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D.C. cab drivers protest fare hike and other changes
January 12, 2012
The Washington Post
D.C. cab drivers protest fare hike and other changes
By Maggie Fazeli Fard, Published: Januaryl 11, 2012
There was standing room only at the D.C. Taxicab Commission meeting Wednesday, when city cab drivers and others aired their grievances about the commission’s recently approved fare hike.
More than a dozen cab drivers spoke at the two-hour meeting, which was devoted entirely to comments from the public. Drivers said they are concerned that the per-mile rate increase is not enough and that placing an age limit on their cars is akin to "genocide," according to one driver.
“This is a lethal injection to wipe us [D.C. taxicab drivers] out,” Mechal Chame said to raucous applause from his peers.
Under the controversial rules,approved by the commission in December, the “drop rate” — the base farepassengers are charged at the beginning of a cab ride — would remain $3, but the per-mile rate would jump from $1.50 to $2.16. This is 59 cents less than cab drivers had requested.
Thewait-time rate would increase from $15 to $25 an hour and fees for luggage, additional passengers, pets, emergency fuel surcharge and personal service would be eliminated. Additionally, a five-year age limit would phase out older, higher-mileage vehicles.
While Chairman Ron Linton has said the changes are “reasonable,” the taxicab community has been vocal in its disappointment.
“Eliminatingthe extra fees is not a reasonable thing to do,” said E.J. Chubbs, a cab driver. “We would be pleased with $2 per mile [instead of $2.16] andnot eliminating the extra fees. You’re taking away, not giving,” he told the commission.
“This pushes drivers farther down to poverty,” Negede Abede said in agreement.
Shahid Qureshi, another city cab driver, objected to the age limit, calling it “ridiculous.”
“You’regoing to put a lot of drivers out of business, especially the old-timers,” Qureshi said. “I don’t think they can afford” replacing their cars without financing help from the city.
The commission has never indicated that it would help drivers fund compliance with the new regulations.
“You’re pushing this down [our] throats,” Qureshi said.
Only two speakers said the changes don’t go far enough to improve service while maintaining riders’ rights.
Lynne Breaux, the president of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, said that D.C. “is a world-class city with a third-class taxi system.”
Breauxcalled the new regulations a “piecemeal” approach that would take yearsto realize fully, and asked the commission to hire a third-party analyst to do a study and come up with a better plan.
She said theage limit on cars is a “meager bone” in the grand scheme of safety improvements — driver training and added technology such as a panic button — that she believes are required to create a top-notch system.
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