New Proposal: Let's Make Taxis More Expensive

$6023.00 cab fare, by Amrit Singh

Yellow cab fleet owners would like more money, please. They're asking for a 19% fare increase, on top of an increased base rate—meaning you would rack up a $3 bill before the vehicle was even put into drive. According to the Daily News, to put it in passenger terms, a 5-mile cab ride (which they describe as a trip to Times Square from the Financial District) would jump from $12 to $15.

A year ago there was an MTA surcharge added to the base fee of a cab ride; this latest increase, however, was proposed by the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade—though there's no guarantee their proposal will be passed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission. The group represents 3,500 of the 13,000 yellow cabs in the city, and they say fare hikes are the only way to fix their budget gap. Sounds like someone is learning from the MTA!

The group doesn't stop with the fare increase, however, they've got a whole wish list—if their proposal passes as is, here's what we're looking at:

Getting a cab will cost $3, raised from $2.50 (the NY Post reports that doesn't include the 50 cent MTA tax from last year)
Flat fee to JFK Airport will increase to $53, from $45
The meter will be adjusted for waiting in traffic—right now it's 40 cents every 1/5 mile the cab moves, that would change to every 1/6 mile
Currently per-minute idling clicks are charged at speeds of 12 mph or less, that would be changed to 10 mph or less.

Back in 2004, there was a 26% increase, and in 2006 the TLC approved an 11% increase—but a spokesman for the group says, "Operating costs have continued to increase over the last six years." Maybe those cyclists are on to something—bike lanes for all!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on November 5, 2010 10:57 AM

Comments [rss]

militza

I think many of the people commenting on this topic are male. as cliche as it sounds it's still a wee bit more dangerous for a lady to be traveling late at night.

I live pretty frugally but I splurge cabs when I'm drunk or tired or tipsy.

I would rather pay for my safety and making it home in once piece.

HairyG

Didn't the cabs get a fare hike when the price of gas went to nearly $5 a gallon? The price went back down, and the fare hike remains, and now they want another fair hike?!?

Boycott the fuckers.

jjazznola

Taxis in NYC are a waste of money. I stopped taking them years ago. Between subways, busses and walking, I get where I need to go.

Doctor Memory

I've got a better idea: fuck these people.

Seriously. What, precisely, has the NYC taxi monopoly done to warrant a government-mandated raise? Increased their service? Improved their fleets? Provided better-trained drivers? Har har har.

Double or even triple the number of medallions: if we're going to have crappy cabs, there should at least be a lot of them so you'll have a prayer of getting one when you need it. Or just let livery cabs pick up unreserved customers.

40oz.killa

Fuck yellow medallion taxi cabs. If you want to ride a cab, you should use those korean/asian cabs. Soooo cheap and its pretty luxurious!

glennQNYC

Somebody is smoking something good if they think it only takes 5 minutes to travel to Times Square from the Financial District.

The Sick Animal

OMG how do people afford this? This is crazy!!!!!

How come everywhere else is able to provide normal charges for services but here it's really sick. I wish I was from somewhere normal so I had family to back to or something.

glennQNYC

There is SO much hating on cars and people who use them, I’m surprised there aren’t more Gothamists supporting an even higher increase! Especially since if you are able travel via taxi, you most likely can use a mass transit option. After all, that is the argument posed when automotive fee/toll increases are proposed… Lets encourage mass-transit by increasing the cost of personal transportation!

IvoryJive

Please raise the unit fare more than the base fair to make long trips more profitable and remove this bias taxi drivers have against leaving Manhattan

Rockuboff

Fuck that. The last time I took a cab 3 cabbies turned me down after I said I was going to Brooklyn. I believe that refusing to provide that service is not allowed. Fed up with these people who want more and deliver less.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/passenger/taxicab_rights.shtml

yamon

Dude, you need to learn better cabbie skills. Wait until AFTER you get in and close the door. Then state you are just going over the "XYZ" bridge...once over said bridge direct them to your destination.

And yes, refusing service is a no-no, take their cabbie number down and report them.

Rockuboff

And yeah, proposal? I walked outside to get lunch today and noticed the $3.00 fare posted on the cab's door. Shoulda snapped a quick pic.

TrippinJoJo

THANK YOU!!!!!! I saw the same thing this morning!

Can you read this The Sick Animal??

Rockuboff

haha I know! I tried reporting them once, but because this is New York and AT&T service blows, my call was dropped shortly after I began bitching away to someone from 311!! I'll keep at it next time... because yes, there will really be a next time. Lame.