So, while the whole "transportation news" is generally considered an oxymoron on BYT, I have decided to cover all and every info about this "switch to meters" deal. (hey! I don't drive. I care)
Anyways, post "strike" (was there really ANYONE that was unable to get a cab on Halloween? Me thinks not) Fenty has announced the rates. Are you ready for the cold hard numbers:
a $4 flag drop charge (a little steep, I would say at first glance), then 25 cents for every sixth of a mile after the first sixth of a mile traveled, with the maximum fare in the district being 18.90 (not including waiting times/surcharges)
In addition to this, under the new system, passengers traveling during the morning and evening rush hours will be assessed a $1 surcharge, as they are at present, bringing the starting fare at peak hours to $5. (which actually means that you were probably better off travelling under the zone system, if all your travelling was done during rush hours)
DCist (aka the mothership of all transportation news in DC) compares and contrasts it with: New York City's flag drop is $2.50, with 40 cents for every fifth of a mile after the first, while Philadelphia's is $2.70, with 30 cents for every additional seventh of a mile.
and The Post actually did some number crunching on this (this is like someone doing your math homework for you in middle school) and announced: According to a recent report that detailed what happened when 21 D.C. cabs were outfitted with meters from Oct. 1, 2005, to May 30, 2006, meter fares with a $4 drop rate were 97 cents higher on average than zone fares. A trip of less than a mile was $7 with meters, $8.03 with zones. For trips of two miles to just under three miles, the meter fare was $10.33 and the zone fare, $9.70.
A ride of two miles will now cost a minimum of $6.75, as opposed to a theoretical 2-mile trip that stays in one zone, which would currently cost $6.50. Of course, if that 2-mile trip crossed a zone line (and it always did!!!), the fare would be $8.80.
While you are trying to wrap your head around all that (Are there really advantages? Am I really going to travel cheaper? What does this mean in the grand scheme of order of the universe things? Will I still get kicked out and called a hooker for making out in the backseat of taxicabs? You know, the important questions.)
In addition:
The meters will be connected to the light on top of the cab allowing passengers to see if a taxi is available. The light will be illuminated when a taxi does not have a customer and will extinguish when a fare is activated on the meter.
Which means, rather excitingly that for the FIRST TIME EVER IN THE HISTORY OF CABS IN DC, YOU WILL KNOW WHEN A CAB IS AVAILABLE AS IT IS APPROACHING YOU, OR NOT.
That, in itself is worth the price of ....whatever the price is.
Previously in I Heart DC:
- 5/24: DC NEWS YOU CAN (MAYBE) USE...
- 5/23: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 5/23: BYT Patio and Outdoor Dining Guide - Spring/Summer 2012
- 5/22: DC NEWS YOU CAN (MAYBE) USE...
- 5/21: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 5/21: PHOTOS: Artomatic 2012 Opening
- 5/18: DC NEWS YOU CAN (MAYBE) USE...
- 5/17: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 5/16: D.C. NEWS YOU CAN (MAYBE) USE...
- 5/16: Photos: Dance In The Circle @ Dupont Circle
God loves a cheerful giver.
The cab strike was over yesterday. Thus, last evening, a cab drove right in front of me, letting me bounce off the door. I had the pleasure of spitting in the mans face and inviting him outside of the cab for a roundtable discussion on traffic rules and regulations. Wisely, he declined.
Smallframe! Wierdy Beardy! Were your two beards going to have the discussion or duke it out? (I know the driver was bearded, they all are).
He only had chin stubble. Game. Set. Match.
You make out in the backseat of taxi cabs?
RIP the zone system. Zones made cabs in DC pretty cheap if you knew where the borders were; it was good while it lasted.
the difference in price seems to be relatively minimal between the two systems. in some cases you even get a small break on short rides, though the overall comparison shows it is slightly more expensive in the long run to go with meters. i can see why fenty passed a higher flagdrop and lower mileage charge. it was probably to ease the shock cabbies might have felt as a result of switching from their guaranteed minimum zone charge. so it isn't too much of a switch, i guess, but the problem is this: not all cabbies are nice nor are they all honest. if you have taken a cab in VA, you will notice they can manually plug in extra charges for extra passengers (and rush hour, baggage, etc..). so, if certain cabbies notice a "less than completely lucid" client in the back seat... holy massive meter charge, batman! yeah... meters bad - zones good just an opinion
The true problem with the zone system, in my opinion, is that 50 percent of the time, my cabbie would attempt to rip me off by charging me for an extra zone. That's why it has to go away in favor of meters.
granted this wont apply to me for much longer but still...
whenever i would take a cab home after work when metro closed, I would get a different charge once i crossed the moat into va. There's no clear zone setup for passing into virginia, so I'd get quoted anywhere between 11 and 15 dollars.
With the metered system, this should be $9.15.
What about shared rides? I always thought that was the biggest disadvantage to the zone system. If you share a ride, but you and your friend life 3 blocks away from one another, either you both have to get into and out of the cab at the same location, or you will be charged separately. With the meters, theoretically, you would not, because, say it costs $6.00 to go the distance to my house, and then another $0.35 to get to my friend's house. Now my ride will cost $3 and hers will be $3.35, whereas before, my ride would cost $6.50 and hers would cost $6.50 (ignoring the inevitable additional rider charge to avoid complicating the issue.)