By ADINA YOUNG
Observer Staff
Oct. 18, 2007

Observer photo by Adina Young
Said Mourtaza, 41, a cab driver for Diamond Cab Co., drives one of the many cabs in Washington that currently operates using the zone system

Washington is the only major city in the country where taxicabs charge based on a zone system. But not for long.

Mayor Fenty announced on Wednesday his plans to sign an order that makes it mandatory for all taxis in the District to adopt the time-and-distance meter system.

“District residents are overwhelmingly in favor of modernizing and simplifying the fare system,” said Fenty, in a press release. “By switching over to time-and-distance meters, we meet the needs of the residents and standardize the experience for every taxi passenger.”

Time-and-distance meters will offer a standard rate for distance traveled and the amount of time spent stopped in traffic. The current zone system, which has been used since the Great Depression, charges passengers based on the number of zones traveled through.

According to a survey conducted by the D.C. Taxicab Commission in August, frequent riders and those who find the zone system difficult to understand, prefer the time-and-distance meter system.

Robin Gotosa, 28, of Alexandria, Va., a frequent taxi passenger in Washington, is glad that Mayor Fenty decided on the meter system. He believes that the zone system is particularly difficult to understand.

“I think it’s a good idea,” said Gotosa. “That way you don’t feel like you’re being cheated. If you have a fare, you know exactly how much it is going to cost.”

According to an article in the Washington Post, Washington cabdrivers rallied in front of the John A. Wilson Building on Oct. 9 to voice their opposition to the meter system.

Timothy Oke, 42, a cab driver for Unity Cab Co. argues that it will be more expensive for some people to travel because the more traffic lights there are, the longer it will take to get passengers to their destinations. This, he said, will result in fewer passengers.

“I’m not in favor of it,” said Oke. “We won’t be making money anymore.”

Fenty is discussing a timeline and transition plan for the new system with the D.C. Taxicab Commission.