Livechatting about Boston taxis

I obviously have not been the only one who has seen the problem with our city's taxicabs. I'm a very infrequent user of taxicabs, but I see the problem as citywide, since the state of our cabs affects residents and visitors alike.

Here is the letter I sent to the Boston City Council on Sunday night, regarding taxicabs and the lack of weekend transportation in the city.

To: Mr. Mayor & the Boston City Council
From: Sean Colby, Boston Resident.
RE: Transportation in the City of Boston

Dear Sirs & Madams,

On a recent night, I was driving through the City of Boston’s Financial District at approximately 1:00am, and was very disappointed at the sight I was seeing.

As I drove from street to street, I counted no less than 30 people attempting to unsuccessfully hail taxicabs in a time span of less than 15 minutes. Multiple people had their hands up, unsuccessfully attempting to hail passing taxicabs that were already full. These people, ranging in age from approximately 21 to 45, would even run past each other while attempting to hail the taxicab before someone else could. As I left the Financial District and made my way to Boylston Street, I saw the very same thing. It took this experience to conclude and share with you this very simple finding: transportation in Boston is absolutely abysmal.

It is embarrassing to live in a city that so severely limits the amount of available taxicab medallions that residents, visitors, and tourists must physically jockey for position and walk from block to block in an attempt to hail an available taxicab during peak hours. Although rules were put in place years ago that required taxicabs to install a rooftop light to indicate their availability, a system that is in place in many other major cities, they have never been implemented. Taxicabs drive around the city with the lights currently installed on their roofs either on or off; however, this indicates nothing regarding their availability. There are still reports all the time via various social media websites that taxicab drivers in Boston still refuse to accept credit cards payments or make it very difficult for fares by lying about the functionality of their reader. This is unacceptable.

The city has done nothing to encourage the MBTA to extend subway and bus service past normal operating hours on weekends. Scores of people who choose to visit Downtown Boston’s bars and nightclubs on weekend nights are left with few transportation options after MBTA service ends at 12:45am. Visitors must attempt to find an available taxicab or drive. Although the MBTA has often cited cost and/or maintenance as the reasons they cannot extend subway service, I find that this is an unacceptable excuse when many other cities extend weekend service with no problem. Boston and the surrounding municipalities that the MBTA serves have not pressed the MBTA hard enough to continue to serve those who need transportation late on weekends and do not own a car or cannot afford a taxicab.

I truly believe that Boston cannot consider itself a world class city when it leaves its residents and visitors with no way to traverse the city while burying its head in the sand and pretending that no problem exists.

To improve taxi service in the city, I suggest the following:
• Increase the amount of available taxicab medallions in the city to allow for more taxicabs. If someone can afford to purchase the rights to a taxicab medallion, why not allow them to do so? In the end, everybody wins; the city, the residents, and the taxicab owner.
• Enforce rules that mandate taxicabs to install lights on their rooftops that indicate their availability. Taxicabs in major cities nationwide follow this rule, and it is absolutely a no-brainer. I don’t understand why somebody who wishes to hail a taxicab should be forced to keep their hand up continually to hail a taxicab that is simply not available. Having taxicabs install these lights will allow prospective fares to simply look for the illuminated light.
• Create The Greater Boston Can Coalition. This coalition would issue taxicab medallions to taxicabs in Boston and surrounding communities that participate (I.e. Cambridge, Somerville, Revere, Chelsea, Brookline, and Quincy). By doing this, taxicabs from these communities would all have the same medallions (and possibly even be painted the same color) and would be able to pick up fares within all these communities without penalty. By creating a coalition, the number of available cabs would increase dramatically in each city. For example, a Boston taxicab would pick up a fare at Logan Airport and drop it off in Cambridge, and then pick up a fare in Cambridge and drop it off in Somerville. A taxicab in Cambridge could pick up a fare in Cambridge, drop it off in Boston, and pick up another one and bring it to Brookline. Again, the number of available cabs increases and the shortage of taxicabs is eliminated. A central licensing authority could be created to issue medallions and police taxicab rules and safety. Participating cities could share profits from medallion sales. I understand that taxicab owners in each city may be initially opposed to this, but in the end the available area in which they could pick up fares would dramatically increase. This would potentially increase their overall revenue, and prospective taxicab users would be far better served.

To improve public transportation, I suggest the following:
• Boston and surrounding communities served by the MBTA should implore the MBTA to extend subway and/or bus service past normal operating hours on Friday and Saturday nights.

I truly believe that at least some of the 30+ people I observed frantically waving for taxicabs this past Saturday night could have reached their destination by MBTA instead. Our residents and tourists are truly alienated when they attempt to find a cheap, viable transportation option late on weekend nights. These people are again forced to pay more for a taxicab, when one is available, or drive, which is dangerous if he or she is inebriated. Although I still feel strongly about improving taxicab service in the city, I feel equally as strong about better public transportation. It is not possible for some people to afford taxicabs, and those who work late on weekend nights are again forced to take a more expensive taxicab or drive.

World class cities have great public transportation options for those wishing to use them. Sadly, we do not. Our transportation options on weekend nights are truly disappointing and sad. We as a city should want more for our residents and visitors. We as a city should also be doing everything possible to attract more residents and visitors. By blatantly advertising our poor transportation options on weekends, how do we ever wish to accomplish this?

I care about our city and I want more. This is a campaign for a better Boston. Please join me.

Sincerely,

Sean J. Colby
Boston, MA

The above is what I wrote, and just my two cents. Agree or disagree, our transportation situation is terrible and something needs to be done. I agree fully that taxicab drivers don't have it easy; however, it's not an easy job in any city. So, why do other cities provide better cab service than Boston?

I've received no response as of yet, but I hope with all the recent discussion on here and continued pressing of the city council that they will eventually look into this issue.