Tag Archives: taxicab

Talkin' Transit, The Daily Feed
By

[Updated] The Uber Conundrum

Photo courtesy of danpeerflix
I’m coming to get ya @patdryburgh cc @uber
courtesy of danpeerflix

Late yesterday, in an email to their customers, Uber’s DC operations group sounded the alarm about the Taxicab Modernization Act that is before the Council today.  The email read, in part, “The Council’s intention is to prevent Uber from being a viable alternative to taxis by enacting a price floor to set Uber’s minimum fare at today’s rates and no less than 5 times a taxi’s minimum fare.”  The language that has Uber riled up here has to do with a new class of taxi service in DC, the sort that Uber provides.  

The new sedan service is designed to build a place for companies like Uber to operate free from intervention from the DC Taxicab Commission’s regulations, which would require the cars have metering systems, GPS tracking, and those godawful advertising systems like you see in New York Cabs, amongst other things. So long as they were to abide by an initial minimum fare that was 5 times the minimum fare of the taxi system, Uber would get to stand free and clear of the taxi system.

One small problem. Uber wants to charge less than their current $15 minimum for their new UberX service which is designed to send less luxurious vehicles (hybrid cars, in fact) to pick you up throughout the city.  This new law would torpedo their plans to charge customers less for the new hybrid service.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

Fuel Surcharge in DC Taxicabs

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Even if you don’t own a car in DC, you’ll still be feeling the pain at the pump. Starting today, DC taxicabs can charge an extra $1 fuel surcharge for rides within the District of Columbia.

For now the fee is set to last until July 25th, but could be repealed sooner. Mayor Vincent Gray gave the orders for the fuel surcharge after it was recommended by the D.C. Taxicab commission. As reported by The Washington Post earlier today, the surcharge was added in response to rising gasoline prices.

No word on where you can lodge a complaint, but DC Taxicab Commission’s site says you can call them with questions at (202) 645-6018.

The Daily Feed
By

Free Cab Rides For The Naughty

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

‘Tis the season to be jolly … and drown in holiday libations.

It’s easy to let loose and let the naughty you’ve held in all year rear its glorious face with a triumphant return in the form of some wild partying.

Fear not Holiday Season Partier — The Washington Regional Alocohol Program has got you covered! The program is offering free cab rides home on the off chance that you let loose with your bad self sometime in the next few weeks.

There is a catch though. Not all cabs are in on this free-ride train. Grab your phones NOW and enter the following number: 1-800-200-TAXI or #8294 (TAXI) on your AT&T wireless phone. Do it now or forever hold your peace … because that’s the only way to hail down this free fare.

All riders must be at least 21-years-old and live in the DC area. The program runs from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night until New Year’s Day.

Visit http://www.wrap.org/soberride/ for more information.

Petworth, The Daily Feed
By

Bye Bye Abandononed Taxi

It got left, got the boot, and is gone!

It got left, got the boot, and is gone!

When I moved into my house over a year ago, I noticed a taxicab that seemed unused on Upshur Street, just down from the Petworth Eyesore. Since then I paid it no mind, busy with nesting and all.

Then recently, I noticed the cab again, mainly because it was now obviously abandoned, what with a wad of parking tickets on the window and windows caked in dust. Just last week, there was yet another change – the taxi got the boot.

Now, finally, the taxicab is gone. The boot being the last step before the tow-away. And yet again, I enjoy the mysterious, often invisible, but sweet Washington DC city services.