Taxicab Meters: Hearing Before...92-2, on S. 3091.., March 7, 19721972 - 113 pages |
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airport bill cab companies cab drivers cab industry cab passenger cab trip cab-riding public cabdriver Chairman charge CHART NUMBER Circle Zone System Cities Cities Cities Congress D.C. cabs D.C. Public Service D.C. Transit District of Columbia downtown Emergency Taxicab Committee fare system flat-rate zone system full-time driver Greyhound Corporation group riding gypsy Hack Bureau identical trips increase Initial Distance installation of meters IRVING SCHLAIFER John Rudder license MATTHEWS medallion meter system metered cab meters and limitations Miami mileage rate zone number of cabs owner part-time drivers percent precinct hack inspector Public Service Commission rate zone system regulations rider riding public rush hour Senator INOUYE street taxi drivers taxi fare taxi industry taxi meter taxi service taxi zone system taxicab operations taxicab service taximeters Thank TOTAL CITIES traffic transportation trip can cost Washington Post Yellow Cab zone areas zone fare zone rates
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Page 5 - Acting Chairman of the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia. I am accompanied today by Commissioner William R.
Page 90 - Such charges may be in amounts of 10£, 15£, 20^ or 25£ per passenger. Extra passenger charges are recorded separately in the meter and are clearly indicated to the passenger. This eliminates arguments with respect to extra charges since the amounts are plainly visible to the passengers. 7. There is a lack of supervision and control over zone operations which is an inherent characteristic of the system. A comparison with certain features of meter operations will explain this aspect of zones. Taximeters...
Page 87 - At times drivers may not know zone boundaries and collect incorrect fares unknowingly. There are of course cases of intentional overcharging of passengers such as tourists and transients who are obviously not familiar with the system. Complaints and arguments are not conducive to good public relations. This is not only true of cases where passengers register official complaints but equally true of disgruntled passengers who feel they have been treated unfairly but do nothing about it. Such comments...
Page 6 - Act shall not be used for or in connection with the preparation, issuance, publication, or enforcement of any regulation or order of the Public Service Commission requiring the installation of meters in taxicabs, or for or in connection with the licensing of any vehicle to be operated as a taxicab except for operation in accordance with such system of uniform zones and rates and regulations applicable thereto as shall have been prescribed...
Page 90 - ... which they are used. This assures the public that meters are within city tolerance for time and distance and are set to correct rates. Meters are connected electrically to cab top light system to indicate when meter is in use. Whenever the taxicab is occupied by a passenger, the top light will indicate that the passenger is paying for his trip through the meter. These are two aspects of meter control and protection not supplied by the zone system. In summarizing, the various undesirable aspects...
Page 57 - That's a lot of money and in the final analysis will be paid by the public. The little cab drivers and operators can't afford to put up such money and will be put out of business. It is only natural for the big cab companies to want meters. They can, with the increased rates caused by meters, make more money, with less cost and less cabs, then at present. Of course, the DC Transit Co. want meters. It will drive more people back to riding streetcar and buses. But, why do you favor meters? The Washington...
Page 89 - ... driver is being paid for his time and will stay in the area during rush periods. 5. Changing rates and zone boundaries causes confusion. With steadily increasing costs of living and of doing business, the full time taxicab drivers are difficult to find and hold. There is constant pressure to increase taxicab rates either by increasing the fares or reducing the size of zones. Every such change adds to taxicab confusion especially when zones are revised. Expanding population also necessitates zone...
Page 90 - ... trip through the meter. These are two aspects of meter control and protection not supplied by the zone system. In summarizing, the various undesirable aspects of the taxicab zone fare system enumerated in this statement have resulted in eighty out of eighty one cities in the United States over 150,000 population changing over successfully from zones to the meter system. This is conclusive evidence of the recognized merits of the meter control system. Since all other large cities have, after careful...
Page 87 - ... over that it reduces complaints and arguments over fares to a minimum. 2. The zone system does not provide an equitable rate structure. It is unfair to the public based on time and distance travelled. Zone rates are of necessity based on relatively long increments of distance because the fixed rate must support both the long trip as well as the short trip. Therefore, one passenger may ride a mile for the zone fare and another may ride only one block for the same charge. Reduction of zone boundaries...
Page 89 - This scarcity of cabs during rush hours greatly contributes to the urban transit problem of moving passengers quickly and efficiently. This problem is solved automatically with taximeters because they are constructed to shift over from mileage rate to clock time at low speeds and during stoppage in traffic. In this way the driver is being paid for his time and will stay in the area during rush periods. 5. Changing rates and zone boundaries causes confusion. With steadily increasing costs of living...