Regional council to vote on cab bylaw amendment to increase meter drop rates
Posted Mar 13, 2024 12:47:08 PM.
Last Updated Mar 14, 2024 04:01:16 AM.
The Region of Waterloo has announced it intends to pass an amendment to the Taxi-Cab Bylaw at an upcoming regional council meeting.
The amendment would see the meter drop rate increase from $3.50 to $4.50.
In a statement to CityNews Kitchener, Radenko Ivanisevic, the president of City Cabs Kitchener, said all four local cab companies agreed with the region on the increase about six months ago. He said the drop rate has not increased in 14 years.
“Goods and services generally have gone up in price during that 14-year period since the initial fare has been adjusted last, in some areas to a greater extent than this increase represents – wages for the average worker have also increased,” said Ivanisevic in a statement. “The taxi industry is exposed to rising overhead costs just to operate, and the increase only helps keep pace with that.”
Some of the increases include in gas, the price of cars, maintenance and mechanic fees. Ivanisevic said despite having a clean driving record, they are seeing insurance increases around $1,000 a year.
“We are just trying to survive in this business.”
Tony Rodriguez, the business development and marking director with Waterloo Taxi, said the cost would only increase the price of rides by a dollar and is not that significant. If the amendment does pass, he said they will take a measured approach on when they will apply it.
“We do have the best interests of our customers, we know everyone is feeling it,” said Rodriguez. “I think these approaches have to be measured and we will approach it in that way.”
It is the first regional taxi rate increase since 2021, which increased per kilometre rates and waiting-per-hour rate. Currently, the per kilometre rate is $2.50 and the waiting-per-hour is $40.
Council is expected to vote on the amendment at their council meeting on Mar. 20.
