SUMMERSIDE - One of the more contentious issues to face city council this year ended Monday night, with little fanfare and no discussion.
Acting on a recommendation that resulted from meetings between city management and the municipality's two taxicab companies council has ended its regulation of fares and will let the marketplace determine the rates.
"What's different is that now council won't be setting rates in particular zones and the taxi drivers could give one a deal if they wish," said Coun. Cory Thomas, chairman of the city's police committee. "They can charge $6. They can charge 50 cents if they want to. What stays the same is that the maximum they can charge anywhere through the city is still $11, which it always was."
Under the previous bylaw the base fee was $6 per person with an additional $1 charge for each additional passenger. But the old bylaw also had provisions for zones meaning the further you travelled the more it cost. The maximum charge from one end of the city to the other was $11 and that remains the same.
"The base in zones was $6," he said. "So now, we've eliminated that and the market now is going to decide. If one cab company wants to charge someone for a small trip $4 and the other one wants to charge $2 you're probably going to go with the one for $2."
Thomas said this decision was reached with a lot of consultation with the cab companies and many of the non-profit organizations within the city who urged council to set a maximum so the travelling public is not subject to price gouging.
"We're not telling them what the can charge, so if the cab wants to drive me around for 50 cents they're welcome to pick me up and drive me around for 50 cents," he said.
There was a concern in earlier meetings on the dispute of a price war between the cab companies with each always trying to undercut the competition.
"Let the businesses decide what they can charge," Thomas said.. "It's the same with going to Sobeys or SuperStore. If I buy a package of grapes at Sobeys, I may get it cheaper at SuperStore or visa versa.I think that was the direction council wanted to take is that we shouldn't be telling them what they should charge but at the same time set a maximum so that the public interest is well protected.I think that this bylaw change does this."
Thomas said his main concern going into these discussions was the protection of the public but keeping in mind the taxicab companies need to make a living.
"So, I'm glad that council said put a maximum on that so if I get in a cab they can't charge me $20 if I go from Read's Corner to Slemon Park," he said. "And if I did get gouged by one company I wouldn't deal with them again and just go with the other."
Council has retained the right to revisit the new fare limits if it finds that there is collusion between the cab companies and the fares being charged do not meet the expectations of the marketplace or of the cab companies.
The new regulations are effective immediately.
Taxi fares settled
Coun. Cory Thomas
- Published on April 20th, 2010
- Published on June 21st, 2010
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Mike Carson
SUMMERSIDE - One of the more contentious issues to face city council this year ended Monday night, with little fanfare and no discussion.
Acting on a recommendation that resulted from meetings between city management and the municipality's two taxicab companies council has ended its regulation of fares and will let the marketplace determine the rates.
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Comments
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- Violet
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:08:21
I think if you are going to and from work both companies should give you a deal. I also think in order to be fair to both have the same rates.
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- BOB DOLE
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:08:05
OK now that this major life altering issue has been resolved. how about we get some ditches filled in or get more money set aside for street upgrades & Police. how about burning down the meth labs? I know Taxi service is a big thing for a lot of people. but there are other major issue's that need to be corrected first.
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- TO P FROM SUMMERSIDE
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:05:05
Again with the old Island way. Well they have been here the longest so we should pay more. As long as Islanders have this way of thinking the Island will stay well behind the rest of Canada.
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- Beverly
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:03:14
For Christ Sake Folks..................Stick to the subject! Set a fee and go with the flow ! Happy motoring everyone!
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- P
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:02:46
Well, a couple of months ago we received a flier in the mail that said Team Taxi had these flat rate fairs for students and seniors and people in the work force that had to take a taxi back and forth to work. This may seem like a good deal, but do you know what I say. Stick with what you know best. the other Cab Company has been around for a long time. I think there is enough room for both companies to work in Summerside. But just remember who was here first, and how loyal they have been to their customers.
