Evening star., 1924-08-08
CUT IN TAXI FARES
MAKES CABS HUM
Tremendous Increase Noted
in Patronage-Women
Best Customers.
By j. C. ROYLE.

NEW YORK, August S.-New York
has developed taxibitis and the cpl
demic bids fair to spread to other
cities. The first symptoms Of this COM
plaint made their appearance at the
same time a larger number of the
taxicab companies and operators re-
duced their charges to 90 cents a mile.
Millions of taxicab men differ widely
as to whether the reduction in fares
has been a profitable move SO far as
cash receipts and profits are con-
cerned. but all agree that undoubtedly
it has stimulated the riding habit
During the recent hot spell swelter-
ing citizens unable TO obtain comfort
in their homes have spent hours at
night riding about the parks and
streets in q cab-created breese. At
times 1t has been almost Impossible
to obtain a cab in the neighborhood
of Times Square and other centers
where formerly empties were visible
on every hand.
Tnxis Line Beaches.
A constant string of taximeters
has lined the roads to the Long
Island beaches. and the road to Coney
Island has been congested with cab
riders day and night since the hot
spell began. Resorts 20 and 80 miles
from New York in New York State
and New Jersey now are visited con-
stantly by taxi parties. who find that
the cab fares for party of five or
more amount to little more than the
regular railroad fares.
Much of the effect Of the reduced
rates, however, is psychological. For
short hauls, the new rates effect a
comparatively light saving, but the
has made a wide appeal, especially
among woman patrons. Many of
these have found that expenditure of
a relatively small sum for cab in
which to conduct a shopping expe-
dition effects a savings of nerves.
clothes and makeup incident to TIE
subway crush.
Misleading Signs Gone.
The feminine patrons are given
chief credit for the abolition of mis-
These carried the words. Twenty
cents a mile" in large letters, but
added the statement in small type
that the owner could not afford to
his cab nat shas rate ny
such signs Immediately called police
men and the signs soon disappeared.
The question of maintaining the
lower rates still is being vigorously
panies declare that the low rate has
cut idle cruising time from SO to 60
per cent. with consequent betterment
of receipts. One company has decided
to make the rate 20 cents for the
first half mile and 10 cents for each
half mile thereafter and some still
stick to the 30-cent rate. The latter
declare that profits are impossible at
the lower rate.
Drivers Oppose Reductions.
The drivers themselves. however,
seem generally opposed to the re-
duced fare. One man who owns his
cab declared today he could see no no
profit in hauling a crowd of five 20
81 and running back empty. Others
complain that the reduction in rates
has also produced a reduction in tips,
which form a decided item in the re-
ceipts of some drivers.
The busses have also enjoyed IN
creased patronage during the heated
spell. and on ruEs where it has been
customary for these vehicles to wait
for a load they are now making far
more daily trips that formerly.
London, where last Saturday and Sun
day the motor busses handled a total
of 100000 passengers. of whom
$500 900 were carried Sunday.
Reports indicate that the increase
in the riding habit" in New, New York *
bring about deep consideration among
taxicab operators in other cities con-
cerning similar reductions. This
trend has been augmented by the
stricter enforcement of parking regu-
lations in congested streets which has
toners rather than wait idle at diff
ferent stands.