s going to add a $2 extra surcharge for riders who use its application to book a yellow(or green) New York City taxi. New York users now have the option of hailing a yellow cab using Uber’s app, or hailing one of Uber’s black cars or SUVs.

GigaOm received an e-mail that’s being sent to UberT customers, and Uber says that the surcharge is “added to UberT trips on behalf of yellow and boro (the green taxis) taxi drivers who use the Uber platform.” This might just entice Uber riders to take UberX instead of riding a taxi. Uber even advertises UberX in the e-mail, saying that the rates are “cheaper than an NYC taxi.”

Regardless of the extra surcharge you’ll still need to pay your taxi driver directly. UberT just hails the cab for you, as if the driver was working for Uber.

Email sent to GigaOm:

Thanks for riding UberT. Starting today, December 25, all completed UberT trips will be subject to a $2 booking fee. This fee is a small charge added to uberT trips on behalf of yellow and boro taxi drivers who utilize the Uber platform. The fee will be collected through the app and billed to the card on file at the end of your ride. You will continue to pay the metered fare directly to your driver.

We want to take this opportunity to introduce uberX, the low-cost Uber. Cars on uberX are hybrids or mid-range vehicles in a variety of colors, and with rates cheaper than an NYC taxi, there’s no better way to get around! For more information, visit our city page here.

Feel free to contact us with any questions at [email protected]

Uber on,

Team Uber NYC

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