IATR Announces Prof. Allan Fels as Keynote Speaker for 2011 Toronto Conference

IATR is pleased to announce that Prof. Allan Fels of the Australian and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG), will be our keynote speaker on Tuesday September 13th.  The Australian State of Victoria recently announced that Prof. Fels, the former Chief of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will chair an inquiry into the state's taxi industry.  Prof. Fel’s address will kick off our Day 2 program, dedicated to regulatory reform and research.

CALL FOR PAPERS : FUTURE DIRECTIONS IN TAXI RESEARCH
Abstract Solicitation
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) Taxi Group is inviting submissions of papers for presentation and discussion at the board's 2012 Annual Meeting to take place in
Washington, DC, USA in January 2012. The Joint Taxi Sub-Committee was established following the 2011 board meeting, and recognizes the need to focus on the roles, development and research into taxicabtransport worldwide. TRB offers a unique opportunity to present to an international audience of transport professionals from operators, academic, agency and regulator
groups. Workshop sessions are a specific element of the TRB meeting and take place on the first day of the meeting.  Abstracts are now invited on any area of taxi transport. Abstracts should be in the range of 500 - 800 words, and should include 4 - 5 keywords illustrating the main areas discussed.

Abstracts should be sent directly to:
James Cooper, Chair, Taxi Sub-Committee, by email to: j.cooper@napier.ac.uk
Telephone enquiries to: +44 (0)131 208 1055. Further details will be posted on the Taxi Research Network website: www.taxi research.net
Closing date for abstracts will be August 15th, 2011. Successful abstracts will be notified by September 10th, 2011. Please note this differs from other TRB deadlines.

78 Regulators responded to IATR Vehicle Inspection Survey
Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to our vehicle inspection and vehicle age survey.  Attached are both the full survey results in excel format, and the summary in PDF.  Assistance with survey development and distribution is a benefit of membership.

Canadian Meter Rate Comparative Updated
Thank you to all of the Canadian jurisdictions who contributed to the latest meter rate survey.  31 jurisdictions provided their most up-to-date rates.  The complete excel spreadsheet is attached.

Audit of Colorado utilities commission approved

The Associated Press
Posted: 07/11/2011 02:29:35 PM MDT
DENVER—Colorado lawmakers unanimously approved an audit of the state's Public Utilities Commission over how the agency has handled decisions affecting energy, taxicab and telecommunication companies. The Legislative Audit Committee voted Monday to go ahead with a performance audit of the PUC that will look at whether the agency is transparent in its decision-making under state law. The audit will also examine PUC policies for expenditures.
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_18456313

Yellow Cab lawsuit claims lax enforcement in Atlantic City has led to gypsy cab invasion
July 11, 2011
ATLANTIC CITY — Yellow Cab, which owns or manages 98 of Atlantic City’s taxi medallions, is suing the city for allegedly failing to take action against so-called gypsy cabs that are stealing their business.
Yellow Cab founder Murray Rosenberg and his son Paul, its president, claim they are suffering losses of about 25 percent due to the “gypsy cabs” that have thrived because of lax enforcement, according to the lawsuit.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/atlantic_city/yellow-cab-lawsuit-claims-lax-enforcement-in-atlantic-city-has/article_f9a73792-ac0b-11e0-a87a-001cc4c03286.html

Alexandria suspends 68 taxi cabs

07/05/11
Alexandria suspended 68 taxi cabs — 10 percent of its total fleet — Thursday because the drivers failed to get their annual inspections.  City officials said it was an unusually high number of suspensions. Too many drivers waited until June 30 to show up to the inspection office, officials said.  The city suspended the taxis, prohibiting them from working in the city until they get their inspections, but allowed them to operate over the July 4 weekend.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/capital-land/2011/07/alexandria-suspends-68-taxi-cabs

Chandigarh: Fare of radio taxis, autos to go up 20%

July 4, 2011
CHANDIGARH: City residents will have to shell out more for travelling in radio taxis and autorickshaws. Giving into the long-standing demands of cab and autorickshaw operators and keeping in mind the hike in diesel and LPG rates, UT administration has approved a 20% increase in their fares. Currently fixed at Rs 15 flat for every km, the new rates for radio cabs are likely to be Rs 18. The auto fare would go up from Rs 10 to Rs 12 http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-04/chandigarh/29735531_1_radio-taxis-radio-autos-tricity-toursin a few days. The new tariff, approved by senior officials, has been sent to the UT administrator for final approval.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-04/chandigarh/29735531_1_radio-taxis-radio-autos-tricity-tours

York Cab fined for insurance lapse
June 30, 2011 - York Cab will pay a $5,000 civil penalty for allowing its insurance to lapse while still transporting customers. On Dec.31, 2009, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission suspended York Cab's right to operate after the company failed to provide the commission with proof of insurance. The $5,000 fine was part of an agreed upon settlement between York Cab and the commission, said Erika Dominick, a PUC spokeswoman.

http://www.ydr.com/ci_18384584

IATR’s 24 Annual Conference Will Tackle the Politics of Regulatory Reform

On May 31, 2011, Toronto’s Municipal Licensing and Standards Committee passed a motion which initiated a
comprehensive review of Toronto’s taxi licensing system, including Ambassador Licenses. 
Other international cities including Washington, Calgary and the State of Victoria are also in the middle of major reform initiatives. 
But these reviews are only as good as the political will that defines them.  Too often, staff find themselves responsible for a
technical review process that either limits the scope to consider real solutions beyond the traditional role of taxis, or struggles to
satisfy the political nature of the approval process that will decide its fate.  In Toronto’s case, there is the additional opportunity to
address the needs of the disabled community, and include the delivery of shared-ride and on-demand trips using accessible taxis.

This edition of News Snippets focuses on the latest wave of regulatory reform initiatives,
with special emphasis on Toronto, our host city for the 2011 Annual conference.
Day 2 of the IATR conference is dedicated to “Research Initiatives and New Directions” in the practice of for-hire regulation. 
Attached is the IATR 2011 Draft Program with Session Descriptions.  This year’s program is one of the strongest ever and we
are excited by the early registrations from regulators from around the world.  We look forward to seeing everyone soon.

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1002576--james-ambassador-cabs-designed-to-instill-pride-of-ownership

http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/05/25/urban-scrawl-a-smart-solution-to-torontos-taxi-woes/

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/06/08/jesse-kline-get-the-state-out-of-my-taxi/

The City of San Francisco has been undertaking a number of reform initiatives, including an Open Taxi Access Pilot Project, and issuance of new medallions.  Currently, SFMTA is considering a proposal to issue 25 single operator permits to individual drivers. Christiane Hayashi (Deputy Director of Taxis, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency) recently participated in an IATR Webinar, and invited those with experience in setting up and administering these kinds of permits as well as those considering them or those who have an interest in alternative permit systems, to participate. Please refer to the proposal “Single Operator Proposal for Regulator Input” attached.  Christiane will be attending the Toronto IATR conference, and has volunteered to participate in our Day 2 session on Credit Card Acceptance – Implementation Issues and Considerations.

http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=132338

http://articles.sfgate.com/2011-06-22/bay-area/29688420_1_taxi-strike-taxi-driver-cab-drivers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-1UcFNanII   (Link to Christiane Hayashi’s presentation at the 2010 IATR conference in Chicago, IL)

Our friends and IATR members from the Australian State of Victoria have been busy since their “best practices research trip” to the IATR’s Chicago conference last year.  The Independent Taxi Industry Inquiry has been set up and commenced mid-May.  Headed by former Competition Commissioner, Prof. Allan Fels, the government is taking a first principles review into the structure, conduct, performance and regulation of the taxi industry and wider point to point transport.  Below is the link to the Review website, which also includes  the first background paper Setting the Scene. The Review has received over 130 submissions so far, some of which are already up on the website and together with social and mainstream media platforms, the review is generating strong community support and momentum for change.  Prof. Fels is tentatively scheduled to be a keynote speaker at the IATR conference. 

www.taxiindustryinquiry.vic.gov.au

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0m2JMb1mfY

CLICK HERE TO VIEW (Second reading speech)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW (Human Rights, Statement of Compatibility)

Our long-time friends at the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission have had a busy and eventful spring, with the announcement of the “Taxi of Tomorrow” winner, and efforts to bring yellow taxi-quality hail service to the boroughs outside of Manhattan.  You can follow recent events at the links below. TLC Officials have been invited to participate on key panel discussions, and share their vast experience with training at the Toronto conference.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/about/column_06_2011.shtml

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/22/taxi-bill-has-potential-foe-in-cuomo-mario-cuomo/

Please Take 5 Minutes to complete the IATR Vehicle Inspection Survey

The following link is for a survey about vehicle age, mileage and inspection frequencies, rules that are typically used to ensure vehicle safety, consumer protection, and a minimum standard of customer service. The survey is designed to be answered by regulators, but our industry partners are welcomed to participate as well.

The survey has 3 sections, for a total of 15 questions. The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete. If you have additional information you wish to provide, such as a link to your code, ordinance or bylaw, please email it to kcameron@iatr.org. The deadline for this survey is Friday July 8th. The results of the survey will be posted to the IATR website at that time.

Thank you in advance for your time.  The deadline for completing the survey is Friday July 8th.  The results of the survey will be posted to the IATR website.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/vehiclestandardsandinspections

LRB grants cab drivers OK to join Teamsters

2/1/2011
Don't be surprised if a lot of cab drivers in Edmonton have the Kool & the Gang hit "Celebration" blaring on the radio.  The Labour Relations Board (LRB) has granted a group of more than 1,000 Edmonton drivers approval to join the Teamsters' Union. They could be the first group of cab drivers in the province to be granted board approval to form a union.  The votes have already been cast, but they were sealed until the LRB ruled on this. There was no immediate word Tuesday about when a date would be set for the count.  Drivers says that even though they get paid based on the fares custumers pay, they are still controlled by the company.  "Right now, we are paying too much to the companies in rent (and) insurance," says Balraj Manhas, who leads the United Cabbies Association, which was formed in 2006 to help drivers press for more rights.

http://www.inews880.com/Channels/Reg/LocalNews
/Story.aspx?id=1355999

NYC Taxi Driver Files Class Action Against Cab Company

Details financial hardships, exposes tough nature of job

02/04/2011
An aggrieved New York City cab driver has filed a class action lawsuit detailing what he says are unsatisfactory -- and financially crippling -- working conditions.  According to the suit, because of the requirement that every cab carry an official medallion, the defendants “enjoy a monopoly on lawful cab service and, as such, taxicabs must bear a medallion issued by the City of New York in controlled numbers.” As a result, the suit says, the plaintiffs “must ... pay the lease fee to the possessor of a medallion from the City as a condition of practicing their trade.”

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2011/02/nyc-taxi-driver-file
s-class-action-against-cab-company.html

Monterey County

The Herald

Monterey Peninsula, Salinas cab drivers stage protest on regional taxi agency

02/02/2011

A few dozen taxi drivers stopped work early Tuesday outside a Cannery Row hotel to demonstrate their displeasure over a new regional agency to oversee taxi service on the Peninsula and in Salinas.  "I think everybody is against it," said Jassie Labang, 47, a Marina resident who has driven a cab for five years. "This new proposal is very hard for us."
Labang said about 40 drivers gathered outside the Monterey Plaza Hotel during the brief work stoppage from 8 until 9:30 a.m. Their primary concern is the prospect of having to pay steep new fees at a time when the poor economy is already making it difficult, he said.  At the behest of the hospitality industry and city police departments, county transportation officials are putting the final touches on a regional taxi authority under the aegis of Monterey-Salinas Transit. Peninsula cities and Salinas agreed to join the taxi agency, though the city of Marina recently decided against it because of concerns raised by Marina cab operators.

http://www.montereyherald.com/ci_17268639?so
urce=most_viewed&nclick_check=1

Perhaps not the best week to
launch a Cairo taxi iPhone app

04 February 2011

Spare a thought for HoodHot, a San Francisco-based mobile travel app developer which saw the big launch of its new Cairo taxi guide this week somewhat overshadowed.

http://www.tnooz.com/2011/02/04/mobile/perhaps-not-th
e-best-week-to-launch-a-cairo-taxi-iphone-app/

  desert.com

50-cent taxi fee approved

The cost of a cab ride has increased in the Coachella Valley, but only temporarily, according to taxi regulatory officials.  The SunLine Services Group board voted last week to impose a 50-cent per-ride surcharge on taxi rides in the valley.  It went into effect Tuesday and will continue through June 30.  Last September's departure of one of the valley's four taxi franchises, Classic Yellow Cab, and its 50 allotted taxis has meant a shortfall in regulatory fees of about $102,000 SunLine General Manager C. Mikel Oglesby said.  The surcharge is projected to raise $107,000 he said.
The agency faces an overall budget shortfall of $144,000. SunLine will use a portion of its taxi regulatory reserves to cover the deficit....

http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110204/NEWS01/102040317
/1006/news01/50-cent-taxi-fee-approved

Friday, February 04

90-year-old fears losing her independence as taxi tokens are scrapped

A 90-YEAR-OLD woman fears she will lose her independence when taxi tokens are scrapped from April 1.  Wheelchair user Margaret Woods, is among 5,500 existing recipients of the tokens and rail cards that are to lose the benefit.  Free bus travel for 135,000 over-60s and disabled people will continue.

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/news/taxi-tok
ens-house/article-3181182-detail/article.html

Friday 4th February 2011

TAXI firms in Knutsford will be put under the spotlight during a borough consultation this month.  Cheshire East Council will be carrying out a consultation into how hackney carriages operate in the area.  Hackney carriages differ from private hire vehicles as they can ‘ply for hire’ and pick passengers up from a taxi rank.  Private hire cars can only undertake pre-booked journeys.

http://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/news/8828458.
Your_chance_to_shape_future_taxi_policy/

CALGARY HERALD

JANUARY 31, 2011

City may let taxis park by hydrants

It could be the answer for harried cab drivers who have little place to park downtown.  The city is floating the idea of allowing taxis to wait for fares at fire hydrants, a move that would triple the number of spots in the core at a time when drivers cut out of the airport’s pickup contract are flocking downtown looking for fares. The fire department has yet to give the prospect its blessing (which the city says is ­essential to a go-ahead), but a fire spokesman suggests it is open to the idea as long as public safety can be ­assured. For the idea to work, there would clearly have to be strict rules dictating cabbies remain in or near their ­vehicles, ready to move in case fire broke out and the hydrant was needed.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/City+taxis+park
+hydrants/4193962/story.html#ixzz1E1iH7Y4c

The Washington Post
02/11/2011
Prince George's cab drivers: New medallion process is too slow
Dozens of Prince George's County cab drivers who had hoped to obtain one of 390 new medallions the county plans to issue this year say the process is taking too long, threatening their livelihoods.  A new law that took effect Oct. 1 doubles the number of medallions in the county; it is being challenged by cab companies in a lawsuit.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2011/02
/prince_georges_cab_drivers_new.html

Friday, February 11, 2011

SF promises taxi industry reform

Sinn Fein proposals on the reform of the taxi industry include a review of the rule that vehicles more than nine years old cannot be used by drivers.  Launching the party’s plans outside the Department of Transport this morning, justice spokesman Aengus O Snodaigh said the party would introduce comprehensive legislation for a “root and branch” reform of the industry, which they would introduce in the next Dail.

The proposals in a six-page document entitled Fare play for Taxi Drivers  include giving a six-month interval for the taxi regulator to buy back licences from operators, after which licences become non-transferable.  Standard licences cost €6,300 and €125 for a wheelchair accessible licence and the TD said the regulator had a €28 million fund of licence and annual fees.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking
/2011/0211/breaking35.html

Friday, February 11, 2011

KOPPELL APPLAUDS MAYOR’S PROPOSAL TO
PERMIT STREET HAILS FOR LIVERY
CABS IN OUTER BOROUGHS

Here is legislation Bronx Councilman Koppell is supporting that would improve life in the BoogieDown. I respect the issue of medallion cab owners protecting their investment, but as per the statistics listed below and the fact that I hardly ever see medallion cabs in the Bronx, the law proposed is perfectly logical. Sometimes medallion cabs won't even take you to the Bronx if you hail them in Manhattan; even though it's illegal once you set foot in the cab.