Metered taxi fares pondered by Saint John council

Saint John city council will consider a new taxi bylawMondaythat would make meters mandatory, require newer cars and better liability insurance. It would also increase fares for many typical trips.

The proposed changes follow years of hand-wringing over the merits of the current zone system versus metered fares.

"Meters are a fair system for the customers as well as for the industry," said Paul Ram, a former cab company owner who still operates a small fleet of cars and is a long-time advocate for meters.

Ram points to tourists who worry they are being taken advantage of under the current system.

"It looks like the driver is giving the fare from [his] head," said Ram."Andsome of these taxi drivers definitely overcharge them. I don't think that's good for our city."

"If you put meters in they have no idea what it's going to cost them to get from point A to point B anymore," said Cormier. "It's probably going to be pretty traumatic for some of them living on a limited income."

The municipality has released a list of sample fares collected by the city's taxi inspector using the proposed new meter.It shows a short trip between McAllister Mall and Michael Crescent in east Saint John might cost less: $5.00 instead of $6.00.

But most other trips shown would cost more. A trip from Duke Street in the central peninsula to the Saint John Regional Hospital would increase from the current $8.00 to $13.30. A trip from the uptown to the airport would cost $40.00, $10.00 to $12.00 more than under the zone system.

CBC showed the sample fares to some taxi users yesterday. "I think its ridiculous. It's way too high, way, way too high." said Lawrence Buchanan, who was waiting for a bus in the city's north end.

Lee Gionet worries the fare increases will force people to walk.

"If you raise that up, that's money coming out of my food," said Gionet."There's a lot of older people who just don't have the means to pay more than what they're paying."

Cars and vans licensed as taxis will be a lot newer if the bylaw is passed. Vehicles more than seven years old will no longer be permitted. All licensed taxis will require at least $2 million in liability insurance.

If the bylaw is approved by council the new rules would come into effect in one year.