From Deseret News archives:
Salt Lake proposal pits taxicabs, shuttles
A couple of dozen residents showed up to vent their views about the city's taxi service as city leaders sought public comment on Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson's proposed amendments to the city's taxicab regulations.
The council put off a decision on the new rules until at least Aug. 24.
Many cabbies and representatives of the city's three cab companies — Yellow, Ute and City — showed up to encourage the council to adopt Anderson's proposal. The cab companies say the changes are needed to protect them from suburban shuttle services, which are not regulated and are stealing their business.
"The cab companies have been robbed by these gypsy transportation companies for some time now," cab driver Ralph Elnes said.
But others complained the shuttle services provide better service and should be able to compete for business.
"Why are we the gypsies?" asked Abdul Afridi, who claimed his shuttle service is licensed and better and cleaner than the taxi cabs. The new rules, if adopted, would forbid outside transportation services from picking up passengers without at least 45 minutes notice.
Some hotel managers from Little America and the Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown agreed that outside transportation companies are serving a need downtown.
Many said the city taxicabs are dirty, and a large group backed by the Disabled Rights Action Committee begged the city to force the cab companies to create accessible vans. Currently, there are no accessible taxicabs in Salt Lake City.
"We do not have accessible transportation for people with disabilities in this city, and we need to have it for everybody," said Peter Staniewicz, a disabled resident.
Anderson's chief of staff Sam Guevara said the mayor's office is developing a plan to get the cab companies to have wheelchair accessible vans.
Still, Yellow Cab boss Don Barron said it wasn't cost-effective for the taxi companies to equip their cabs with wheelchair lifts.
Under Anderson's proposal, the cab companies could petition for a rate increase this year instead of waiting until 2005. They could also decrease their service during the slow summer months while increasing service during the peak winter season.
The cab companies want starting fares increased to $1.75 from $1.60. They want the per-mile charge increased to $1.70 from $1.60, the per-hours waiting fee to $22 from $21 and the minimum airport charge increased to $12 from $10.
Rates have not been increased since 1997.
