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Permalink Reply by Jason W on September 23, 2011 at 5:08am

So it wasn't my imagination that cab drivers are the worst assholes on the road?!?!? I like to not tip them at all if they do something unsafe when they are driving me. You guys should try it. Fun!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on September 23, 2011 at 5:28am

#2 Luxury vehicle drivers.

#3 Valets

#4 out of state drivers

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Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on September 23, 2011 at 7:14am

One thing we talked about that didn't get covered was that anyone, cab driver or other, that has this many fines should be flagged in the system. People are afraid to walk, it's terrible!

 

Ethan Spotts, Active Trans

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Permalink Reply by Michelle S on September 23, 2011 at 1:06pm

Cab drivers are truly hazardous. Unfortunately, we've lined up all incentives to encourage them to speed, so we shouldn't be surprised when we see the ugly result. Cab drivers face high rental fees, high gas prices, controlled fares that are among the lowest in the country for big cities, stiff competition for passengers, and fewer people taking cabs due to the economy. All this leads to excessive speeds and deadly collisions, like the one on Sheridan Road in August mentioned in the Trib article and that I wrote about for Bike Walk Lincoln Park. The cab driver got two tickets and drove away. Now I learn from the Trib article that a disproportionate number of citations against taxi drivers are dismissed. So disheartening. A driver basically kills an elderly woman in a crosswalk, and not only doesn't face any criminal charges, likely doesn't even have to pay much financial restitution. So not only do we give cab drivers huge financial incentives to speed and drive recklessly, we also have a dearth of strong legal disincentives to discourage their reckless behavior. There is so much here that needs to be fixed.

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