Many District cab drivers stayed home Monday to protest the impending switch from zone fares to time-and-distance meters, but Mayor Adrian Fenty offered no signal that he would change his mind at the 11th hour.
The 12-hour strike was the first of many, warned Willie Wright, president of the D.C. Taxicab Industry Group. The plan, for now, is to strike once a week for two months, followed by a possible escalation come baseball and convention season.
“We don’t want time-and-distance meters, period,” Wright said Monday. “Time-and-distance meters will drive away our business.”
All 7,500 independent D.C. cabs must operate with meters starting April 6. Many drivers have emerged in opposition, fearing meters will herald an end to their independence. The clamor has grown louder since Fenty reduced the proposed fares last month.
“I think that the rate structure that’s been put out is very popular [among riders], but it’s very injurious to the cab driver,” said Ward 1 D.C. Councilman Jim Graham, who has oversight of taxi matters. “It must be re-examined before it’s finalized. This really does impact the livelihood of these cabbies, and they’re sore.”
