Brian on July 31, 2008, at 05:05PM – #1

I'm all for public safety, but fines for passengers stepping off the curb to hail a cab? Don't get me wrong, I think you need to be on the sidewalk when hailing your cab but fines?

The city of Los Angeles continues to amaze me when it comes to their ideas of generating revenue. Instead of luring business downtown and earning tax revenue they send people out to cite jaywalking and those stepping of the curb to get a cab.

I hope this program works because the idea of hailing a cab should be universal.

Hal Bastian on July 31, 2008, at 06:25PM – #2

Hello Downtowners,

Read below. ALthough LADOT does not want you to go into the street, I am not sure there is a fine. I'll find out.

In the meantime, hail a taxi!

HAIL-A-TAXI

THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES ANNOUNCES A HAIL-A-TAXI PILOT PROGRAM - USING TAXICABS TO ENHANCE THE PEDESTRIAN URBAN ENVIRONMENT IN LOS ANGELES

LOS ANGELES (July 31, 2008)

The Downtown and Hollywood areas of Los Angeles are being transformed to include increased residential units, retail establishments, restaurants and entertainment attractions, resulting in the development of an urban culture ideal for the frequent use of taxicabs for local trips.

Curbside parking restrictions and the likelihood of being issued parking tickets make many Los Angeles taxi drivers reluctant to stop for street-hails or even take short trips. It would be beneficial to residents, visitors, businesses and their employees, as well as taxi operators, for the City of Los Angeles to encourage increased street-hail taxi business.

The Los Angeles City Council, with the support of the Los Angeles Board of Taxicab Commissioners, businesses and residents, has therefore authorized a six-month pilot program, starting today, in which taxi drivers will be allowed to actively load and unload passengers in some otherwise restricted curbside areas of Downtown and Hollywood. If the program is successful, it may be expanded to other areas of the City.

The Hail-A-Taxi pilot program includes efforts to educate and encourage the public to participate. We hope a street-hail taxi culture will be established in Los Angeles that will be an accepted transportation option for the public and a reliable source of driver income for years to come.

Under the program, taxi drivers will be allowed to stop in red zones (including, if necessary, double parking) for the short time that it takes to load or unload passengers. Taxis will not be allowed to stop in bus zones.

The public needs to be aware that:

• Taxis will not be allowed to pick-up or drop-off in bus zones.

• Passengers should be ready to immediately enter or leave a taxi when it is stopped in an otherwise restricted area.

• Passengers should not step into the street to hail a taxi.

The Department of Transportation has issued taxi drivers a guide for Hail-A-Taxi rules. The Department’s Parking Enforcement Bureau and LAPD will issue warnings instead of tickets whenever possible - unless drivers are creating a hazard, leave their vehicles unattended or refuse a lawful request to move from a restricted area.

deputy dog on July 31, 2008, at 06:27PM – #3

why would there be a law that you couldn't hail a taxi in the first place?

seems like a law where you can't order a pizza... I wondered why I could never get a cab when I want one!

Hal Bastian on July 31, 2008, at 06:41PM – #4

There was never a law that you could not hail a taxi. However, we have many no stopping areas signs (7-9am, 3-7pm) that restrict vehicles from stopping and taxis got tickets, so taxis would not stop.

Brigham on July 31, 2008, at 11:47PM – #5

Congrats to the new Hal-a-Taxi program! ;)

Pegasus on August 01, 2008, at 12:56AM – #6

Greuel, with two "E"s

Juanito on August 01, 2008, at 01:29AM – #7

Deputy Dog: are U kidding? Having grown up in a lilly-white suburb at the far edge of the Valley, I learned one sure thing when dealing with an anglo LAPD officer: don't even think of looking cross-eyed at them. Don't have any liberal bumper stickers on your car and when you come to a stop sign, be sure to make a full stop before proceeding. One day I walked out of the Broadway front of Grand Central Market and there was a scene to behold. There was a small woman handing out union literature on the sidewalk. Three LAPD black and whites and a panel van were parked at the curb and she was surrounded by officers giving her the third degree. The reaction on the faces of the people nearby was as if they'd seen it all before - in central America.

Hal Bastian on August 01, 2008, at 08:27AM – #8

I just heard from Tom Drischler, the Taxi Cab Administrator of LADOT, that there is no fine for stepping into the street as part of the hail a taxi program. It is but a suggestion to keep you safe. Please be sensible!

JM on August 01, 2008, at 08:58AM – #9

Congratulations to us all! Common sense prevails at last. Hopefully, this is the first of more pedestrian-oriented measures Downtown. As much as I think fines for jaywalkers are the biggest joke when people peddle drugs in the open a few blocks away, I wouldn't mind playing by the rules if the rules went in favor of pedestrians. At the moment, there's too much of a car culture Downtown, which has to change. There's room to accommodate both pedestrians and drivers. In the meantime, this is good news :)

David Kennedy on August 01, 2008, at 03:34PM – #11

I shared this information in the Los Angeles forum of TripAdvisor.com. It was removed because they believed it was a joke! I guess stereotypes die hard.

Brady Westwater on August 02, 2008, at 10:41AM – #12

Yesterday someone was frantically waving at me from across the street trying to get my attention. By the time I finally noticed him - he had inadvertently hailed a cab.

akamomo on August 10, 2008, at 09:54PM – #13

Thank you!! LA can be just a bit less embarassing to the world. We're a world class city - say it again and again. Thank you for cutting though the b*s and making this happen.