WashPo Article on DC Taxi Strike


I'll probably end up regretting blogging publicly about a WashPo article since they tell you who's blogging about this or that but eh. I hate making entries private, too.

Originally I planned to ride the ole Bianchi in to work this morning but realized I probably wouldn't make it home in time to catch the Halloween doublefeature at the AFI. Plus, at around 6am I realized I really wanted a few more hours of sleep (LAZY!).

I'd almost forgotten about the strike until I realized I wasn't getting cut off or nearly broadsided by cabs on my drive out of the city this morning. Then it all clicked and I excitedly texted lonecellotheory: There are less cabs. It's great!

I do feel bad for those who rely on taxis for transportation and were caught off guard by the strike. Until this morning, I really didn't know what to expect and it looks like (so far) many of the District's cabbies are taking a day off. So, for those who need cabs to get around, I feel your pain.

However, I ultimately really only care how this affects me, me, me!

How does this affect me?

I had one of the most pleasant drives out of the city this morning that I can think of in recent memory. Maybe ever.

• No cars (taxis) snuck up in my blind spot in an effort to cut me off at merges or at lights.
  
  
• No cars stopping suddenly in front of me to either pick up fare (for also as common, for no reason at all. WTF is with THAT!?)
  
  
• No cars parked illegally in front of entrances to buildings etc so therefore traffic was not slowed down as a result
  
  
• No illegal u-turns!
  

Fenty's decision to switch to the meter system will probably benefit customers and I'm pleased about it. However, will someone please make cabbies pass a basic driver's test,too? As it stands now, anyone that somehow gets a license can be a DC cabbie, am I right? (yes, that was sarcasm but not too far from the truth, right?)