For many Chicagoans, most of what they've seen of Dmitry Samarov is from the back seat of his Scion cab, or what they've gleaned from his observations of the city via his paintings and pencil drawings. Now that University of Chicago Press has released Samarov's first book, Hack: Stories From a Chicago Cab, the artist, writer and cab driver is showing up everywhere, from the pages of The Trib to Bob Edward's Talk of the Nation to an art show at Saki Records with musician Chris Brokaw (see the info for tonight's opening reception of "Music and Baseball" at the end of the interview). more ›

No, it wasn't a scene from Transformers 3 filming around downtown. It was a very real crash that hurt seven people and sent four to the hospital as a crash sent a cab into a 7-11 store at the corner of Wabash and Adams late last night. The cab was travelling west on Adams when another driver, shooting south on Wabash in a Toyota Corolla, ran a red light at the intersection and crashed into the cab, sending it careening into the store. The offending car crashed into a newstand outside the store. Both drivers, a passenger from the Corolla, and a pedestrian were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries and three people hurt at the scene refused treatment. The driver of the Corolla was charged with with disobeying the traffic signal and no insurance. more ›

By a unanimous 109-0 vote, the State House voted to toughen requirements for cab drivers. Under the bill - which now heads to the State Senate - potential cab drivers must be 21 years of age and have had a driver's license for at least three years. Their driving record must also be clear of "serious traffic convictions, such as for drag racing, hit-and-run accidents or vehicular manslaughter for three years before becoming cabdrivers." more ›

Most of us have been there before: it's a late night of drinking and partying but suddenly your friends bail without telling you and you're left sitting in the corner of a 4 a.m. bar alone except for the bag of Taco Bell you bought two hours before. You need a ride home but the streets are empty and you don't have any cab companies stored in your cell phone. How do you get home? Have the bar call you a cab. Keep waiting for a cab. Walk. Call and wake up your BFF if you have to. Just don't call 911 unless it's an actual emergency. It may seem like common sense, but one man recently learned the hard way this is a no-no. more ›

As the fallout from Blackhawks star Patrick Kane's arrest continues, his lawyer is now claiming there was no crime committed. Paul Cambria, Kane's attorney, spoke to ESPN 1000 today and said, among other things: more ›

Cab driver Fred Batrony (pictured right) is in police custody today after an alleged sexual assault of a female passenger late Friday night. The 24-year-old woman hailed Batrony's cab near Fullerton and Clark and asked him to take her to Diversey and Clark. Instead, Batrony allegedly took the woman to a secluded area and assaulted her before dropping her off. Once she was out of the cab, the woman contacted police and gave them a detailed description of Batrony and his cab. Police tracked him down late last night and he's been charged with kidnapping and criminal sexual abuse. [ABC 7, CBN] more ›

With Memorial Day here and gone and Summer officially here - even if it doesn't feel like it - it's time for the seasonal increase in gas prices. And with Chicago still at the top in the nation in terms of gas prices ($2.76/gallon over the national average of $2.49/gallon), we've crossed that magical threshold of $2.70 per gallon that initiates the 50-cents-a-ride gas surcharge for cabs, which went back into effect on Friday. [Sun-Times] more ›

After all that huffing, puffing, and striking, it turns out cab drivers may not get that fare hike they've been after all this time.

Norma Reyes, commissioner of the city's newly merged Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Services, said Thursday that circumstances have changed in the weeks and months since she promised to push through Chicago's first cab fare hike in four years. more ›

For what feels like the umpteenth time, Chicago's cabbies are demanding a fare hike and threatening to strike, but instead of just talking the talk, today they walked the walk. Literally. A group of cab drivers protested in the loop demanding an immediate 16 percent fare increase. Lest you forget, this shitstorm revolves around the dropping of the gas surcharge since gas prices have dropped below a set threshold, and the cabbies want the fare hike by January 1. City Hall hasn't complied but has said a hike is in works, though it wouldn't go into effect until Spring 2009 at the earliest. To get their point across, this group of cabbies claims they will strike for 24 hours starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday, which may or may not be effective with travellers returning home from the holiday. Because there's no alternative transportation from Chicago's airports. more ›

As gas prices continue to plummet, the gas surcharge on taxis is going away for good. The $0.50 surcharge kicks in when gas prices reach $2.70 per gallon and then rises to $1 when gas hits $3.20 a gallon. The surcharge was dropped back to $0.50 on Halloween, prompting the first warning of a cabbie strike and as the surcharge is now slated to go away Friday, the cabbies of Chicago are renewing that threat. United Taxidrivers Community Council chairman Fayez Khozindar has set a November 25th press conference during which the date for the strike will be announced. more ›

That cut in the gas surcharge has enraged the city's cabbies to the point they've threatened a strike unless Mayor Daley enacts a proposed 16 percent fare hike, tentatively scheduled to go into effect next spring, by January 1, 2009. They've given the Mayor a two-week deadline. United Taxidrivers Community Council chairman Fayez Khozindar said, "We refuse to be subjected to this roller coaster. We are not beggars. We need a permanent fare increase — 16 percent on the meter. If the city will not treat its ambassadors decently, then we'll act ourselves and paralyze the city one day, two days or three days. We’ll do it when it’s successful for us. It will be a surprise for the city." Yeah, guys, strong arm Mayor Daley; we're sure he'll love that. more ›

A crash between a cab and a car sent the cab careening into the Starbucks at North Ave. and Wells St. early this morning. Each car only had a driver and no pedestrians were hurt. Both drivers were being treated for injuries at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, but neither were believed to be serious. more ›