Glens Falls is looking at its taxicab regulations with an eye toward increasing fares while making sure people of modest means, who rely on taxis for everyday use, can still afford the services. The changes are still in draft form.
The current draft shared with FoothillsBusinessDaily.com removes the “zoned fare" system.
A zoned fare says there is one cost to take a cab within one zone—say the center of downtown Glens Falls—while paying a higher rate once the cab crosses a line into the next zone.
The new regulations would allow for a cab ride to be determined by mileage or another method as outlined by the Common Council, said Ward 5 Councilman Jim Clark. He is heading the council’s Special Projects Committee which is looking at this issue.
The draft at this time does not outline exactly what will replace the zones, but only: "No taxicab operator shall charge a passenger or passengers a fare that is more than the rates established and approved by the Common Council within the designated City limits."
That line hints at another major change: the city no longer must amend the city's code in order to change fares. Under the new rules a simple vote on a resolution by the Common Council will do, and the Council will look at fares and other fees annually.
"[The taxicab code] is antiquated, and just like a lot of our city codes it needs to be updated,” Clark said. He said the committee is trying to help local businesses survive when competing against rideshare apps, but also keep prices down for those who need the help.
"You're not going to make everybody happy," he said.
Tom Davis co-owns Carol’s Cab Company which operates out of the Empire Pizza building on Hudson Street in downtown Glens Falls. He said he has not gone to every meeting of the committee but wants to see two major changes: a fare increase and the removal of the in-city office requirement.
He said a typical fare in Glens Falls is $4. He would like to see the minimum, in-town fare to be about $7.
Current code says that any cab company wishing to pick up a passenger in the city must also operate a staffed office in the city.
"Try explaining to people: 'What do you mean you can't pick me up? You can drop me off but you can’t pick me up?'," Davis said. The law does allow cabs from anywhere to drop off a rider in the city, but the cab cannot pick up another, unless the cab company has an office in town.
Davis said he operates in places like Saratoga where a permit is required but not an office. He would like to see that change made. The committee is working on that and has been talking with Davis and other cab company owners.
The draft changes also allow taxicabs to run third-party advertisements inside or on the outside of the cab and therefore generate more income per ride.
"Will it generate a ton of money? Who knows," Clark said, “but it's a new opportunity.”
Like so many companies during COVID, Davis said he is running on a skeleton crew. He runs just two or three cars a day, when pre-COVID he had six. He does not have the drivers to do the work.
He said: "I do about 100 calls a day. Normally I'd do about 200 without the pandemic."
The plans are still in draft form and may have changed even from the copy that FoothillsBusinessDaily.com has, Clark warned. However, those shared include:
- Added, a definition: “MEDICAB: Vehicles that provide transportation to Medicaid eligible individuals to and from the doctor’s offices, hospitals or another medical office and appointments for Medicaid approved care and ‘non-emergency medical transportation.’”
- Removed: Code section 198-16A, the section that establishes the fares based on a zone system and all of the fares outlined within those zones.
- Removed: the exact amount of fares charged to customers. In its stead: “No taxicab operator shall charge a passenger or passengers a fare that is more than the rates established and approved by the Common Council within the designated City limits. The Common Council may from time to time amend, set rates/fares by Council Resolution.”
- Permitting and licensing fees charged to owners and drivers would no longer be part of the city code. The language about them has changed to: “The Common Council may amend fees via Council Resolution, as needed.”
- Added: “At the driver’s discretion one additional paying passenger/party may share the vehicle at a reduced rate. However, the initial passenger may refuse but will be charged a premium rate established by the Common Council.”
- Added: “Taxicabs may advertise statement that fares must be paid before trip commencement, the rate schedule, name and telephone number of operating taxicab and number assigned to taxicab without consent of the Board of Public Safety. Other types of advertising on or in the vehicle that is appropriate and decent in nature, not distracting in design and presentation may be displayed with approval of the Board of Public Safety.”
The next meeting is planned for Sept. 14 after the regular Glens Falls Common Council meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in the council chamber, City Hall, 42 Ridge St.