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Syracuse Taxi Drivers Tell Councilors that Ride Hailing Services Have Devastated Their Business

Scott Willis
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WAER News

Syracuse’s taxi companies and independent cab drivers say ride sharing services Uber and Lyft have basically wiped out most of their traditional customer base.  Common Councilors got an ear full at a committee meeting Wednesday about how the city needs to level the playing field by stepping up regulations on ride sharing…while easing the numerous, costly, and strict regulations for traditional cabs.  Frank Manzi with Yellow cab says his business has dropped by more than half.

"I've reduced from 43 to 19 cabs.  We have no protection.  We're spending $300 a tag for nothing.  They [police] harass us, they're writing me tickets."

Ramona Bellavia with Bellavia Transportation says their intake numbers are also down.

"We pay $300 for the right to go to different places to do pick-ups.  The last time I worked, I tried to go into the taxi stand.  I couldn't.  It was full of Uber and Lyft.  I asked, 'Why are you here?'  They said, 'Because we want to be.'  By the time I went to get an officer and explained, 'They cannot be in our taxi stand,'  the officer said, 'Oh well.'  Our taxi drivers are paying to be regulated taxi drivers.  They cannot even make any money on a pick-up because Uber is sitting where we're supposed to be."

Credit Scott Willis / WAER News
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WAER News
Councilors listen to the taxi drivers.

Independent driver Chris McCarthy says ride sharing services aren't required to have the same expensive insurance or thorough background checks like taxi drivers, putting he and others at a competitive disadvantage.

"A lot of Uber drivers have the credit card stickers on their window, and a top light, so they're acting just like a taxi.  So whay don't they be treated like a taxi."

Jacques Zenner is Vice president of the Syracuse Independent Taxi Association, and was one of the most vocal at the meeting.  He's been a cab driver for over 40 years.

"The only way I've survived the past year is I'm a state provider for Medicaid. That's the main reason I'm still in the taxi business.  We take pride in our vehicles.  We want to have good drivers behind the wheel that won't hurt the reputation of the city or those who ride with us."

The meeting became heated at times, with some drivers accusing the council of favoring Uber and Lyft.  But Khalid Bey says he’s only interested in finding a solution. 

"We don't have a personal preference.  We're not in the Uber business nor the cab business.  We're here to make a fair decision."

Bey says it might be practical for the city to revisit the hefty fees paid by taxi drivers, but might be limited by state laws in what it can do regarding regulations. The committee will share what they learned with the other councilors and the Walsh Administration.  

Credit Scott Willis / WAER News
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WAER News
Ramona Bellavia with Bellvia Transportation explains how Uber and Lyft drivers are using pick-up spots reserved for genuine taxis.

Scott Willis covers politics, local government, transportation, and arts and culture for WAER. He came to Syracuse from Detroit in 2001, where he began his career in radio as an intern and freelance reporter. Scott is honored and privileged to bring the day’s news and in-depth feature reporting to WAER’s dedicated and generous listeners. You can find him on twitter @swillisWAER and email him at srwillis@syr.edu.