Hail-a-Taxi

New Plan Just a New Part of L.A.'s Interesting Taxi History

By Eric Richardson — July 22, 2008 — 3 Comments

Ed Fuentes

On July 16th, City Council approved the Hail-a-Taxi pilot program for Downtown and Hollywood. The program is intended to help make taxis a more integral part of the city's overall transportation picture.

In most cities that's just the way things are, but L.A.'s relationship with the taxi isn't quite typical. — Continued Inside...

After Hail-a-Taxi's Approval, a Cabbie Breathes a Sigh of Relief

By Eric Richardson with Ed Fuentes — July 16, 2008 — 3 Comments

Ed Fuentes

Garnik Rostami has spent seventeen years on the streets of Los Angeles county as a cab driver, with the last decade or so focused on the Downtown area. He attended this morning's Council meeting to make sure the proposed Hail-a-Taxi pilot program was successfully passed. — Continued Inside...

Council Unanimously Approves Hail-a-Taxi

By Eric Richardson — July 16, 2008 — 8 Comments

Ed Fuentes

City Council today unanimously approved the Hail-a-Taxi pilot program for Downtown and Hollywood. The program will give cab drivers much greater flexibility in where they can stop to load and unload passengers. Program backers hope that this will encourage cab drivers to roam the neighborhood looking for fares instead of congregating at a limited number of stands. — Continued Inside...

Lots to Like in Hail-a-Taxi Implementation

By Eric Richardson — May 20, 2008 — 5 Comments

Ed Fuentes

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. — Continued Inside...

LAT: Cabbies Want You to Hail a Cab

By Eric Richardson — April 07, 2008 — 3 Comments

Mike Dumlao

Sharon Bernstein gets the LAT's Column One today to talk about taxis. She writes that the cabbies are plenty ready for the city to change its tune and let them pick up fares wherever. Mostly left out is discussion of the politics that keeps L.A.'s taxi stand system the way it is today.

The topic is particularly relevant to Downtown, where hailing a cab has been heavily promoted as one of the ways to help new residents get from lofts to nightspots without having to get in their car. — Continued Inside...

Hail a Taxi Talk Continues, No Update from DOT

By Eric Richardson — February 07, 2008 — 2 Comments

Mike Dumlao

Downtown’s favorite “Hail a Taxi” concept was in front of the city’s Board of Taxicab Commissioners this morning, but there wasn’t much in the way of useful progress. DOT emphasized that it is legal for taxis to stop in any loading or meter spot, but that state law governing double parking cannot be trumped locally.

Representatives from Metro, CD9, and CRA all spoke in support of the idea of making taxis more accessible and convenient. The term “organic” was a favorite of the day.

Public comment is continuing, but the item itself is an Information Item only and doesn’t have any other action attached than just continued study.

One tidbit – the Times Sharon Burnstein is supposed to be doing a story on the subject and recently took a taxi ride-along in support of that.

Outside of Downtown, Westwood cabbies are upset about the Flyaway bus, and are getting calls to take fares to the Flyaway instead of to the airport.

NYC Taxi shot by flickr user mdumlao98.