At a D.C. Council meeting Tuesday, drivers argued that meters will force them to work longer hours or to work for a cab company rather than for themselves. And they warned that meters will lead them to concentrate mostly on the downtown area, where short trips will quickly add up. The chairman of the city's Taxicab Commission says it's not his intention to shortchange anyone. He says the final rules for the new system will be announced Friday.
The meter system is designed to be less confusing for passengers. The zone system now used for calculating fares consists of 22 concentric areas radiating out from a central downtown zone.--
Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com
Ridingcrops,
I suggest that you go to Washinton post's Taxi fare estimator to see for yourself how the taxi cab's income is going to be reduced. The site shows you that charges for extra passengers, luggage, rush hour and gas surcharge is being cut off forcing reduction in income from 20% to 200% on the cab drivers. And I believe this is so un-American for government to force this on a buisness. And you will be surprised to know that a lot of Cab drivers do go on to other REAL JOBS as you call them because many drive cabs while going to Colleges because of the flexible schedule. Next time you drive in a Cab in the District take a good look at the Cab driver may be in a few years or months he could be your CVS pharmacist earning over $100,000.00 a year or the Architect who will be designing your house. But in my humble opinion driving a cab is a REAL JOB too that many people raise their families on.
Good day to you.
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