The City of Dryden has approved new taxi rates.
The starting rate jumps from $5.25 to $6.25. (For the 1st 1/10 of a km or part thereof actual passenger transportation travelled)
For each additional 1/10km or part thereof actual passenger transportation travelled: (Current rates: $0.26. New rates: $0.30)
New waiting time changes:
$1.00 for each minute or portion thereof of waiting time requested by the passenger after the first three minutes of waiting time. (Old rates $0.55)
High insurance rates and fuel prices are to blame.
The changes are for both Cabbie’s Taxi and George’s Taxi.
The hike in taxi fares has some on Council wondering if its time to end municipal involvement.
The City is responsible for approving rates.
Councillor Norm Bush would prefer the free market determine that.
“I struggle with these rates solely from the perspective I don’t have a good way to judge whether it makes sense or not because I’m not in their business model,” says Bush.
Clerk Allyson Euler says Sioux Lookout and Gravenhurst recently deregulated, and it is something they have been kicking around as well.
(With files from Randy Thoms)
