Saint John cab companies plan to charge less than meter rate

At least three of Saint John's taxi companies say they plan to charge their customers less than the meter rate that goes into effect in the city on June 1.

Vet's Taxisays it will continue to charge customers the zone rate that has been in place for over a decade, except in situations where the meter rate is lower. in which case that will be the rate charged.

The new taxi bylaw declaresthat meters have to be installed in all taxis and operated whenever passengers are in the vehicles.

"The bylaw didn't state anything about a minimum fare," said Vet's driver Don Wilband, who is also president of the Saint John Taxi Owners and Operators Association.

Customers mostly low income

Wilband describes the vast majority of taxi patrons as low income, working poor.

"It's the uncertainty of it is what it's all about," said Wilband.

"This way, no matter what happens, snowstorms, accidents, road repairs, you can sit back and relax because the fare is the fare."

We are trying to give them a break.- Abdul Rahimi, taxi company owner

Royal Taxi also plans to stick with the zone fare.

"We'll go with whatever Vet's goes with," said spokesman Tom Daly.

Abdul Rahimi, theowner of Saint John Taxi and Hybrid Taxi, is committing to a break in price but says it may not be the zone fare planned by Vet's Taxi.

"We are trying to give them a break," said Rahimi.

"We will try [the meter] and if it's too much, if the customer can't afford it, we'll give [some]kind of break," he said.

It's not clear how other city cab companies will approach the issue.

A call to Diamond Taxi, one of the two largest companies, was not returned on Tuesday.

The head of the city's official Taxicab Advisory Committee saidthere is nothing in the bylaw saying cab companies cannot charge less than the meter rate.

"If they choose to charge less, that's up to them," said Ralph Holyoke.

"It's their choice if they want to charge less."