January 07, 2005

Taxi use down only 4 percent since May fare hike

Taxi use has dropped a mere 4 percent since rates went up in May, according to a new study by the Taxi and Limousine Commission. The cost of an average cab ride - 2.6 miles with 5 minutes waiting time in traffic - is now $8.45, up from $6.85, the Daily News says.

The rates for the city's 12,787 yellow cabs went up by an average of 26 percent in May, the first hike in eight years. It's bumped up cabbie revenues to a daily average of $314.53 over the past seven months compared with $263.07 in 2003, the Post reports. However, not all that goes into a driver's pocket, as many of the vehicles are leased. Plus, one cabbie tells the Daily news that tips declined as rates went up.

Particularly unpleasant is that Newsday quotes an official at the New York Taxi Workers Alliance who says the extra cash still doesn't offset cost-of-living increases for her drivers and that they will request another rate hike.

January 7, 2005 08:57 AM in Transportology

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