Given the economy, do you think the Valley can sustain another cab company?

A new cab company that caters to the needs of those who are physically challenged is trying to get up and running. Longtime cab companies say they're opposed to another company hitting the streets. So given the economy, do you think the Valley can sustain another cab company? Let us know in this Action News blog!

Comments

[Guest]

Why was only one cab company talked to? Did anybody talk to all 16 cab companies and ask how many people actually take a special services van? Did anybody find out what the wait time for a cab is? Handicap has to prove to the Taxicab Authority that the rest of the 16 cab companies are NOT meeting the needs of the riding public. Are there enough wheelchair rides out there to support the existing cab companies now? What makes it fair for Handicap to come in and get 40 unrestricted medallions when it was decided by the Taxicab Authority that no extra medallions were needed this year for any of the companies? No cab company starts out with 40 unrestricted medallions. Using the guise of picking up handicapped individuals does not make it fair to the other companies or the 3000+ drivers that already service the needs of the riding public. Handicap needs to be denied and the riding public (not the visitors) need to be educated on how and when to call for a cab whether it be regular or wheelchair accessible

[S. McNamara]

Absolutely we need a handicap taxi service. I waited 2 hours for a Whittlesea Blue Cab last Friday with a severely ill father. The cab company told me that it would be 20-30 minutes and after several phone calls they finally showed up 2 hours later. The cab driver proceeded to tell me that the drivers do not want to take the wheelchair calls - then why have the so called service. I was so disgusted by this , not to mention a few upset nuns at St. Rose Hospital! Lets get a company who actually wants to do their job!

[freesoulJAH]

Waiting 3 hours for a cab is a slap in the face. I don't see any excuse for such terrible service. If this new company can do better, then of course the Valley can sustain another cab company. We NEED another cab company that will provide prompt, reliable, safe and friendly service. And if the competition gets a little stiff for those "LONGTIME" cab companies (long time indeed), then good! Give them a reason to compete for customers using their ability to serve and their good reputation, not just the with fact that they are on the street.

[Stephanie]

First, this idea of a company getting "permission" to run taxis is ludicrous, but it is what it is. Fixing THAT problem is not the discussion here. The taxi authority should first conduct some research: in surveying people with disabilities to find out what their experience has been in using taxi services, they will find that it goes well beyond simple supply and demand. It doesn't matter if there are "enough" cabs wandering the streets, because if those empty cabs are not getting dispatched to or are afraid of not making enough money by picking up people with disabilities, all the cabs in the world will not help.

Watch Handicabs video. Find out what LV's cabies really do to people with disabilities, then try to say Handicab should not exist. Shame on you, Vegas. People with disabilities spend MONDY, they tip, dine out, drink, party, and go to shows, just like everyone else, if given half the chance.

[Jim]

"Why does Handicab want to pick up other fares besides the handicapped fares ?"

Posted by: Las Vegas Cabbie | Tuesday, March 03, 2009 at 02:52 AM

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Would it be fair to ask a customer, "What is your disability?" before you pick them up? Who would enforce a 'disabled enough to be picked up' policy?

Why shouldn't these guys be allowed to compete? Really...give me one good reason. And don't say that times are tough, because that is only an argument to add more jobs into the local economy, therefore supporting this company to be approved.

[Las Vegas Cabbie]

Mr Harney must be commended for a great strategy to play on the sympathies of the residents of Clark County and the Nevada Taxi Authority. My question is; Why does Handicab want to pick up other fares besides the handicapped fares ? "But, they also say, aside from serving the physically challenged community they'll also have to pick up other fares just to meet their financial goals."

Handicab is creating this rouse to line their own pockets.
Shame on you Handicab !

[Jim]

Since when do companies need to have approval from their perspective competition before they can begin operating?

If there isn't enough business for Handicab to succeed, let them try and fail. What is the big deal? And if there is enough business, and they help out those with disabilities, then great! I don't see any problems, and I wish them the best of luck in their venture. More companies should be doing stuff like this, especially in this current economy.

[Herbert Hoover]

“Competition is not only the basis of protection to the consumer, but is the incentive to progress.”

~ Herbert Hoover

[Guest]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. But if what if it is broken?

[Percy T.]

What a joke!

Alice Lillie got it right. You don't see the casino industry pulling this type of crap, why should the cab industry? This is absurd, let the business begin and create jobs...we need more jobs in this town, so why not let them give it a go?

[Cathy kelly]

Give Handicab a chance. The current cab companies concentrate their business at the airport and the Strip because these are the most profitable. Handicab will stage their cabs throughout the metropolitan area and create new business in residential areas of the city.

Handicab will be getting the main bulk of its business from people with disabilities. People who are now not currently using cab service. So they will not be taking business away from the other cab companies. Instead, they will be creating new business.

Handicab may take business away from Paratransit. With all the current budget cuts and more on the way we must consider the possibility that Paratransit will be slashed or eliminated. Then how will the handicapped get to doctor appointment, grocery shopping or support groups? The current cab companies don't have enough vans available for the handicapped if we lose Paratransit.

[Handicab]

For more information on Handicab, see our website at www.myTaxiStory.com. While you're there, be sure to check out the blog at www.myTaxiStory.com to see the transportation problems people with disabilities currently face in Las Vegas.

[Tom]

Having driven a cab in Vegas for over 5 years I had never received a call from my dispatcher to go into the neighborhood and pick up anyone when I drove our Handivan.
Often, The dispatcher would inform me when the airport or strip casino was looking for these services. Going into the neighborhoods cost the taxi companies revenue and you were told by your supervisors to stay close to the strip where you can make more money and get more rides.
The T/A granted a certificate to A CAB over 5 years ago if they could only service all of Vegas west of I-15 and DELUXE CAB over 5 years ago with the conditions that they stay in Henderson. After this time period they could appy to the T/A to service all of Las Vegas. They have never to this day obtained that right and have been turned down after many applications to do so.
If the T/A thought ther was a problem getting a Handivan to the neighborhoods, then they have the power to tell all of the existing companies that they have to increase the amount of Handivans that these taxi have in service like they did a couple of years ago.
Right now the industry is flooded with too many cabs on the road. Good drivers are working more hours with less pay. We don't need another taxi company, we just need to fix the ones that are already in business. That's what the T/A was formed to do.

[Alice Lillie]

Let the new Handicab company try!!! If they believe they can do this, why should they have to grovel for permission? Especially from their competitors! That's crazy!

If they make a profit that will indicate that the consuming public needs a new cab company. If they incur a loss, either they will have to cut expenses or go out of business. They understand this!

If they are serving the disabled maybe charitable donations will help them stay afloat.

What if Channel 13 had to grovel to Channel 8 or 3 for permission to expand your programming? That's *nuts!!*