My Experience

For a first timer in Washington DC the city may seem intimidating, but thanks to over 6500 DC cab drivers, traveling has become less difficult. I recently experienced this first hand when I traveled all over Washington to get a sense of city life. To my surprise, hailing a cab came easy to me.

During my experience I was given a budget of $120 for my cab fares. I traveled from the front of the Union Station where I waited in the cab line they have for customers. After waiting for about 3 minutes, I entered my first cab, Federal Cab, and rode to the corner of M Street and Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown, which took approximately 22 minutes and cost $9.91. From M Street I jumped into a Fareway Cab and rode it to the Krispy Kreme on Connecticut Avenue in Dupont Circle, which took 14 minutes and cost $6.75.  Then from Dupont Circle I rode to my last stop using National 61. This cab took me to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and dropped me off at the American Airlines gate. This ride took approximately 16 minutes and cost me $17. Seeing as the National Airport concluded my adventure, I was taken back to Union Station by, which took 19 minutes and cost a final

$12.75.

Great News for You

As for the customers side, what great news! Taking a taxicab is now easy, less expensive, and reliable. I found that the best place to hail a cab is in the most open part of the street. Try to stay away from parked cars because it makes it more difficult for available cabs to see you. Just wave a friendly hello and off you go.  With each cab fare under $20.00 I was able to save money. Also to my advantage each driver transported me efficiently with driving times under 25 minutes, depending on where you are going.

In a hurry? Grab a cab. Efficiency comes first hand for these Washington cab drivers. Cabs are the one way to get to and from a specific place in a timely manner, especially if you are in a hurry.

Another great thing about taking a Taxi as your basic means of transportation is a great thing. Since most of these cab drivers have been driving in the city for years, they are knowledgeable of many things around the city. Consider them your mini tour guides. All of the cab drivers I met on my day in the city were very personable and helpful when it came to where to go in the city for certain things. The driver of Federal Cabs, who took me to Georgetown to shop, knew exactly where to drop me off without me telling him what street. If you have any questions about the city for example, where things are or the history of a monument, most taxi cab drivers are willing to inform you.

Even though there may be some controversy on the new system, taxicabs are still one of the best and easiest ways to travel in the Washington DC city.

Controversy Over New System

Due to the new meter system and zoning areas, my cab fares to and from these places was lower than expected. This is great for the Washingtonians who use the cabs daily.

For decades now, there has been much controversy over the fares cab drivers are charging and the systems they are using. Now that the system has changed from zones to meters, many drivers hold a strong opinion. There have been many petitions and strikes such as the 24-hour “Halloween Strike” where many cab drivers refused to transport citizens leaving them to find other means of transportation. This was just one example of many that have taken place just over the last year in reference to the meter change.

One driver of the cab company National 61 I was able to meet during my visit explained that most cab drivers who hold a strong opinion about the new system are ones working for an actual cab company such as “Blue Top Cab,” renting their cars daily to make money. The issue with this is that due to meters, customers are charged less which means at the end of the day, after paying the rent, which varies, to the cab company they are employed by, cab drivers barely break even.

The same driver also claimed that most of the DC cab drivers are self owned and employed which leaves them with no rent to pay at the end of honest days work. This is the reason some cab drivers hold no opinion on the new system. I found this to be shocking since the new meter system is a pay cut for everyone.

Old System

The previous system known as “zoning” had the District divided into numerous sections, charging passengers every time the cab crosses into a different zone.

New System

According to the Washington Post, the new system is as follows:  The base rate for any trip will be $3, and once the ride begins, passengers will be paying 25 cents for each one-sixth of a mile. The meter will start on the second one-sixth of a mile, and passengers will be charged 25 cents for each minute stopped in traffic or traveling slower than 10 miles per hour. The additional passenger surcharge will also be eliminated.