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Jul 29, 2007 6:54 pm US/Central
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Taxi Drivers Threaten To Park Cabs On Tuesday
Drivers Plan to Stop Driving To Secure Fare Increases
by Katie McCall
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Catching a cab in Chicago could be a challenge this week. Drivers are threatening to park their cabs if the city doesn't raise fares.
CBS 2's Katie McCall reports on the cabbies' demands.
Tuesday is the day cab drivers are planning to shut off their engines. They say it's a simple equation – the cost of doing business is going up, so they believe fares should go up too.
Just about every cabdriver CBS 2 spoke to in Streeterville says Tuesday will be a day off – a day spent with their cabs parked in protest against the City of Chicago.
The drivers are demanding a fare increase. Their last one came in 2005. Drivers say since then, gas prices and insurance rates have risen along with operational costs.
The demonstration is also to raise awareness about tickets drivers say they receive just to generate revenue to the city.
Taxis currently charge $2.25 for the flag pull and 20 cents each additional ninth of a mile.
A second passenger costs you $1 and you now pay 50 cents for every additional passenger beyond three.
Some drivers say $3 a flag pull would help them to make ends meet.
"The cost of running a cab and making some money for our families is getting down," said cab driver Omar Mohamed. "The gas and the cost of living is getting higher so we deserve to get a piece of the problem, you know?"
CBS 2 did find one cab driver who is not taking part in Tuesday's protest, but he did not want to be seen on camera for fear other drivers would retaliate.
The drivers' demand for a fare increase comes at a time when customer complaints about cabs are on the rise. The Department of Consumer Services logged more than 5,000 complaints about drivers during the first half of 2007, compared to 7,400 complaints in all of 2006.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)