October 26, 2006

Stuck-in-traffic taxi fare hike comes with extra gotcha

The New York Post today highlights one more gotcha in the devilish details of the taxi fare hike that was approved Wednesday.

Not only with the stuck-in-traffic surcharge double, but it will now also be easier for that fare to kick in, the Post reports. The wait-time rate currently kicks in if a cab is moving at less than 6 miles per hour. But with the new rules expected to take effect sometime in December, the surcharge accumulates when the cab is moving any speed under 12 mph.

As was widely reported yesterday, the wait-time rate will rise to 40 cents a minute from the current 20 cents.

From the Post:

Traffic experts say the average speed on avenues in Manhattan is 10.2 mph and on crosstown streets its 7.5 mph - meaning that most rides in the Big Apple will now be charged at 40 cents a minute. When the cab is moving faster than 12 mph, the rate will stay $2 a mile in increments of 40 cents per fifth of a mile.

October 26, 2006 10:32 AM in Transportology

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