Fewer Cabs in the Capital?

You may want to file this one under the "law of unintended consequences" heading.

This weekend in Washington, D.C. I hopped into a cab.   I noted to the driver that it was the first time I'd been in one with a meter (as opposed to the old, much-maligned system was that of "taxi zones" where you were charged based on which zone you went in and out of).   This opened up an energetic chat.

The driver, Saleem, noted that the new system was costing him a lot of time and money.  He estimated that on average he was making 30% less than he had been before under the zone system.    Of course, that was part of the criticism of the "zones," that it was not only difficult to understand but also expensive for riders.   Meters were supposed to cut down on the price of shorter runs in the Capital.  

Here's the problem: the powers behind the move to meters likely never estimated $4 gas into their equation.   My cab driver said because he was making 30% less than before - and paying more for gas - he was now driving 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.   He seemed positively blissful for the previous 6 day a week, 10 hours per day schedule he was working under the zone system.   He added that even driving 7 days a week, 12 hours a day he was barely making any money.   Not enough, he said, to want to stay in the cab driving business and he was looking for a way out.

How many more Saleem's might be out there in the DC cab driving community?   Facing the double-edged sword of lower fares and higher gas prices its clear many have no incentives to continue to drive a taxi.  

While I, like all consumers, prefer to pay less for something other than more, I also realize that in most cases travel by taxi is a luxury, not a right.  Especially in a city such as D.C. with a terrific mass-transit system.   These taxis are literally small businesses.   They aren't public transit. 

My meter-lowered bill came to just over $12 bucks.  I gave him $20 and didn't ask for change.  This is the kind of higher income tax I don't mind paying.