Metered taxi drivers seeking fare increase

Taxi drivers who have seen their earnings eroded by high gas prices urged Charleston City Council on Tuesday to increase the minimum fare for a ride in a metered cab.

The proposed change would raise the price for trips of less than two miles.

Charleston Yellow Cab is the only company in the city that uses meters, and 18 of its drivers and employees turned out for the council meeting to push for the increase.

No one showed up to oppose the change, which council tentatively approved.

A second vote of council would be needed for the fare change to take effect, and a public hearing has been scheduled for 3 p.m. Oct. 27 in City Hall.

Under the current system, metered cabs charge $2 for the first fifth of a mile, and 35 cents for each fifth of a mile after that, so going two miles currently costs $5.15.

Under the proposed system, the charge would be a flat $5 for a ride of two miles or less. After two miles the current rate of 35 cents for each fifth of a mile would kick in.

Cab drivers said that most of their fares downtown go less than two miles, which is roughly the distance from Broad Street to Huger Street.

"The majority of them are short trips, and that's where it really hurts," said cabbie Herbert Cromwell. "You spend 10 minutes going to pick a guy up and get two bucks."

The non-metered cabs that compete with Charleston Yellow Cab are already allowed to charge a flat rate of $5 between any points on the peninsula.

City Traffic and Transportation Director Hernan Pena said the proposed change would give the metered taxis more rate parity, as well as some financial relief. Metered taxi drivers are independent contractors who lease the cabs and pay for the gas out of pocket.