Boston Airport Cab is closely following the recent news of Boston city councilors calling for a hearing to restore and revive the taxi industry. As a trusted provider of taxi cab services in Boston, we understand the challenges that cab drivers have been facing in the wake of the popularity of ride-hailing firms like Uber and Lyft.
Frank Baker of Dorchester and Kendra Lara of Jamaica have sponsored the order, which aims to address the concerns of cab drivers who have invested in their business and are now struggling to keep up. Lara estimates that 825 cab drivers have been impacted by the rise of Uber and Lyft, which have made it more convenient to hail a ride than using traditional taxi services.
The proposed hearing aims to provide regulatory relief for taxi drivers and prevent the industry from fading away entirely. The councilors will discuss the future of taxi services and provide drivers with the necessary support to keep the sector alive.
Baker highlighted that prior to the rise of Uber and Lyft, a medallion, which is effectively a business license for taxi drivers, could cost up to $600,000, but now they are being offered for $35,000. As a result, many drivers are stuck with an investment that is losing strength.
We at Boston Airport Cab fully support the efforts of the city councilors to revive the taxi industry and provide drivers with the necessary support to keep the sector alive. We believe that traditional taxi services still have a valuable role to play in providing safe, reliable, and affordable transportation to the people of Boston.
We are encouraged to see that City Council President Ed Flynn and City Councilman At-Large Michael Flaherty have suggested that unions should be involved in discussions, and we look forward to participating in the conversation about the future of taxi services in Boston.