Mayor Adrian M. Fenty announced yesterday that he will require time-and-distance meters in the District's 6,000 taxicabs, abandoning a rare zone system that has been used for decades and heralding major changes in the way the local taxi industry operates.

Link (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/17/AR2007101700802.html)

very happy to see this being changed ... I never knew the zones well enough to know if I was being ripped off (and hated that you had to pay a few more bucks just for picking up the taxi on one side of the road/corner vs the other - stupid!)

The zone system has its plusses and minuses. The worst thing about it is that you can have a fairly short trip that ends up being three zones if both your departure point and arrival point are near the edge of the zone in between. The best thing about it is that you can get all the way across town in a single zone. I feel that the zones were set up to benefit lobbyists going from K St to Capitol Hill.

Personally, I look forward to the meter system.

Well, there go my $15 cab rides to DCA. Thanks to living on the edge of a zone, I pick up cabs down the block and save $3-$5 each way to DCA. On the positive side, it will no longer cost $18 to get to the Hill.

I feel that the zones were set up to benefit lobbyists going from K St to Capitol Hill.


The other benefit of the zone system was for the g-men, since the fares were always known in advance meaning there could be no playing with expense sheets to scam the government.

This was also suggested a few years back and in my conversations with the cabbies then the cabbies were very opposed to it, mostly because it would generate an actual history of their travels, meaning that they'd actually have to declare all their income for taxes. With the zone system things were a bit more "flexible" on that front.

S.

I quite enjoyed the "flexibility" on the zone system. I have the cell number for my favourite cabbie and have used him exclusively for my last 15 or so trips to DCA. The tab from Woodley to DCA: $15. I always tip well and since he lives nearby, he can head to the airport with a guaranteed fare and decent tip to start out his day at 0600.

It's about time.

Now visitors can worry about the route their taxi is taking. But its probably better for locals.

Well, there go my $15 cab rides to DCA. Thanks to living on the edge of a zone, I pick up cabs down the block and save $3-$5 each way to DCA. On the positive side, it will no longer cost $18 to get to the Hill.

I am afraid I don't get this. The zone system doesn't apply to trips to MD and VA. You are supposed to go by mileage even in DC cabs.

I am afraid I don't get this. The zone system doesn't apply to trips to MD and VA. You are supposed to go by mileage even in DC cabs.

I take cabs to DCA a couple times every week from the district. Many of my cabs are zoned oriented - typical fare for me is around $26 (incl. tip) which is 5 or 6 zones i think.

happy to see the meter come though, besides airport rides, most of my fares are close hops, so this will save money for me.

I take cabs to DCA a couple times every week from the district. Many of my cabs are zoned oriented - typical fare for me is around $26 (incl. tip) which is 5 or 6 zones i think.

happy to see the meter come though, besides airport rides, most of my fares are close hops, so this will save money for me.

Back to You want to go where?'s point, all trips to MD or VA are milage based. Once you arrive at the destination, the cab driver is supposed to pull out a chart and give you your fare based on the mileage.

The fact that two posters on here have been given Zone based fares to DCA, shows how rampant the abuse is. Thats the point of forcing meters.

The abuse is evn worse at peak entertainment times. Try getting a cab anywhere on a Fri/Sat night after 11pm and see if you are ever charged the approprate amount.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/29/AR2007102900891.html?hpid=topnews
[b]D.C. Taxicab Drivers Planning Wednesday Strike[b]
By Sue Anne Pressley Montes, Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, October 29, 2007; 12:08 PM

Some D.C. taxicab drivers are set to strike for 24 hours beginning at 6 a.m. Wednesday. But it was unclear today how many drivers will participate in the action to protest Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's decision to switch to meters, and what impact their absence will have on service.

Organizers of the strike said as many as half the city's 7,500 drivers plan to stay home Wednesday. Their claims are difficult to gauge, however, because there have been no mass meetings on a strike, and the taxi industry is represented by several organizations. They disagree with the Mayor... so they're taking it out on the passengers. Jeez, these guys could be airline employees.

I loved the zone system since I knew how to make it work for me even if the cabbies hated it. :D

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/29/AR2007102900891.html?hpid=topnews
They disagree with the Mayor... so they're taking it out on the passengers. Jeez, these guys could be airline employees.

They can strike all they want, it isn't going to have an effect like in NY. Even there it had a very limited effect.

I loved the zone system since I knew how to make it work for me even if the cabbies hated it. :D

I know how to make it work too, but I'm looking forward to fewer arguments. It is 1 zone from my house to office, but they ALWAYS try to charge me 2. It is very irritating. I guess I save a buck, because I usually don't tip them after trying to rip me off, but I'd rather avoid the conflict all together.

I know how to make it work too, but I'm looking forward to fewer arguments. It is 1 zone from my house to office, but they ALWAYS try to charge me 2. It is very irritating. I guess I save a buck, because I usually don't tip them after trying to rip me off, but I'd rather avoid the conflict all together.

I can understand that. A lot of cabbies either don't know the zone system's demarcations or pretend that they don't in order to unfairly extract more money out of passengers. I usually don't have that issue as I get in the cab and tell them right away that I know it's X zone(s) (and Y amount of money) by going the way I am telling them to go and so they should go my way. Instead the issue that I sometimes have is that they then want to pick up another passenger.

Are they going to also change the protocol so that the taxi sign light being on means that the cab is actually available? (That's how it works in a lot of other cities.)

Are they going to also change the protocol so that the taxi sign light being on means that the cab is actually available? (That's how it works in a lot of other cities.)
That's a good question. Without multiple meters, I'm not sure how they would price multiple fares. I hate it when they pick other people up and won't get in a cab if someone else is already in it.

Back to You want to go where?'s point, all trips to MD or VA are milage based. Once you arrive at the destination, the cab driver is supposed to pull out a chart and give you your fare based on the mileage.

The fact that two posters on here have been given Zone based fares to DCA, shows how rampant the abuse is. Thats the point of forcing meters.

The abuse is evn worse at peak entertainment times. Try getting a cab anywhere on a Fri/Sat night after 11pm and see if you are ever charged the approprate amount.

Had many occasions of taking cabs from DC to VA, and never had the same fare despite going to the same destination. I only realized rather recently that the driver had a card to refer to, and this was then that I realized that I was overcharged over $5 each trip! It is about time we have the meters! I'm getting tired of not only being overcharged, but as well as riding in old, non-airconditioned cabs esp. on hot summer days.

Sorry, what I didn't get was someone getting charged on a zone basis, when there is no zone in Northern VA. I couldn't understand how the driver could calculate this. Clearly, the drivers aren't sure either.

I do support the elimination of zones, even though I think it is going to be harder than many think (not referring to FTers here) to implement it. The zone system isn't a problem for me because I tell DC drivers what the fare is, I don't ask them. As far as travel to VA and MD is concerned, I call a taxi from one of those jurisdictions if I am traveling there. That way I have a metered taxi, and no problems. More importantly, though, DC needs a system which is easy for tourists and non-frequent visitors to understand. The zone system just doesn't cut it for that, even when it is being used honestly and fairly.

Mayor Fenty had a press conference where he announce the new fares. It will be $4.00 (!!!) for the drop, and intial 1/6 of a mile. Then it will be $.25 for every additional 1/6 of a mile. For comparison sake, NYC's flag drop fare is $2.50 and $.40 for every 1/5 of a mile.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/01/AR2007110101309.html?sub=AR

Mayor Fenty had a press conference where he announce the new fares. It will be $4.00 (!!!) for the drop, and intial 1/6 of a mile. Then it will be $.25 for every additional 1/6 of a mile. For comparison sake, NYC's flag drop fare is $2.50 and $.40 for every 1/5 of a mile.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/01/AR2007110101309.html?sub=AR
I didn't use the taxi often in DC but wasn't the minimum around $4 with the zone system?

I didn't use the taxi often in DC but wasn't the minimum around $4 with the zone system?

$6.50. That same $6.50 now gets you almost 2 miles. I assume they will keep the extra dollar per customer gouge along with the other stupid fees for luggage.

That's a good question. Without multiple meters, I'm not sure how they would price multiple fares. I hate it when they pick other people up and won't get in a cab if someone else is already in it.

I mainly come into DC via Union Station and of late it is impossible to get into a cab that does not insist on ride sharing. Maybe this will do away with that.

I mainly come into DC via Union Station and of late it is impossible to get into a cab that does not insist on ride sharing. Maybe this will do away with that.

Union station is the worst for that.

Folks are fighting the change claiming its all for tourists and bad for residents

Union station is the worst for that.

And as it has been for decades, so that continues. :eek:

Folks are fighting the change claiming its all for tourists and bad for residents
Fortunately, it doesn'tseem like anyone is listening or sympathetic. $13 for 4 people to go from 18th and K to 12th and E is outrageous. Granted we had some boxes and a few computer bags, but the lazy assed driver never touched them. Sure did charge us for them though.

Well, there go my $15 cab rides to DCA. Thanks to living on the edge of a zone, I pick up cabs down the block and save $3-$5 each way to DCA. On the positive side, it will no longer cost $18 to get to the Hill.

More trips on the Metro for me when in DC on business. I had for decades planned my hotels around the Zones and the location of offices I needed to visit. I'm sure that taxi fares from DCA will climb, all the more reason to "Metro" in....

More trips on the Metro for me when in DC on business. I had for decades planned my hotels around the Zones and the location of offices I needed to visit. I'm sure that taxi fares from DCA will climb, all the more reason to "Metro" in....

The DCA cabs into town were never on a zone - that was mileage based. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if the rates went up.

As for Metroing it in, I'm fully converted. I can be at Metro Center in 25-30 minutes on the train, and the cab isn't much faster at 8:15am. The cost savings are significant (even when a client is paying) and the train is really quite efficient. I'm also a huge fan of supporting any pubic transit to airports, even on business, as I want them to be there on my personal trips as well, when someone else isn't footing the bill.