October 29, 2007
Taxi Driver Strike Planned for Wednesday
There seems to be some healthy skepticism about the planned taxicab driver strike on Wednesday, which is set to commence at 6 a.m. on Halloween morning and last for 24 hours. How many drivers will really strike? Could it actually change Mayor Adrian Fenty's mind about switching to time and distance meters? Is the fact that it's planned for Halloween going to impact the number of drunk drivers out on the road?
If D.C. taxi driver Tesfamariame Adhanom, 38, is right, it'll be bigger than you might think. Adhanom, who plans to participate in the work stoppage on Wednesday, says that he thinks at the very least, all of the city's Ethiopian drivers will observe the strike out of solidarity with each other.
"I have to respect my partners," Adhanom said. "There has been an announcement on the Ethiopian language radio, and there was a pamphlet, and 60 percent of the drivers are Ethiopian and will do it."
The D.C. Taxicab Commission doesn't keep ethnicity figures, but the Washington Post has estimated that anywhere from 20 to 50 percent of the city's cab drivers are in fact Ethiopian. Organizers of the strike are estimating that as many as half of the city's 7,500 drivers will not work on Wednesday.
Photo by p2wy
Adhanom, who lives in Arlington, said he doesn't believe the strike will change Mayor Fenty's mind, and even though he plans to participate in it, he also supports the change to meters.
"Most drivers are working honestly, but a lot of drivers cheat people," he said. "A few cheaters spoil the sentiment of the people."
A 12-hour strike in 2004 against Mayor Anthony Williams' proposal to dissolve the D.C. Taxicab Commission was effective in halting that change.
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Whatever cabbie picks me up on Wednesday will be getting a fat tip. Any cabbie not working Halloween night is missing out on serious cash.
As George W. Bush would say: "Bring it on!"
These guys need to grow up and face the music. Next improvement for the DC cabs is to get them cleaned and have regular inspections. Seriously some of the cabs I have been in feel like moving trash cans.
Commencing at 6 a.m. on the morning after Halloween and lasting for 24 hours, I will stage a giving-money-to-cabbies strike.
The effect of having more drunk drivers on the road will be offset by the taxi strike, as a good many of these cabbies are more dangerous behind the wheel than some kid with a dozen beers in him or her.
To the taxi drivers of DC, I say: 'BRING IT ON'.
Perhaps they should use the day off to cook their books for the 2007 tax season.
I don't do Halloween, so I think I'll stay in and rent "DC Cab" instead.
The day before the Halloween cabbie strike (or some day after their strike), people might consider not tipping for cab rides, saying they're doing so in support of the new meter system. I know that it's fairly rude not to tip, but at least it's better than shorting the drivers altogether. And it'd make a statement that cab riders support the meter system.
I don't do Halloween, so I think I'll stay in and rent "DC Cab" instead.
Trust me, don't waste your time. I was fooled into renting it, but I think it was the worst move I've ever seen. I gave up on it about 20 minutes in.
Does this affect cabs in the suburbs, or the MD/VA cabbies who drive in the city?
DC CAB IS THE BEST.MOVIE.EVER!!!
My brothers and I used to watch it every day when we were kids. We memorized every line! How can you go wrong with a cast that includes Mr. T and a cameo by Irene Cara?
I only wish the company existed in real life.
I have nothing but contemp for DC cabbies, which they have earned. They refuse to pick up any of my black friends, lie about where the zone lines are, don't take care of their equipment, constantly talk on their cell phones, cut me off when I'm driving more than other drivers, and usually try to run me down whenever I'm biking. There's way too many cabs in relation to the number of rides they actually provide, they clog the streets as a result. They avoid paying taxes which would repay the costs they put on the city by taking only cash and under-reporting.
Both the people and the equipment in DC cabs has HUGE room for improvement, and there's no strike that will convice me that progress isn't long overdue.
I'm personally convinced that at least 1/3 to 1/2 of the trip served by cabs would be better served by Pedicabs than motorcabs. That would clear up a lot of the smog that cabs contribute to, and save everyone a lot of money.
Residents are bracing for what police and city officials estimate will be an unprecedented number of Harry Potter-related drunk driving charges.
Can you call an out of district cab to pick you up in DC? Because that would solve this problem right quick. Plus it would be embarrassing for the DC drivers to watch the other ones steal their business.
I bet you can't though.
I've been dealing with the taxis in DC for the last 4 years. I can't tell you how many times they've tried to charge me outrageous fares for short trips - especially when I'm with out of town guests who are asking about the monuments, etc. I'm looking forward to finally knowing what my charges truly should be.
My last trip in a DC cab was with an out of town friend. I knew we had not left the "zone" and I gave the cab a $20 and was waiting for my change. When I finally asked for it, he said, "people would give me $20 for that ride." I said that I knew we had not left the zone and I wanted my change. He said that he would give me $5 back. Not wanting to get in an argument, I just finally agreed. Being a single woman in this city and taking cabs is scary and I'm certain that I'm almost always overcharged (and I tip really good to top it off). The last time I was actually fairly charged, I gave the cab driver a 50% tip - just because I was grateful for his honesty.
I have had cab drivers ask me if I wanted sexual favors too (this has happened on 3 occassions now)which resulted in me asking to be let off several blocks away from my house and walking home in the dark, feeling more safe to walk alone than be in a cab...if you're a female in DC - I'd recommend not taking a cab alone. I now like using car services if I can predict when I'm going to need a ride.
Hooray to the Mayor for doing away with the zone system. I hope it sticks.