Still Working on That Cab Fare Increase

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Sep 11, 2004 2:15AM

Back in May Chicagoist reported that Chicago cab drivers were gathering signatures for a petition to ask the city council to approve a fare hike. Well, today they presented the petition containing 1,900 signatures - that's 11% of the city's cab drivers.

Today was the first of a series of planned hearings and not the day to make a vote or decision. A recommendation will be passed on to the full Chicago City Council. Most likely it will be a few months before the process is done.

Right now it'll cost you $1.90 to plant your hiney down in a cab. Drivers want to increase this cost $0.60 to $2.50. They want to raise the rate per mile from $1.60 to $1.80. They also want to raise the additional passenger fee to $1. Cabbies say that these hikes are needed to offset the average cost of a $90 cab lease, higher gas prices, and increasing city and state fees.

What do you think? Some say if the costs are raised they won't take cabs any more. Or that for a higher fee cabbies should be more courteous. Others point out that cab drivers are hard working people just trying to make a living like the rest of us.