July 31, 2007
Go Home Already: Too Little, Too Late
>> "A public meeting on taxicab meters scheduled for Wednesday has been canceled, apparently because too many people were interested in attending and the D.C. Taxicab Commission couldn't guarantee them parking." [Examiner]
>> A former escort linked to embattled Sen. David Vitter is set to testify that alleged D.C. Madam Deborah Jeane Palfrey's escort service provided illegal prostitution. [WTOP]
>> Libertarian billionaire Robert Levy would like to give all D.C. residents a handgun. Or four. [Newsweek]
>> A Washington Social Club song was featured on Entourage. [Reliable Source]
Photo by lifeinthedistrict
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About all I can say about the incredible clusterf*ck that is the DC cab commission is the more I think about it the madder I get.
I refuse to take cabs in DC until they get meters. It's the most outrage I can muster, but it probably doesn't make any difference.
Does anyone know if it would be possible to organize a ballot referendum to change whatever part of the city code authorizes the zone system to make cabs use meters?
Crap, I thought you meant he was actually going to give us free guns if the ban was repealed. I'm not going to turn down a free gun, those things are expensive.
So many revelations here. The DC cab commission is a corrupt instituition? Escort services provide prostitution? Libertarians stray from civil liberty advocacy into gun nut land? I'm just shocked.
That taxi story is beyond ridiculous. They couldn't guarantee them parking?! In a building easily reachable by just about every single Metrorail and Bus line? Or by taxi for that matter.
I have to ask, how the hell did were they going to "guarantee" parking had not so many people showed up?
God, what a horrible bunch of corrupt jackasses they are.
The only thing this photo needs is a flying pig. Shine on, you crazy diamond.
Yeah. I wish Wilbur was here.
wait... that entourage/washington social club thing happened on Sunday and was reported elsewhere beforehand on Friday.
are you guys still a blog or do you report on stuff as it gets covered in the print edition of the Washington Post?
METERS!
Because as a Virginian I am tired of taking cabs for all of 2 miles to Arlington and having to pay upwards of $10.
And please don't hate on my because I don't live in the city. You can't vote.
9:49- How much do you pay for the reverse trip with the Red Top meter? 10 bucks to go from DC to Arlington doesn't seem that unreasonable to me (unless you're talking about going from Georgetown to Rosslyn, but seriously, you ought to walk that one).
$12 to get to U St. from Arlington. That is reasonable. But it's pretty hard to find out what expected rates out of DC are, so things vary a lot and it's difficult to dispute a fare without facts.
Note that if I'm in Georgetown and getting home by myself I take a cab to Rosslyn because I am female and sensible enough not to walk home alone late at night.
-9:49, also Guest #5
Meters in DC cabs is a good first step. What we really need is a medallion system, like NYC has. And real inspection and rules. It's a privilege and a major committment to drive a cab in NY. Here we view it as a make-work program for recent immigrants and those that can't find other work. And it shows.
Cabs are an integral part of the public transit system. Yet you'd never know it by how we do cabs in DC. I consistenly see junk-ass death trap cabs, driven by people that literally can't find the Capitol building, won't even buy a $10 DC map, and apparently don't feel a need to ever clean their vehicles.
But if you happen to be lucky enough to get one of the old black cabbies - one that's been driving in DC for decades - definitely take the time to chat them up. They will tell you really interesting things about the city that you'll probably hear nowhere else. And usually they have a really good (if filthy) sense of humor.
How many hack inspectors are there in DC? I remember Williams making a big deal about how his adminstration doubled the number of inspectors...from 4 to 8. To handle ALL of DC. The minute those meters are installed, you can bet cabbies are going to be rigging them to charge more, or pay someone to do it for them.
Re: Taxi meeting canceled for lack of parking --
Next: A drive-in meeting at RFK parking lot. Please refrain from honking your horn until we have introduced all the speakers.
I agree about the conditions of cabs in DC, they really are bad.
DC, where NYC cabs go to die.
That's actually true. More than one cabbie has told me that we get old crappy worn out cabs from other cities, including NYC.