Steve Eldridge, The Examiner
2007-08-24 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

WASHINGTON -

I am writing this before hearing what decision has been made about changing Virginia’s abusive-driver fee, but it will be interesting to see what lawmakers come up with. I might also add that it’s encouraging that the public has been able to change the minds of politicians so quickly on an issue like this.

Too many times legislators wrap themselves in the “public safety” invincibility cloak and say that’s the way it’s going to be. This time, the outcry was too loud to ignore. The one thing I don’t understand, though: When it comes to the issue of only giving these “superfines” to residents, there was a major problem in enforceability for out-of-staters. Has that changed?

Jack writes: “I got a very strange call at home earlier this week from Zogby International asking me to participate in a survey commissioned by the DC Taxicab Commission. The fact that I was surveyed was not strange, that happens all the time, but what struck me was the poll itself.

“The surveyor asked many questions about GPS-based zone systems as a preferred alternative to the current zone system. She asked one question about whether I would prefer the current system, going to a time-and-distance system like most cities have or a GPS zone system. I said I preferred a time-and-distance system, but she essentially ignored that and then asked 10 questions about the GPS zone system. So I assume the commission has already made up its mind, and they asked Zogby to get into the minutia about the GPS zone system so that they can point to some answers that were limited to this system as justification for moving to the system.

“While GPS systems might make sense to make sure that cab drivers are not cheating riders any more than they currently do, which is a lot, I am sure the system will be administered about as well as our public schools, hospitals or fire and rescue.”

Sounds like the DC Taxi Commission is up to their old game of trying to save the oft-abused zone system at any cost.

We also heard from Donald, who says: “I ride Metro twice a day all week and also ride it to Nats games. There are occasions when escalators are shut down for, I think, no apparent reason. Two days ago I came up the Friendship Heights escalator that was not running, while two escalators were operating going down. What is the sense of that? This happens more than one would think.”

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about this issue, but I still don’t know that I’ve heard a good answer for it. Walking on stopped escalators is tough in either direction because of the space between steps and because they are made of metal.

Having to walk up them, though, is even more difficult, and I find it hard to believe that there would be two heading down while passengers were forced to walk up the one that was stopped.

Yes, there is an elevator, but that is inconvenient, and there are still a few people who like to reserve it for those who really need it.