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Pricey cab rides could get pricier
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SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Less than two years after the last price hike, the meter rates for San Francisco’s taxicabs could see another increase that would likely push The City’s rates to the highest in the nation.
San Francisco taxi prices were last increased in November 2006, when the fee to begin a cab ride, or the flag-drop rate, went up 25 cents to $3.10 — the second-highest rate in the nation, trailing only Las Vegas.
Since that increase, however, the average price of gas in San Francisco has risen from $2.51 a gallon to $4.02, according to Michael Geeser of the AAA.
To see if San Francisco can bump up its rates to keep up with increased fuel costs, the acting executive director of The City’s taxi commission, Jordanna Thigpen, requested that the Controller’s Office expedite its two-year report on the cab industry to see if the study shows support for the price hike.
“With the cost of gas continuing to rise, our drivers are clearly concerned about the effect it’s having on their income,” Thigpen said.
The report is scheduled to be finished by August 1, but Thigpen is asking for a June 15 date so legislators will have an earlier start on implementing suggestions.
The Board of Supervisors would have to create and pass legislation for any meter increases to take effect.
Because of the increased costs, cabbies are paying an average of $50 for gas during an eight-hour shift, said Mark Gruberg, who has been driving a taxi in San Francisco for more than 20 years. On average, a cab driver takes home $100 a shift, which translates into about $24,000 a year, he said.
“Any time rates are raised, there is concern,” Gruberg said. “We don’t want the hardship to be on the customer, but you hope it’s balanced off by the fact that people know we have to earn a living.”
The last time all three meter prices — flag drop, per-mile rates, and rates per minute spent waiting — were raised was in 2003, when gas cost $1.78 a gallon. San Francisco cabs now charge $2.25 per mile and 45 cents per idle minute.
San Francisco resident Julie Mikuta, waiting to catch a cab downtown, said she travels frequently to other cities and San Francisco is one of the most expensive places to catch a cab.
“I know I’m going to be paying at least $10 just to go a couple of miles,” Mikuta said. “That’s pretty crazy.”
Comments from Examiner Readers
7:43 PM MST on Mon., May. 19, 2008 re: "Sandoval drives proposal to tow illegal limousines"
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8:03 AM MST on Mon., May. 19, 2008
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Examiner Reader said:
When 49.75% of all taxis dispatched are no-shows, these drivers are there simply because the taxi system in the city is broken down. How many times you look for a taxi and can't find one? Or call one and end up losing your plane? If taxis were plentiful and reliable this would be a non-issue, but PLEASE don't take limos away--otherwise what would we do on a Friday night, when many time they are the only option?
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Examiner Reader & Cab Ridwer said:
Your article on pricey cabs has the NYC fare only partially correct. NYC - Taxi Fare Components are more complex. Initial fare.............$2.50 Each 1/5 mile (4 blocks).$0.40 Each 1 minute idle.......$0.40 Peak surcharge...........$1.00 (after 4pm until 8pm Mon-Fri) Night surcharge..........$0.50 (after 8pm until 6am) Tolls....................$extra The add-ons/surcharges/peak pricing in NYC put their average taxi-fare higher than SF. In real, inflation adjusted, terms, SF gates and fares have significantly decreased in value since 2000. Regulatory inertia is hurting this entire industry.
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SF Cab Driver said:
Personally I'm against any meter increase right now. I would like the surcharge for pick ups from SFO to be raised to $4.00 though.
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Gretchen said:
Once he gets this quality of life issue settled maybe he can look at other problems such as homicide rates, panhandling, gangs, drugs, public urination, drive by shootings, grafitti, truancy, public drunkenness, Muni, potholes, etc. But first, let's get those illegal limos under control.
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SF Cab Driver said:
Hurray for Sandoval. Illegal operators are a public safety issue. These drivers who are hustling the streets of the City are fringe operators, not legitimate car services. Most don't have license plates on their vehicles, they display phony TCP numbers and are uninsured. They gouge riders by luring them into the car and then charging $5 to $20 per passenger for a ride that should be less than $10 total. Viva Sandoval!
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Examiner Reader said:
Limos are more expensive than cabs. I've taken them a few times and only when the prospect of finding a cab is dire -- New Year's Eve and Friday night downtown. If people want to pay a premium, it's obvious that they'll do so because the alternative is less savory (walking, bus). By trying to solve every city gripe, such as this one from taxi drivers (the only ones complaining), the City will solve nothing. Didn't we recently learn that half of called cabs don't even show on Friday and Saturday night? They have a nerve then complaining about limos.
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Examiner Reader said:
Hey Supervisor Sandoval how about cracking down on crack dealer, users, gang thugs while your at it? These are quantum order issues that we have to deal with daily....obviously the other Daly cares less, maybe you care???
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Examiner Reader said:
Sabatini says "With a low estimate of 700 shifts per year, that would mean a cost increase of at least $3,500 for the cabdrivers." A $5 increase per shift for 5 shifts a week is $25 a week or $1000 a year! Did you get your figures from the UTW clowns and Barry the Liar? As an average increase, what it means is that the busy shift drivers will pay more than $5 a shift and the slow shift drivers will pay the same as now except for the hybrid drivers who will save more than the increase in gas. So how about the real problem in the industry, all the illegal limos, gypsies and out of town cabs poaching all the peak business. Where is the mayor's leadership on this issue?
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