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Thanks to the new meters, many of the complaints about cabs in D.C. have been erased: at least there's no debate about the fare. However, that doesn't mean it's all hunky-dory. The other day, I was taking a cab from Columbia Heights to downtown, and the cab was a disaster area.
One of the Yellow Cabs, it sounded like it was coming apart during the drive, with shakes and rattles and other funny noises that cars shouldn't make — it felt like the car would collapse, Blues Brothers car chase style. And then when we got to the destination, the driver told me the door handle was broken, so he rolled down the window for me to reach out and open the door from outside. Pretty funny, and kind of contrary to the Passengers' Rights posted in the cab. I got the cab number and emailed the DC Taxicab Commission, who a week ago sent me an auto-reply that they'd received my complaint.
This was the first really crappy cab I've taken in D.C., and I've had some cool ones — the Hummer cab, the PT Cruiser, the guy who has a candy dish behind the passengers' seat. Has anyone else had this kind of experience? Had any luck with the Taxicab Commission?
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I haven't had that kind of experience, but I have noticed that since the meters, cabbies have been taking less-than-direct routes to my destinations. I understand the need to make money, but that is not acceptable!
Expect crappy cabs in DC to be the norm until someone in power has the courage to challenge the DC Taxicab Commission's ridiculous finding that they should artificially limit the number of DC cab companies to, surprise, just those already existing in DC.
You know, the crappy status quo.
Nothing like absolutely guaranteeing the continuation of crap by legally preventing any real competition.
A limitation on the number of cabs is not what causes these problems. NYC has a very tight cap on the number of cabs that operate in Manhattan, but that doesn't stop those cabs from generally being in excellent shape. What's needed are tighter regulations about the age of vehicles used as cabs and a more rigorous inspection process.
Several complaints, but nothing taken to DC Cab Commission, since they are more picky issues than "real" issues:
1) The airport fee is not listed on the sign in the windows. It's on that sheet of paper they try to hand you, but if you don't take that, then you don't know what the fee is.
2) I've gotten motion sick from the cabbies that drive slow, in order to hit every red light possible, even ones that have slammed on the breaks half way through the intersection, to try to get the extra cash.
3) If I am riding with additional passengers (and I'm paying) I don't tip. I figure they've already added their tip in, with the extra passenger fee, since they aren't actually putting in more work.
4) I'd love to have the cab drivers banned from talking on their cellphones. I have no desire to hear their conversation, no matter the language.
I had a fairly awful experience when I tried to take a cab home from Washington National Airport. It was late at night and the Metro had closed, so there was no other way I could get home. When I approached the first cab the driver claimed that his meter was broken, and so he asked me how much I thought the ride should cost. Irked, I told him it would be $14, at which point he was like, "Uh, no, that's okay, you can find another cab."
And so I get another cab and he takes me home, but just as I'm about to pay him he announces that he doesn't have any change, which I figured was his sneaky way of forcing me to give him a $3 tip. I would have given him a tip anyway, which is why I didn't make an issue of it, but had I been in a worse mood I might have made him go to a gas station and get some change.
I never thought much about the extra passenger fees, but after this weekend and riding around with three other people, I'm starting to get outraged.
Basically with four of us and all the extra charges and the drop, it was $7.50 just to get in the cab without having gone any distance yet. When I'm a single rider the drop/rate seem fair, but the extra passenger fees are just insane.
It's no stretch of the imagination why DC cabs are commonly referred to as gypsie cabs. The quality of their service is reason enough to seek alternate means of transportation. It was bad enough when some of them were tricking you into travelling through that additional zone, but brake-jamming for red lights and claiming not to have change?
Time to consolidate these cabs into one fleet with televisions and the ability to pay with credit card.
Why do people have a problem with extra passenger fees? It's just the way the price is structured. No, it doesn't cost the cab any more. But nor does it cost the pool hall any more when there are four people on a table versus one... or the movie theater any more for two of you to go versus one if there are any empty seats... or just about any service that is offered on the basis of "per customer." You aren't renting a car, you are paying for a seat in a taxicab.
The law is that they must charge per extra customer, and to screw them out of a tip on that basis is ridiculous. Complain to the rulemakers, not the cabbie.
Personally, I'm much more appalled that they can charge you two complete fares if you get in a cab at the same place but get dropped off at two different destinations. Because of that, there's no benefit to sharing a cab unless you are getting out at the same place. The cabbie ought to get his extra passenger rate and just collect the money from the last person to be dropped off, like everywhere else.
How are they getting screwed out of a tip? If it would have just been me, I'd have given them a dollar or two as tip -- same price as the extra passenger fee. I may be "paying for a seat," but once I'm in the cab, no one else can get in and take up the seats. If we're all going to the same place, it doesn't matter how many people are in the cab. Extra passenger fees are like charging me an extra $1.50 if I put my legs up on the seat.
There are already many regulations regarding cabs in the D.C. municipal code. Cabbies are subject to fines if their cab is missing a wheel cover, or if their A/C doesn't work. Drivers are required to wear long pants (no shorts), even in summer. Drivers must ask their passenger before they turn on the radio. Cabbies talking on the phone constitutes at least one violation of the D.C. code. Independent D.C. cabs must be all-white or all-black in color, so look out for those if you wish to patronize an independent cabbie.
I think Hillman is waaay off regarding the 'limits' on D.C. cabs. D.C. has probably the easiest process for obtaining a cab license in the country. It takes only around $375 and completion of a simple class to get a cab permit. The main restriction is that taxis must subscribe to a dispatch service if they want to get calls.
There are no limitations on the overall number of taxis (i.e. a medallion system), which is why D.C. has as many taxis as Chicago, but only 1/7 of the population. That's not even counting the thousands of 'Cars for hire' in the city. D.C. has more than enough taxis so if you don't want to ride in one that is in violation it shouldn't be too hard to catch another one.
I come from Chicago, where ALL cabs are falling apart, so the DCist experience sounds completely normal to me. Generally I've had good experiences in DC cabs.
I would like to see a "customers bill of rights/driver's bill of rights" posting like Chicago & NYC use.
Haven't been in any cabs that felt like they were about to fall apart, but I have seen a wide range of quality in cab interiors. From basic no-frills types with duct tape patching up a seat cushion to fairly well-kept ones. But I'd say most lean toward the "no frills" category.
But I agree some better regulations and/or enforcement would be nice. Even "lite" versions of the NYC regs and the London street knowledge requirement would be big steps forward.
I would like to see a "customers bill of rights/driver's bill of rights" posting like Chicago & NYC use.
We have such a thing, but they're increasingly not being posted in the cabs. Which unfortunately makes sense, since I don't think the rules have been updated since meters were adopted. The old form is available here, though.
(I wonder: if they haven't updated the passenger rights, does this mean I still have a right to demand a zone map from a cab driver? Y'know, kind of like the urban legend about the Cambridge student who demands an exam proctor bring him cakes and ale pursuant to some long-forgotten college regulation from the middle ages? Only lame?)
I would argue that the problems have not gone away since the installation of meters....now I get driven all sorts of different ways, usually out of the way, to get where I need to go...Never had this problem with the zone system....Sorry, but cabs in this town suck and are typically more expensive than they are other places....
I was in a brand new Toyota sedan cab when I went to National Airport on the way out for Thanksgiving. Nice ride. But since the meters, I have also noticed some "interesting" routes being taken by drivers. Nothing so serious I'd call them on it however.
I second the notion that cabbies and their cell phone conversations have got to go.
Is it just me, or has there been a dramatic increase in cabbies "forgetting" which streets are one-way since the meters were installed so they can drive the additional 3 blocks to get turned back around?
Sure, the door handle didn't work and the cab shook, but I wouldn't think to complain to DCTC about that, as I've witnessed much worse. Just wait til you ride in the District Cab with the driver who pees in a cup while driving.
Hey that girl, DC cabbies can pull over to pick up additional fares, it's happened to me many times. So yes, once you're in the cab the seat can get taken.
See, this is what you get when you stop robbing cabbies at gun/knifepoint. They get all cocky-like. They'll be back to molesting female passengers in no time.
DC cabbies can pull over to pick up additional fares, it's happened to me many times.
Really? I didn't know this. This has happened to me once, and the driver tried to charge both me for both fares, after the first passenger had already paid, and even though the first passenger's destination was out of my way. I declined to pay it and he didn't make too much stink.
This is why a passenger/driver rights & regs posting in the vehicle would be very useful.
It's not the number of cabs that is being limited by the Taxicab Commission.
It's the number of cab companies.
So by definition the better cab companies that operate in the burbs are not allowed to open up in DC, leaving us at the mercy of the crappy existing companies who now have a protected government monopoly and therefore have zero interest in providing better cabs or cab service.
Nothing will change in DC until this monopoly idiocy is changed.
And I agree completely about the need for NYC-style cab standards. But that will never come with the Taxicab Commission we currently have. They clearly view the cab industry as a 'make-work' program for people that couldn't get jobs elsewhere, instead of a vital part of the public transportation system.
The taxi commission exists for the sole purpose of protecting the monopoly and no other. Look at the membership: it's all cab company owners and their dependents. It's like putting GM in charge of vehicle emission standards. But their time is coming. With these new emergency powers voted me by the council, I shall assemble a vast droid rickshaw army to ensure a safe and secure society that I assure you will last a thousand years.
And this new layout is about as stable as me after three gin rickeys and a Harvey Pud Yanker. Crashy crashy crashy.
And this new layout is about as stable as me after three gin rickeys and a Harvey Pud Yanker. Crashy crashy crashy.
For serious, monkeyrotica. The sign in stuff isn't working properly at all.
Similarly to the poster's story, a few weeks ago, I took a cab where, I swear, the wheel was about to fall off the axel of the car. It also had the usual issues - really loud radio, smelly, driver on loud cell phone who overcharged us, squeaking brakes on the verge of failing. On the 10 minute car trip, we were relatively certain we were going to die.
The best part? The name of the cab was 'Trust Cab.' If you ever see that purple car riding around, do not get in.
I like the 'creepy cabs'... The females know what I'm talking about.
My favorite one-liner, said in a dirty cab that charged me $1.50 for a large Nordstrom bag:
"I'll drive you around without your boyfriend anytime."
My favorite was the driver who was falling asleep - I was watching his eyes in the rear view mirror the entire time because everytime we stopped at a light he was out...
Is Mr T sporting a Fanny Pack?
this morning, i experienced the dreaded 'take your time' driver. i was going to nw capitol hill from u st, and for some reason he decided to take 4th street, cross over to new york and take m st?
what in tar?
cab drivers will try to cheat you, period.
there's no way to make everyone happy about their cab experience here. just too much inertia.