Taxis, Fares, Downtown Columbus

One of my main gripes about downtown and Columbus in general, is the lack of public transportation. While Cota does everything it can, it's not easy to catch a bus on the weekends. There's no train, there's not a good way for convention center visitors to get out of their immediate area.

I'm more concerned with the transportation issues of people who live downtown. Again, it all comes back to quality of life. IF you live downtown, and if you work downtown and if you shop dowtown, could you truly live your life carless in dowtown Columbus?

Midwesterners like us don't get the concept of not having a car, that's why people bristle at condo projects with no parking. Cabs are a very important part of life in a metropolis. Taxis often go unnoticed but I am positive they will begin to play a much bigger role downtown as more and more people move there.
That said, I have noticed an increase in taxis patrolling the downtown area. Not too long ago, you'd have to hoof it to a taxi stand if you needed a lift as opposed to sticking out your arm and flagging one down. Blue Taxi in particular seems to have really stepped it up downtown. I noticed this especially when walking through downtown on the way to and from Comfest a couple weeks ago.That bodes well for the future of downtown.

Sure, streetcars aren't a bad idea-- but hey, hop into a cab and you're off. Cabs exist now. Cabs aren't too expensive. A marketing campaign from a smart cab company would cost a lot less than the materials and infrastructure for streetcars that won't even go East and West of downtown - the two areas that need residents and businesses the most

.Excerpts from today's dispatch. . . .
Meter running on request to raise taxi fares
City Council to decide Monday on first rate increase in 6 years
The council in February 2000 approved a dime increase for every two-ninths of a mile that the passenger travels, at a time when gas was around $1.40 a gallon.
Given that gas is now closer to $3 a gallon and the cost of living is undoubtedly higher, cabdrivers and company officials are trying to increase the cost of a cab ride in Columbus. The cabbies are asking that the basic fee for a cab ride start at $2.75, which would be 75 cents more than the current $2 rate.
They also want fares to go up from that by 45 cents, instead of 40 cents, for every two-ninths of a mile driven. "I’ve heard no objections. This is a very appropriate and important increase," Councilman Mike Mentel said.
"Sometimes we (forget) how important the cab industry is for local business." Columbus has 17 areas, the majority of them Downtown, where a few drivers can wait to pick up fares, . . . .But there should be more . . .

"I think we’re the only city in the world with a convention center that doesn’t have a cab stand at the center," he said before the hearing. "The nearest cab stand is at the Hyatt.
It’s crazy."Many times, cabdrivers are ticketed for driving too slowly as they wait for fares, said James Stofer, president of the Yellow Cab Co. The $35 tickets each add two points on a driver’s license.The council will vote on the increase Monday.
If approved, it would take effect 30 days later.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Jodi Andes
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
jandes@dispatch.com