Hailing a cab could get pricier — and soon.
The Taxi and Limousine Commission will discuss raising fares up to 20% — the first increase since 2006, its chairman, David Yassky, said Monday. He described the increase as “reasonable.”
Cabbies have been lobbying the agency to hike what they collect from riders for more than a year. A hearing on Thursday will be the first time the TLC officially considers two proposals introduced last year to tweak rates, which would mean forking over an extra 16-20% per ride.
“The fare hasn’t changed since 2006, so it is reasonable for taxi drivers and fleet owners to put this on the table,” Yassky said in a statement yesterday. In 2004, there was a 26% across-the-board fare increase. In 2006, the cost per minute for a taxi idling in traffic rose to 40 cents.
An administration source who was not authorized to speak publicly said taxi advocates “have made a highly compelling case” for a fare increase, adding that the hike could be implemented by July.
The average ride in January was 2.76 miles and lasted about 11 1/2 minutes, according to the TLC, for a fare of about $11.82.
“It’s about time,” said Bhairavi Desai of the Taxi Workers Alliance. “We get a raise once a decade.”
“Drivers are making less today than they were six years ago,” she added.
Under a proposal by the TWA, each click of a taxi meter would increase from 40 cents to 50 cents, add a $1 morning rush-hour surcharge and a late-night charge doubled to $1.
Jarenton Munoz, a cab driver since 1999, said increased gas prices and overhead costs have reduced his weekly take-home pay to about $800 — or about $40,000 before taxes.
“Every once in a while, somebody gets a raise,” said Munoz, 33, who lives in the Lower East Side. “We deserve it.”
“The riders understand it’s a long time without getting a raise,” he added. “They’ll probably take fewer cabs for two or three weeks, but they’ll come back.”
Riders said they thought the increase was high.
“They’re so expensive already,” said Greg Bach, a 52-year-old event designer from midtown.
Dave Fitz, who works at a video rental store in midtown, said he also tries to avoid cabs because of the expense.
“That is really a lot for a ride,” Fitz, 20, said of the proposed increase. “I really just prefer the train.”
You are making less, because you all deserve it! You dont even respect yourself and work like an animal, and I sad ANIMAL, How can you expect from NYPD, TLC or City to respect you. Who sad slavery all gone? I dont think so, check those cabby up!! YOu need to stand up or get busy to lose all your rights. So the speak…
this is just a bait for new 2000 cabs, I am dying to see whats going to happen this slave cabbies when 2000 new cabs, 18000 outer cabs, more blacks, 25000+ bike sharing, and much more free buses called sellected service buses show up!!
oh yeah? increase? guess what, rider will give lessor tip to off set the raise and I wonder how much will the garage rasie their leases? at the end ot the day, you will end up go home with the same amount you make now. competition from green taxi, additional 2000 new yellow cab, where are the business? you will see many empty yeloow cab at all time.
TLC should unitfy all meters, all the surcharge and mta tax should automatically add on to one total when meter start to avoid confusion and agrument, the break down should be on screen and receipt, only one grand total should be on the meter. all credit card user should have an automatic 20% tip add on at the end of the trip if rider choose to use credit card.
Drivers’s income raise may be justifiable only if garages n brokers keep the same lease. Otherwise only 1% will benefit from steady income raise but drivers will suffer from plummeted ridership in nice weather n non-rush hours with slow summer ahead n bike sharing(! No justifiable merit or qualification except two legs) on the way. No good timing to introduce it.
Another way for drivers’ side is checking trip miles n time spent separating M n outerboros n airports. Not focusing price structures but improvement of service n efficient
Mobility, thus increase of ridership with same lease n fare
ALAS, nobody in TLC or DOT(Donkey, Oranutan n Turtle) is enlightened yellow ridership increase is the way to reduce congestion on the road n MTA N good for NYC environment n economy. Almost in the end of tunnel, so hang in there.