JedFonner.com

DC is in the process of switching from its crazy zone system to a more common metered system that every other city uses. Of course, the city’s cab drivers haven’t been too happy about that or the new metered fare structure. Even though all analysis of new fares has indicated that cabbies will make about the same amount (the main purpose for the switch has been to reduce confusion and cheating), the cab drivers chose to institute a series of strikes. The first two strikes were fairly uneventful, unless you were trying to hail a cab of course. Up until now, many people were sympathetic to the position of the cab drivers in this matter. But after today’s strike, I can’t imagine anyone being on the side of the taxi drivers anymore. I’d be very surprised if even the people who like the zone system would support the cab drivers now.

If you read the comments on the DCist post on today’s unannounced strike, you’ll see that the taxi drivers have changed their strategy. Instead of just staying off the roads, which frustrated people needing cabs but delighted everyone else who got to drive on traffic-free streets, today they’ve decided to become incredibly annoying nuisances.

Here are some examples of their obnoxious behavior:

• A huge line of taxis is driving very slowing around Freedom Plaza, in front of the Wilson Building, all honking their horns.
• This morning, about 100 taxis made their way SLOWLY down 16th past U street. They were even getting out of their cars to talk to one another. People had to wait for about 20 mins for the cabs to finally pass before any cars or buses could get by.
• Many cabs just stopped in the right lane of 16th Street. People had to walk for miles in the frigid wind because no buses could get through.
• So many cabs were driving slowly around the Ronald Reagan Building and laying on the horn that it’s affecting official city business, including making it impossible to hold teleconferences.

This is ridiculous in that it’s not just affecting people who ride cabs, but also people who take buses and drive.

I can’t understand how the cab drivers think that by making themselves a nuisance they will win anyone over to their side. If anything, this stunt has just enraged people even more. The whole point of a strike is to make people see how important you are to daily life. The point is not to show how annoying you can be. That’s just bad business.

I for one hope the MPD is racking in some nice money by ticketing the hell out of these crazy cabs.