DC Cabs to Switch to Meters

[amnesiac]

It's about fuckin' time...
 
  Thanks Fenty!

[sonickteam2]

""In my own experience, as a D.C. resident, I have encountered at least 10 different cab fares for the exact same trip to and from National Airport," the senator complained in a 2001 speech on the Senate floor. He has been advocating for a change in the system for about 20 years. "
 
   In Baltimore at least, cab prices are so different depending on cab company.  Yellow cabs from work to home, $7.00...Diamond Cabs, $9.00
   the Blue Cabs, $15.00!!!!!  yeah, dont ever take a Light Blue colored cab in Baltimore, you'll be ripped off.  its like $.80 per block!
 
   Cab drivers are so shady.

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

You probably would be too if you had to work such a shitty job!

[vansmack]

Originally posted by amnesiac:
  It's about fuckin' time...
 
  Thanks Fenty!

But the real question is - do you get to pick the route?  Cabbies can make up all kinds of routes in DC that will jack up fares.
 
 I blame L'Enfant.

[godsshoeshine]

the meters on the news used gps

[saco]

Originally posted by vansmack:
   

Originally posted by amnesiac:
  It's about fuckin' time...
 
  Thanks Fenty!

But the real question is - do you get to pick the route?  Cabbies can make up all kinds of routes in DC that will jack up fares.
 
 I blame L'Enfant. [/b]

Can't they do that in any city though?

[sonickteam2]

yeah, i've had cabbies say "whoops" when they missed the turn.  I make them stop the car immediately and get out, without paying a dollar.  unless its raining...

[vansmack]

Originally posted by saco:
 Can't they do that in any city though?

It's a little tougher to cheat when there's an actual grid or highways.

[saco]

Originally posted by vansmack:
   

Originally posted by saco:
 Can't they do that in any city though?

It's a little tougher to cheat when there's an actual grid or highways. [/b]

If I'm going from the sunset to a Giants game and don't know any better whats stopping a cabbie from taking me there via North Beach?

[930clubber]

Props to Fenty.  Poor DC cabbies.  There goes another traditional way of life to the scourge of automation.

[Cali]

i'm still not sure how i feel about it.
 
 either way, the cabs in dc will still suck and find ways of cheating you with/without meters.

[930clubber]

> either way, the cabs in dc will still suck and find ways of cheating you with/without meters.
 
 no doubt, i am happy for them to have one less, very big way, to cheat.
 
 i find virginia cabs, like red top, much more professional in comparison.  i've never tried, but does anyone know if va (or md) cabs are allowed to pick up fares on the street?  do they run the meter or use the zone system??

[vansmack]

Originally posted by saco:
  If I'm going from the sunset to a Giants game and don't know any better whats stopping a cabbie from taking me there via North Beach?

Thats a nonsene argument.  If you don't know where you're going, then no system is full proof to the integrity of the cab driver - zones or meters.
 
 But if I want to tell a cabbie in SF to take 280 across to the city rather than Fell to downtown and around the Embarcadero, he will almost always listen.  Only in DC have I ever had an argument with a cabbie about the best way to go, especially when it comes to the true test of a DC driver - the proper navigation of Rock Creek Park.  And I've had many a cabbie argument in DC...
 
 When it's metered, it should be up to the person paying to decide the route - it's my money at risk.  That will be a complete culture change for DC cab drivers.  That's all I was saying.

[Venerable Bede]

Originally posted by vansmack:
   

Originally posted by saco:
  If I'm going from the sunset to a Giants game and don't know any better whats stopping a cabbie from taking me there via North Beach?

Thats a nonsene argument.  If you don't know where you're going, then no system is full proof to the integrity of the cab driver - zones or meters.
 
 But if I want to tell a cabbie in SF to take 280 across to the city rather than Fell to downtown and around the Embarcadero, he will almost always listen.  Only in DC have I ever had an argument with a cabbie about the best way to go, especially when it comes to the true test of a DC driver - the proper navigation of Rock Creek Park.  And I've had many a cabbie argument in DC...
 
 When it's metered, it should be up to the person paying to decide the route - it's my money at risk.  That will be a complete culture change for DC cab drivers.  That's all I was saying. [/b]

shouldn't you be taking the N to the giants game?  transit first!

[alex]

Originally posted by 930clubber:
  > either way, the cabs in dc will still suck and find ways of cheating you with/without meters.
 
 no doubt, i am happy for them to have one less, very big way, to cheat.
 
 i find virginia cabs, like red top, much more professional in comparison.  i've never tried, but does anyone know if va (or md) cabs are allowed to pick up fares on the street?  do they run the meter or use the zone system??

Every cab I've used in Maryland has been metered.