A PILOT PROGRAM ALLOWING TAXI PASSENGERS TO
In San Francisco, comparing taxi fares with other ride-hailing services has been permanently established this week by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.
The two-year pilot
“taxi upfront fare” program
led to higher incomes for cab drivers and a significant rise in the number of new drivers applying, as reported by the SFMTA.
This program collaborates with taxi e-hail applications which enable users to view the cost of a taxi journey prior to confirming their booking within the app. Services like Arro, Flywheel, and YoTaxi SF offer these taxi-booking facilities.
Bicycle riders can view the cost of a taxi fare through third-party ride-sharing applications such as Uber and Lyft, and choose that alternative directly within the respective application.
Approximately fifty percent of the city’s 1,300 taxi drivers took part in the trial initiative. The taxi drivers involved in this scheme experienced an approximate rise of twenty-five percent in their monthly income.
Rideshare apps led to an increase in taxis operating in the outskirts of the city, areas that were traditionally not well-served by the taxi sector, as reported by the SFMTA.
During the two-year trial phase, roughly 300 additional cab drivers were brought onboard, which is approximately five times more than in prior years when around 30 new drivers joined each year on average.
The SFMTA’s transportation chief, Julie Kirschbaum, stated that this initiative aims to maintain the competitiveness of the taxi sector, particularly as numerous commuting alternatives have become accessible nowadays.
“We’re excited to offer both residents and tourists in San Francisco a newer and more convenient method for accessing the city’s taxi services, along with the assurance of knowing their fare beforehand,” Kirschbaum stated.
Zee Sinada, who holds a Yellow Cab medallion, stated that he was initially doubtful about the program but changed his mind after seeing the outcomes.
“I pleaded with the SFMTA to maintain this program since there weren’t sufficient rides for the taxi drivers. However, now both passengers and taxi drivers have increased options. In terms of finances, we’re discussing an additional weekly income ranging from $600 to $700 — this really makes a significant impact,” Sinada stated.
In the second quarter of 2024, which represents the latest available information regarding San Francisco’s program, drivers using third-party applications garnered approximately $2,350 each month solely from these rides.
The paratransit service did not undergo notable modifications throughout the trial period, scheduled to conclude by the end of June.
MJ Keller, who leads U.S. taxi partnerships for Uber, stated that this agreement was advantageous for both taxi drivers and ride-sharing businesses.
Through incorporating taxis into our platform, we’re offering taxi drivers greater flexibility and higher earning potentials, while also presenting riders with additional transportation choices,” Keller stated. “We feel that this initiative remains beneficial for drivers, riders, and the city of San Francisco as a whole, and we look forward to backing its ongoing expansion.
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SFMTA renders the taxi and ride-hailing fare comparison program permanent following a 2-year trial period.
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