Shame on DC Taxi Drivers
This morning, a large percentage DC independent taxi drivers started a 24-hour strike, on one of the busiest nights for bar hoping - Halloween.
The issue - the new fare system that will replace the current confusing zone pricing system and change to a much needed time and distance pricing system. The new system which uses a taxi meter with GPS technology, is similar to systems used in many major cities and in suburban Virginia and Maryland cabs as well.
The current cab rates for traveling around the eight zones and 23 sub-zones start at $6.50 for a one zone trip and top out at $18.90. For contrast, the basic fare in NYC is only $2.50 with each 1/5 mile costing riders $0.40.
The biggest gripes from riders points of view are that a ride of just a few blocks, can take the fare to $8.80 if it happens to cross a zone boundary. Additionally tourists (and locals) often feel that drivers claim more zones were crossed and jack up the fares. 
Drivers are concerned about job security and possible future limitations in the number of cab permits. Drivers report that the new fare system will impact their ability to earn a living wage, with a lower initial fare. Even though the current $6.50 non-rush hour fare is one of the nation’s highest basic fare to enter a cab.
There is also the issues that drivers may now have to claim all their their fares on their tax returns, and that cab companies would be able to track driver’s miles, fares and hours worked, something that’s not stated publicly by driver’s groups, but is expressed as an issue.
From the consumer’s point of view, the existing system allows riders not familiar with the fare system to be easily overcharged by unscrupulous drivers or at a minimum, get taken advantage of on short rides simply because a rider doesn’t know that they could save a couple bucks by simply crossing the street.
Hopefully, the City and Mayor will not back down and keep the plans to move to a more fair and understandable rate system.
The Halloween SoberRide free cab ride program for drivers in the DC metro area that have partied a bit too much and are alcohol-impaired, is reported to not expect any major issues due to lack of cabs this evening. The free rides are available from 8:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. and have a $50 maximum limit.
The number for the free program is 1-800-200-TAXI.
Images - flyer from CityDesk Blogs, photos - Flickr
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7 Comments
I have to say, $6.50 is quite a bit for a base rate! And if you don’t know the zone structure, you can get totally messed over.
London may be expensive (starting fare is £2, about $4), but all the black cabs have meters that are clearly visible, and the fare cards are posted. (Though not painted on the outside… Londoners would probably see that as quite unseemly!)
I can’t see why cab drivers would be picketing this… every major city does this, and it works!
As like most issues…it’s about the $$$.
DC taxi drivers are worse than New York City’s drivers.
Recently, DC drivers have picked up the habit of picking up more than 1 customer at a time. The first passenger gets into the cab, and somewhere along the route, picks up another one. Sometimes they’ll have the first passenger sit in the back, behind tinted windows, and now only the second passenger has gotten in the cab, would he realize that there’s already someone else in there.
SAY NO TO THIS PRACTICE.
Yes, DC cabbies can legally pick up a second fare heading in the same direction, but the original rider can request to ride alone. Most cabbies will comply.
When sharing, neither rider gets a discount, so both passengers pay full fares. Kind of unfiar. I always ask for a discount when they mention picking someone else up.
Check out my post on DC cabs - http://www.thedctraveler.com/getting-around-dc-%e2%80%93-part-6-%e2%80%93-traveling-by-taxi/
Mayor Fenty’s cab fares are higher than rates in New York and other major cities. Sign this petition demanding fair cab rates for DC: http://go.care2.com/11640639
Right now we have a chance to change that. Fenty’s proposed rates are not final, and we still have a few days to participate in a public comment period to demand a lower drop rate fare.
I want to mention that the above petition has an option to opt-out if you don’t want additinal info.
But you need to uncheck the box.
[...] much emotion, a Halloween strike by cab drivers and claims by cabbies the earth might spin off its axis if cab fares are set too low, the DC [...]