February 5, 2008
Next Taxi Strike Set for Primary Election Day
Assessments of the effectiveness of Monday's first rolling taxi strike are decidedly mixed. The Post takes a look at how limousine drivers took advantage of the opportunity to charge $20 for a one-zone fare yesterday morning. The Examiner offers just a quick recap before quoting Ward 1 Council member Jim Graham as seeming to side almost completely with the cabbies.
Our own observations tell us that it was difficult to find a taxicab yesterday morning, but by the afternoon, more and more cabs were available, and by the evening rush hour, well before the 12-hour strike was set to end at 7 p.m., downtown streets looked close to business as usual. Many cab drivers appear to be willing to strike part-time, but it seems, at least based on what we saw, that many others weren't willing to give up an entire day of pay to argue about time and distance meters. Whether subsequent strikes in the following weeks will see cab driver resolve falter even more remains to be seen, but the Post quotes one sage cabbie admitting that meters are "inevitable."
So what was your experience yesterday, both in the morning and the evening? Let us know in comments, and remember that next week, cab drivers are supposed to strike on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. -- which is also the same day as the presidential primary election here in the District.
Photo by arjdmassie
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Well, at least most of us live relatively close to our polling sites...
i noticed that there were far too many taxis on the roads yesterday. i was looking forward to 66% less traffic when walking to the metro.
Jim Graham is such an ass. The fare structure is higher than most major cities. Let Fenty look after the taxis and Jim can focus on his “Increased Consumer Information for the Sale of Eggs Act” bill or other such useful endeavors.
Of course Jim doesn’t need to worry about taking a cab – he can drive his little bug where ever he wants and park in places for free that the rest of us would be ticketed or towed. I have seen this many times in Adams Morgan.
I have taken a few cabs in the past several months. I often strike up a conversation with the driver about the meters.
Most of the cabbies I talked to were in favor of meters, as they feel that passengers will have more confidence in them if they have a meter. Also, drivers will be paid for sitting in traffic during rush hour, which seems more fair.
Only one complained, but he was complaining more about the general state of being a cab driver and the whole taxi system (licensing, insurance, etc.)
Since I don't rely on cabs and drive within DC to and from work, I actually liked the taxi strike. My morning commute had much less chaos on the roads, and much lighter traffic.
As far as cabbie paranoia that meters are the first step toward greater regulation, all I can say is about time! I am convinced that at least half the traffic problems in DC (and 90% of them in Dupont/Adams Morgan/Cleveland Park) are the result of horrendous driving/irregular stopping by DC cabbies.
The DC gov't needs to step up and create a rigorous licensing program, a rigorous oversight program, and a taxi comission that does more than just sit on its a**.
Wait, you live in DC and drive to work? Better watch out for the bike riders. If they find you they're going to beat you down with they're bike locks!!!!
Damn...If I'm going to make a joke, I should at least know the difference between they're and their...me = stooopid
If the cab strikes become serious Fenty should allow Maryland and Virginia cabs to work in DC. In fact, he should threaten to make that the case for a week after each cabbie strike.
Our new meter structure is pretty similar to what cabbies in NYC make. Except in NYC they have to pay over $100,000 for a cab medallion before they can even begin. Plus, they have to have a reasonably decent vehicle, plus pass a real taxi test.
And, of course, the cost of living in the NYC area is considerably higher than here in DC.
Yet DC cabbies claim they can't possibly get by on what NYC cabbies make.
I smell some dishonesty here.
I'm not sure if I see the point of the strikes. Are the cab drivers hoping that citizens will be so upset with the difficulty in finding a cab that they will complain to City Council and the Mayor? Are they hoping that the Mayor will change his mind after he sees how effective the strikes are? Are they just trying to show some form of solidarity?
Because to me it just looks like the cab drivers are losing money as we move closer to what now seems inevitable.
Jim Graham is against meters? What's up with that?
The cabbies are fighting a losing effort. The strikes are not going to stop meters. And given that it appeared that most of the strikers gave up halfway during the day, it doesn't look like it was very effective. On to meters!
If the cab strikes become serious Fenty should allow Maryland and Virginia cabs to work in DC. In fact, he should threaten to make that the case for a week after each cabbie strike.
I LIKE that idea.
If the cab strikes become serious Fenty should allow Maryland and Virginia cabs to work in DC. In fact, he should threaten to make that the case for a week after each cabbie strike.
I LIKE that idea.
Jim Graham is against meters? What's up with that?
Taxi meters killed his parents and raped his livestock. True story.
I can't wait until the gun ban is overturned. Then I can get a ride any time and any place I want. Certainly will make the slug line more entertaining.
The fare structure is higher than most major cities.
People keep saying that; I don't know why.
According to the taxi commission's meter studies, the median taxi trip in DC runs 2.8 miles, with 5 minutes spent waiting in traffic. This trip would cost:
$11.51 in Los Angeles
$10.95 in San Francisco
$10.90 in Miami
$10.70 in New York (4PM to 8PM weekdays)
$10.40 in Seattle (1)(2)
$10.35 in Boston
$10.20 in New York (8PM to 6AM)
$10.08 in Philadelphia (2)
$9.75 in Atlanta (1)
$9.70 in New York (6AM to 4PM, 4PM to 8PM weekends)
$9.25 in Chicago (1)
$8.25 in Washington (2)
Note (1): There are extra passenger charges in Seattle ($0.50), Atlanta ($2.00) and Chicago ($1.50), which are not taken into account above.
Note (2): There are temporary gasoline surcharges in effect in Seattle ($1.00), Philadelphia ($0.85) and Washington ($1.00), which are not taken into account above since they're temporary and since I don't know for sure that the other cities don't have or won't adopt similar surcharges.
I can see saying the Mayor's proposed fares are appropriate, and I can even see saying they're too high, but I don't see how you can say they're high compared with other cities.
I also had a much more pleasant commute yesterday. Cabbies, please strike every weekday morning and evening.
"If the cab strikes become serious Fenty should allow Maryland and Virginia cabs to work in DC. "
Does the Mayor have this authority?
Our new meter structure is pretty similar to what cabbies in NYC make. Except in NYC they have to pay over $100,000 for a cab medallion before they can even begin. Plus, they have to have a reasonably decent vehicle, plus pass a real taxi test.
New York cab drivers usually don't own their own cab because they can't afford the medallion (which incidentally is up to almost a quarter of a million dollars), so the "reasonably decent vehicle" is one they lease from a company which can afford the medallion and thus has access to a good deal of capital (or at very least can borrow against the medallion if need be).
New York cab drivers have a pretty tough lot. The average cab driver is said to make around $25,000 to $30,000 per year; they often qualify for Medicaid. That might go a little further here, but I have no problem understanding why DC cabbies are in no hurry to emulate the New York model.
Getting a taxi in Adams Morgan yesterday morning and Georgetown yesterday afternoon was near impossible, each one had one in it and many weren't even picking up fares...just driving.
Although I know Jim Graham is a pretty consistent study in contradictions, this one really doesn't make sense. Ward 1 residents are consistently zone system losers, as several lines (U St/Florida in particular, Connecticut not too far away) run straight through the ward.
Good idea on VA & MD cabs, although the lack of traffic is nice for pedestrians, metrobus, and bikers alike.
'cab drivers are supposed to strike on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. -- which is also the same day as the presidential primary election'
Nice. A meaningful election here in DC and now these freedom hating cabbies are against us. Cabbies or commies?
Who would actually care enough about voting in DC to take a cab?
@monkey: guffaw!
@cminus: it's interesting that the article you link to is about how NY cabbies are protesting the installation of GPS units because they would make it harder to hide income. The article goes on to say that "reporting" higher salaries could push them over the limit for Medicaid eligibility. Note that it's the "reporting" of income that's the problem that might push them over the limit, not the actual "earning" of that income.