European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 26, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse America troubled taxis Bykens franckling United press International Merica s cab Drivers have become a coast to coast Heel of Rodney danger held from tourists and business travellers alike. They get no respect Boston and new to k have Loo Lew cabs to meet the demand. Seattle has Loo Many. City alter City has declared War an unlicensed outlaw or Bandit Drivers who tire taking business away Dom licensed cabbies. In me District of Columbia a confusing rate Structure has thrown the cab regulatory system in the nation s capital Inlo a Tizzy residents and visitors alike Tell o Long wails sometimes stretching 1 to 2 hours alter telephoning Lor a cab wild rides and muddled brains in figuring fares. There Are moves afoot in some cities to dress up Drivers with either uniforms or dress codes at who same time passengers Are dressing Down Drivers Lor rudeness shabby cabs and the Cardinal sin of cab Dom nol knowing their Way around we be got problems with Drivers who Don t know what they re doing in come cities anybody can buy a cab and Pul it on the says Steve Shiehan. Editor and publisher of Boston based to news digest a 4,000 circulation Magazine Sheehan. 3 cabbie Lor in years who is ill drives on occasion says there is Lillic incentive to be a cabbie anymore you work for 12 hours through the worst to Alec conditions in the world you gel no respect from the Industry from your passengers from the other Drivers on Trie Road you re a loner out there by yourself you get beat up you get shot at you gel no Protection you get a Crummy cat to drive it Breaks Down and you lose Money while in s being Lix cd " cab regulations vary from City to City and so do rates. The passenger who pays $3 40 for a 3-mile ride m Baltimore will have to Shell out �5 65 to travel the same distance in san Francisco Boston a booming cily whose hotel and office space and convention business have incur used by so percent since 1980, has the same number of licensed cabs if had in 1940. There Are Only 1,525 medallions issued in Boson the police department s Hackney division will decide this Tail whether to recommend an increase during Peak hours Between 3 and 6 p when a lot of businessmen have to leave the City they find it difficult to get a cab the cabs Are caught in the same gridlock As the rest of the traffic says capt Donald Levine head of Boston s Hackney division in new York City where hailing a cab is an ail form the number of licensed Axis has not changed in 50 years. There Are 11.787 yellow medallion cabs in the big Apple making an estimated 600,000 trips per Day 200 million trips Pel year the City Council recently approved legislation o add t ,600 More cabs to the Licet the City s taxi and limousine commission has 18 months o study the Impact and make a recommendation to the Council in july a minimum dress code went into effect Tor new York cabbies it requires a shirt with a Collar and you get no Protection to Crummy cab to drive it Breaks Down Antt Youlie Money White to a being tie to " sleeves hemmed pants or jeans or shorts no higher than mid thigh. It bans Cut off shorts and open toes sandals. It is similar to rules Boston imposed a year ago new York s major Fleet owners arc considering summer and Winter uniforms Lor cabbies in Chicago. Checker cab co president Jerry Feldman would be Happy to see cabbies in uniform once people put on a uniform they acl Bulter they look boiler and drive better i d love loses them m the same uniform As a bus Driver Feldman said in Dallas. The biggest cab problem is outlaw Drivers Hose who have been lived trom companies but who r on Nufi so work using stolen decals business is slow our Economy is slowing Down there has been a lot More Money and they Are hard so says Rick Ramirez investigator with lhiembar26.1987 the stars and stripes Page 15
