Eight months after nearly regulating Uber out of existence to protect Yellow Cab's near-monopoly in the city, Dallas is set to propose new taxi rules that sorta kinda resemble a free market.
A draft of proposed "transportation for hire" regulations, crafted over several months by a committee led by City Councilwoman Sandy Greyson, were obtained today by WFAA and The Dallas Morning News.
They would do away with much of the existing regulatory framework that has allowed Yellow Cab to enjoy a virtual stranglehold on the market. Gone is the distinction between cabs, limousines and other vehicles per hire. Gone is the cap on the number of cabs (2,022) allowed to operate in Dallas, which made it impossible for new competitors to enter the market. Gone are most of the arbitrary little rules (e.g. front-of-line privileges at Love Field for natural-gas taxis, minimum fleet sizes, minimum costs for vehicles) that helped maintain the status quo.
In place of all that are streamlined regulations designed to create, in the words of the proposed ordinance, a "level playing field." All vehicles -- whether limo, pedicab, Uber town car or traditional taxi -- will be subject to the same regulations. An operating permit allowing a transportation provider to do business in Dallas would cost $1,000 per year. Each driver ($50 per year) and vehicle ($100 per year) would also need city-issued permits.
All transportation-for-hire providers would be required to comply with some other basic rules. They can't discriminate against passengers based on race, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, etc. They have to operate citywide and can't reject passengers based on the neighborhood they're coming from or going to. They must carry a $1 million commercial automobile insurance policy that's in effect "any time that the driver or the vehicle is working as or available as transportation-for-hire" (this point is key). And so on.
There's a little bit in there for everyone to hate. Yellow Cab will have a tough time keeping its monopoly. Lyft might balk at being forced to operate citywide. Uber probably won't be pleased with a requirement they inform passengers of their fare up front (they currently provide an estimate, which can change). But such is compromise.
Greyson's transportation-for-hire committee will discuss the proposal at City Hall tomorrow morning, then it's on to the City Council.
http://tinyurl.com/l9r2wbs
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TAXI FARES RISE IN ALLERDALE SET TO BE DITCHED
A planned increase in taxi fares in Allerdale looks set to be scrapped after an objection from the trade.
Allerdale council agreed in March to increase the fee for the first mile of a journey from £2.90 to £3.
After the decision, Davies Taxis of Keswick contacted the council to say that the minimal financial gain from the change was not enough to justify the cost of having taxi meters recalibrated.
The council’s licensing committee has now recommended that the tariff should be kept at the original price.
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Uber maps, mark out the richer area's
Uber maps reveal the startling gap between rich and poor: Tracked taxi journeys highlight where the wealthiest and tech-savvy residents live around the world
Taxi firm Uber has launched its service in Beijing - taking the total number of cities on its scheme to 100
To celebrate, the San Francisco firm has created the Uber 100 project so customers can share their stories.
It has also plotted the major routes its drivers take across the cities that have signed up to the scheme
These cities include London, New York, Sydney, Mumbai, Moscow, Tokyo, Barcelona, and more
They reveal how different nationalities navigate their cities and highlight the contrast between rich, tech-savvy neighbourhoods with the less affluent regions
http://tinyurl.com/mlk5jml
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Manchester.
This is what the Deregulation bill means for all the Country.
The following vehicle, a Black Vauxhall Vectra was pictured over a year ago working Manchester whilst carrying a TfL PH licence. This was obviously reported to Manchester Licensing.
The vehicle operator then licensed the vehicle in West Lindsey, Lincolnshire, some 90 miles from Manchester. The vehicle carried on working in Manchester, whilst BOTH licences were in operation.
Last week the West Lindsey licence expired.
The vehicle now has licensed in Rossendale some 25 miles from Manchester. It is get closer. However, it has now been licensed in 3 different authorities. The only authority it has failed to license in, is Manchester, the district where it has continued to work for the last 18 months.
The main purpose of licensing, I would suggest, is Public Protection.
How on earth can this be safe.
99 sex attacks in, real and bogus Ph vehicles in Manchester, in the last year. These are probably only 20% of the actual offences committed.
http://tinyurl.com/lksmn6a
http://tinyurl.com/llvgdry
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