Martin Austermuhle
Photo by andertho
We’ve long heard that the District’s taxicab service leaves something to be desired. Now we’ve got the numbers to back that up.
According to an online survey conducted by Councilmember Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), 78 percent of the 4,025 respondents called the city taxicab service “fair” or “poor,” while only 22 percent said it was “good” or “excellent.” Additionally, 69 percent of the respondents said that the District’s cabs are worse than those in other U.S. cities.
The survey was conducted as part of legislation introduced by Cheh to modernize the District’s 8,500 cabs, and will likely serve as a foundation of a hearing she has scheduled for Monday on the proposal.
According to the survey, 94 percent of respondents support any move to improve cab service in the District. Amongst proposed improvements, credit card payment options received the most support (93 percent), followed by cruising lights to indicate if a cab is available (92 percent), more random cab inspections (70 percent) and increased training requirements for drivers (69 percent). Sixty-five percent of respondents said they’d like a uniform color scheme for all cabs, and of the options provided yellow won with 38 percent, followed by red (15 percent) and orange (11 percent.)
Interestingly, around 50 percent of those responding said they were fine with a proposed rate increase, but only if service was improved. Only around 25 percent of those surveyed said cans were already too expensive, while a smaller number said that a fare increase alone was just fine.
In a section prompting additional comments, respondents complained that cab drivers wouldn’t drive to certain parts of town.
“These taxis need to stop refusing service to Wards 7 and 8,” wrote one respondent. “I live in Ward 5 off Benning Road. Getting a taxi to or from here is a HUGE challenge. I call, they never come. I get in a taxi downtown and many refuse to bring me home. It’s astounding how unreceptive to business many drivers are,” added another.
Other comments included complaints of racial profiling and cab drivers refusing to take riders to destinations outside the city, such as Arlington or Bethesda.
“It is incredibly frustrating when I am in DC and need to take a cab to Virginia (Arlington, specifically). I was once turned down by five cabs in a row because they prefer getting no fare from a paying customer rather than just a one-way fare since they can’t pick up in Virginia. Cabs should not be allowed to refuse a fare!,” said one respondent.
Eighty-four percent of those that responded said they lived in the District, while 66 percent used D.C. cabs once or twice a week. The survey skewed young, with 63 percent of respondents saying they were between the ages of 18 and 34.
