Lots to Like in Hail-a-Taxi Implementation

By Eric Richardson
Published: Tuesday, May 20, 2008, at 08:22PM

Ed Fuentes

A taxi waits at a cab stand on Bunker Hill.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Curbed was first to report last week that the city’s Taxicab Commissioners had approved a Hail-a-Taxi pilot program for Downtown. Not covered, though, were details on how the program would be implemented.

Looking through the report approved by the Commissioners, there’s lots to like for Downtowners. The protocols for when and how cabs can stop are well thought out and are geared to favor passenger convenience over Los Angeles’ traditionally rigid concern for traffic flow. As a result, the program looks to be set up for success.

At the heart of the Hail-a-Taxi debate is the California Vehicle Code, which doesn't exempt cabs from any laws regarding stopping or double parking. The city's parking enforcement and LAPD officers have been very good at enforcing the law, leaving cabbies unwilling to take chances. While it's legal for a cab to stop and load or unload in any legal parking space, limited spaces, peak hour restrictions and abundant bus stops make the use of legal spots a non-starter for taxi use.

While the city can not change the Vehicle Code, the Hail-a-Taxi program would create a set of protocols that would govern how the city enforces the law. L.A.'s proposed rules mimic those implemented by San Francisco in the 1990's.

Under the proposed protocols, taxis would be allowed to stop in both bus zones and "No Parking" or "No Stopping" zones while in the process of actively loading or unloading passengers. Additionally, a cab would be allowed to double park while loading or unloading as long as there is another free lane in the direction the taxi is heading.

Traffic Officers -- both Parking enforcement and LAPD -- would be given the power to judge whether or not the stopped cab creates a hazardous situation. Instead of ticketing, though, the officer would instruct the cab driver to move and "allow a reasonable amount of time to do so (90 seconds recommended)." Only in the case of a driver who has been warned and who does not move would a ticket be given.

The Hail-a-Taxi program next goes to the council's Transportation committee, and finally to council itself. Once approved by council, a six-month pilot program would take place Downtown. A final implementation could carry the same rules over to Hollywood.

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Comments

Urban Bruin writes:

I’d like to know if the program would establish a set fare for downtown pickup/drop offs. Presumably the program is to reduce congestion within downtown and to promote taxi use both by downtown residents and tourist/entertainment guests (bar, Staples, etc.).

That said, to encourage usage the program needs to set a capped fare (not metered fare) with a set peak and off peak price. In many cities taxi rates within a central district are preset. In New York City the fare from JFK into Manhattan is preset. In Shanghai they’ve set a rate for the first 3km then it is metered for any additional distance. Generally most sites within downtown Shanghai are within the first 3km.

If people know that a cab ride within downtown is at a set rate (ie. $2-4 dollars) per ride it would reduce any anxiety (most people despise meter rates) on deciding to take a cab, Dash or drive and park.

# on May.21.2008 AT 09:33 AM

Brian writes:

Predetermined rates from downtown to the airports would be a good idea, but metering should probably be allowed otherwise.

Having just moved here from Chicago I notice that people in L.A. love to drive everywhere and don't usually walk. If you set a flat rate for a certain area, say 2-3 km within the core, I would imagine that a great number of people would use cabs and create a lot more congestion in the core.

# on May.21.2008 AT 10:12 AM

Eric Richardson writes:

The Hail-a-Taxi program doesn't do any sort of zone fare system. Interestingly, though, I was wandering through the Central City Community Plan yesterday and there is a zone fare system identified there as a plan goal. Personally, I don't know whether it's really that necessary if fares aren't just outrageous on mileage.

# on May.21.2008 AT 11:58 AM

Urban Bruin writes:

In my experience traveling, (Vegas, Europe and Asia) I find that a major concern with taking the cab is not knowing how much the ride is going to cost. Since most people in L.A. have very little taxi experience I think the zone fare system would reduce any concerns and ensure that local rides are affordable.

My one downtown taxi experience cost me $8 to get from Union Station to the Financial District; I think that's a bit high if we want high ridership.

# on May.21.2008 AT 01:43 PM

Bert Green writes:

There was a discussion of creating a $5 flat rate zone within downtown, but that is not a part of this legal discussion. It would take the taxi companies to really push for that, which does not seem to hard to do.

# on May.21.2008 AT 02:22 PM