D.C., Keep Your Taxis

By William T. Coleman
Alexandria

In the Oct. 11 Local Opinions article "In Bribe Case, a Taste of Regulation's Perils," Samuel R. Staley argued that the District's continuing "move toward restricting the supply of taxis" benefits larger taxicab companies thereby "marginalizing" drivers and single-car operators, leading to fewer taxis available for service. From Staley's perspective, the more taxis there are the better.

However, I would posit that this view is not necessarily shared by those of us who live in Northern Virginia and who have to live with a great number of those D.C. taxicabs parking along our residential streets. Staley appeared to have forgotten about the law of unintended consequences. While he and other District residents and visitors might believe that more and more taxicabs are a good thing, he forgot that those same, ugly, oil-dripping taxis wind up on the streets leading to our homes. Up to nine taxicabs, the majority registered in the District, are parked nightly within half a mile along the single street leading to my house.

Worse, we in Virginia cannot hail one of these taxicabs for local service because they are restricted to service within the District or for direct fares into or out of the District only. They park in our neighborhoods, but we derive no benefit from them.

If Staley wants more taxicabs, he should keep them in the District, where they belong.