San Francisco - SFO to propose minimum $17 cab fare

It's at the bottom of an article discussing cab drivers getting a spot at the head of the line if they're back at the airport on short trips in less than 30 minutes. Apparently they're concerned about speeding drivers rushing back within that 30 minutes window and want a minimum fare as an alternative.

“We’re really concerned about the safety of the passengers and we don’t want the cab drivers speeding,” said McCarron.

McCarron said the Airport Commission wants to drop the program and pose a flat fee on drivers and allow drivers to charge a minimum fare of $17 no matter the distance, whereas the San Francisco Cab Association would rather have a $20 minimum.
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2010/12/08/sfo-airport-commission-says-cab-program-isnt-safe/

I have long thought the "short" ride rule was an invitation for disaster. I've talked about it with SFO taxi drivers; each time they laugh about the kind of crazy driving that encourages.

I have long thought the "short" ride rule was an invitation for disaster. I've talked about it with SFO taxi drivers; each time they laugh about the kind of crazy driving that encourages.

Maybe, but it's been done at other airports -- LHR comes to mind -- for decades.

$20 to drive where? Anywhere in SF? Anywhere in the bay area? I'm surprised cabbies are supporting this.

One way to get around the problems, this would be to do a time and distance-based program. The pax would tell the dispatcher his/her destination and if it's within a perimeter, the cabbie gets a ticket. If the cabbie returns within 30 mins, no waiting.

In some places like LIS and other cities with close-in airports, I've had numerous problems with cabbies because theres is no such program.

$20 to drive where? Anywhere in SF? Anywhere in the bay area? I'm surprised cabbies are supporting this.

One way to get around the problems, this would be to do a time and distance-based program. The pax would tell the dispatcher his/her destination and if it's within a perimeter, the cabbie gets a ticket. If the cabbie returns within 30 mins, no waiting.

In some places like LIS and other cities with close-in airports, I've had numerous problems with cabbies because theres is no such program.

No, that would be a MINIMUM fare. The meter would run as usual, and if at the end of the ride, it was less than $17 or $20 (whichever was picked), it would be upped to the minimum.

Maybe, but it's been done at other airports -- LHR comes to mind -- for decades.

I wonder if anyone has compared the accident rates for the short trips compared to the longer ones. It might be hard to collect the data for that.

Why don't they introduce a graduated system -- your returning place in line is in proportion to the duration of the trip you just took? Probably a bit too sophisticated to implement though... here in Silicon Valley...

I hate the short trip system. Cabbies do 95 down 101 to make it back on time. Some of them drive like bats out of hell with my daughter in the cab, thinking my house will be within short-trip distance (it's not). I shouldn't have to tell them to slow down.

I heard that a cabbie got killed in a wreck just a few days ago -- probably trying to make a short.

Just get back in line and play Big Deuce like everyone else, IMHO.

$17 to drive to the In-N-Out at Millbrae? Not happening (any more).

$17 to drive to the In-N-Out at Millbrae? Not happening (any more).

$4 to get there on BART, though not nearly as convenient, especially weekdays before 7 PM, when you have to transfer at San Bruno.

$4 to get there on BART, though not nearly as convenient, especially weekdays before 7 PM, when you have to transfer at San Bruno.

I can usually get a cabbie to do it for $8 r/t and will sometimes throw in a burger/fries and a drink if I get any resistance. Always an interesting and educational experience, sharing a meal with a cabbie.

I can usually get a cabbie to do it for $8 r/t and will sometimes throw in a burger/fries and a drink if I get any resistance. Always an interesting and educational experience, sharing a meal with a cabbie.

I'm surprised they go for it. The wait for the burger and fries has to make the trip much longer than 30 minutes.

I'm surprised they go for it. The wait for the burger and fries has to make the trip much longer than 30 minutes.

No one is more surprised than I when they go for it. I consider it a practice session of my bargaining abilities when I am enroute to Asia.:D