Taxi companies keep their “monopoly”

Taxi companies keep their “monopoly”

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Technically, Wednesday’s biennial traffic hearing was supposed to determine whether or not to increase the number of taxi licenses in Key West.

But it turned into a debate between critics and supporters of ride sharing services such as Uber and Lyft, which so far city officials have not allowed to operate in the city. In the end, commissioners voted not to increase the number of taxi licenses – maintaining what Mayor Craig Cates termed a “monopoly” – and kicked the can down the road on ride sharing, saying they wanted to wait to see how state officials rule on the matter.

Commissioners voted 4-3 not to increase the number of taxi licenses available, meaning the number of cabs on city streets will stay the same at 72. That figure has remained unchanged since 1992. And although several people came to the microphone during the two-hour special meeting to urge commissioners to increase the number of taxi medallions and allow competitive ride sharing options to compete directly with cab companies, the result was no-go.

“The last traffic study we did said there’s too many vehicles [on Key West streets],” said Commissioner Billy Wardlow, who voted not to increase the number of cab licenses. “If we allow another company in or more licenses, that’s more vehicles to me.”

But multiple speakers pointed to the numerous complaints that have been registered against some local cab drivers, including long waits, dirty cars and expensive fares.

“A survey of the online reviews of the local taxi services reveals they have on average a 2.5 rating on Yelp, which is quite low. Many businesses would not likely survive with such poor reviews if it were not for the monopoly the current licensing system affords the existing taxi companies,” said local resident Michael Vernon, who applied for two taxi licenses for himself and his wife to offer ride sharing in Key West.

Several cab company owners and taxi drivers argued against ride sharing, as they have done at previous traffic hearings. Jan Doleman, owner of Five Sixes Taxi Key West, acknowledged that his drivers “make a bunch of money” and that there can be long waits at the airport for a cab when several planes land at the same time. But hotel shuttle services to and from the airport and scooter rentals also cut into the taxi business, he said.

“We are not a monopoly,” Doleman said. “We have plenty of competition.”

Local taxi driver John Cameron said that in addition to promoting city attractions to visitors, drivers also provide a safer service to intoxicated passengers than ride sharing drivers who might come down from the mainland on a weekend to chase fares.

“The scariest part about Uber and Lyft isn’t Uber and Lyft,” he said, “it’s the Honda Civic coming down from Miami that has a sign in their window. They can pick somebody up and you never know where they went.”

However, Commissioner Sam Kaufman pointed out that any ride sharing drivers would work under the same licensing requirements as local taxi drivers. And Mayor Cates urged local cab company owners to embrace the new transportation technology because it offers an improved option for locals and visitors. The technology is out there, he said, and people want it.

“You guys [taxi owners] got to work with us to make sure you provide a service to the citizens and guests that is convenient, not just saying ‘old school’ and that’s the way you’re going to do it,” Cates said.

“I believe if we have ride sharing in place, that it will ease congestion, we’ll have less parking problems and we’ll have less cars because people will reliably be able to have an alternative [to local taxis] to get wherever they need to go,” Kaufman said.

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