By Jennifer Glickel
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — An increase in cab fares may be coming soon thanks to the drivers of yellow cabs themselves, according to the New York Post.
Taxi drivers are pushing the Taxi and Limousine Commission for a significant fare increase, one that would raise initial fares to $3 — a 19 percent hike, the paper reported.
If approved by the TLC, the fare increase would raise the cost of a five-mile ride from $13 to $15.50, which doesn’t include idling time or tip, according to the Post.
The Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade, which is the city’s biggest group of medallion-owning cabbies, put forth the proposal to increase fares, according to the paper. The push comes at the same time as the MTA has raised fares on subways and buses.
The base fare of a cab ride would increase from $2.50 to $3, which doesn’t include the "MTA" tax that the state government added to the initial fare last year.
The flat fee for rides from Manhattan to John F. Kennedy Airport would go up from $45 to $53, which is an 18 percent increase — and that’s without tolls or tip, under the reported proposal.
Riders would be charged 40 cents for every sixth of a mile driven, whereas now the fare "click" happens every fifth of a mile, which is an increase of 20 percent in the distance charge.
Cabbies want to change the minimum speed that is considered to be idling, in order to increase the fees associated with waiting around. As of now idling is considered to be driving at speeds fewer than 10 miles per hour. In the proposed changes, drivers would be idle at speeds fewer than 12 miles per hour.
It is unknown what the timetable is for discussions of the new proposal will take place, according the Post.
