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Does Lincoln need
another cab service?
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[NOV. 4, 2003]
There's no news yet as to whether Lincoln will get a new
taxicab service. Bill Shelley and Diane Malone have petitioned the
Lincoln Public Vehicle Licensing Board to start a new taxi company,
saying they have been hearing that there is a need for additional
service. The board met last Tuesday but decided they wanted to have
opportunity to hear from the public before making any decisions.
Discussion by the board continued from last week's public hearing. ["City
entertains additional cab service petition"]
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Also, several aldermen were absent from
last Tuesday's opening hearing. The licensing board is composed of
the mayor and aldermen.
Monday evening the board resumed with a
full attendance, and discussion was opened again.
The board members said they have
received some calls indicating that there may be a need for more cab
service. Some businesses and bar owners responded, saying that
customers have had lengthy waits. One business said the busy hours
were between 3 and 4 p.m. Verl Prather said he heard from a J.C.
Pour House bartender that she has had to either take people home
herself or loan out her own vehicle to get patrons home at late
hours.
Given the opportunity to present any
new information, Shelley presented a petition with 200 signatures
indicating the petitioners would like to see a second cab company.
Shelley said, "I am not trying to make
them [the Rankin's taxi service] look bad. I just want to give 'em a
hand."
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article] |
The owners of the one current taxicab
company in Lincoln, Malisa and Brian Rankin, contend that they have
not had any complaints from their clients. Neither are they aware of
missing any calls that have come in.
The Rankins say there is not enough
business to maintain two healthy cab businesses in Lincoln. Brian
Rankin said the average pay his drivers are getting is $49 per day
working 6½-12-hour shifts. That's not a lot of money, and fewer
fares will cut into that pay.
The taxi service rates are set by the
vehicle licensing board.
In addition, the costs of insurance and
maintenance are too high to maintain a quality service. Malisa
Rankin said, "I don't want to see the cabs get run down."
Jonie Tibbs made a motion that the
board defer the matter in order to give everyone equal opportunity
to review all the new information.
The board
will meet to vote on the matter at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 in Lincoln
City Council chambers.
[Jan
Youngquist] |
