Hail-a-cab Approved
The City Council approved a proposal that allows taxis to pick up hailing passengers in zones that used to be restricted to taxi cabs. This allows taxis to wait less in lines at taxi zones and allows them to roam free on the street looking for hailing customers.
The New Rules
- Taxis are now allowed to pick up passengers in red zones
- Taxis are also allowed to pick up passengers in lanes that become no parking zones during rush hours
- Taxis are allowed to double park to pick up and drop of passengers
- Taxis are NOT allowed to pick up or drop off passengers at bus stops
Around downtown signs declare the new rules to citizens, encouraging them to stick out their hands and hail a taxi like New Yorkers. Now that cabs are allowed to roam free and pull over wherever Los Angeles taxi cab drivers are happier and so are riders.
"It is a lot better for me and for them. I don't have to worry about getting ticketed for picking up passengers and I get more business, and the passengers can get picked up when they want to," said taxi driver Finhas Gebrechal.
Still working out the kinks
Los Angeles still has a long way till it has a cab culture. Most people in Los Angles own cars, therefore the amount of people that use public transportation does not compare to the number of people in New York City that use public transportation. But, they hope that the program will promote the use of public transportation and hopefully will prevent the LA traffic that we all know and love.
The fares for taxis in Los Angeles are still relatively high, which does not encourage riders take advantage of the new hail-a-taxi program. Whereas fares in New York City are a lot cheaper, due mostly in part to the fact that more people use taxis.
But now that taxis are no longer waiting in lines as frequently they will be doing more short distance rides than they have done in the past.
Trial Period
The program will have a trial period of six months, where they will evaluate how it is working and what they can do to make taxis more efficient. The trial period is mainly being tested in the Downtown-area and in Hollywood. If it works there, they will think about expanding the program throughout the Los Angeles area.
