Thursday, February 23, 2012

Taxi Fare Increase, Really?

The DC Taxicab Commission has proposed an increase of $0.66 per mile, from $1.50/mile to $2.16/mile. But unfortunately, they want to take away all the extra surcharges including gas, luggage and extra passengers. Most of the News outlets, in particular the social media ignore the latter part, only to claim that the DC taxi drivers are getting 44% fare increase and of course that is not true when all the extras are thrown away.
Some drivers passionately argue that the Fare increase is not enough and instead of asking the commission that the extra surcharges should not be taken away and it should be applied to all taxis whether van taxi or sedan taxi. 
I have printed statistical receipts of some taxi meters for analysis and I have come to realized that the extra surcharges count for about 30% of the gross receipts. Also without these extra surcharges, the new fare increase (correction: the new fare decrease), drivers will loose about 7% to 13% of their income.

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