Law could spur shuttle crackdown

While people can't hail shuttles on the streets, people should be able to call and arrange shuttle service "in advance" if they want, shuttle operators say.

There is much disagreement over what "in advance" should mean and there is little direction in the city's transportation ordinance. For instance, does in advance mean 15 minutes, five hours or two days?

"Basically, the problem right now is that there is a lack of clarity regarding the definitions of various kinds of services," Anderson's spokeswoman Deeda Seed said.

In the past, Anderson was accused of being too chummy with the cab companies. He and the City Council have argued about whether he should have claimed as free advertising the taxi window wraps that Yellow Cab drivers put on their cabs during his 2003 re-election bid.

Goff and Seed said they expect the City Council will look to clarify the city's transportation ordinances in the near future. Earlier this year the council paid $42,000 for a consultant to study the city's cab system. The consultant ruled the system should be dismantled and reorganized as a franchise system — a move the consultant said would lead to greater competition, better service and more industry profits.

The taxi companies vigorously disagreed and maintain a few tweaks to the current laws would fix most problems.

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