San Francisco cabbies are preparing for the rush of fans to AT&T Park for the Giants’ three home playoff games this week, and say a new taxi stand near the ballpark will make it easier to pick up and drop off customers.
The Giants are hosting the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series at 1:19 p.m. today, and will also host the Phillies in Games 4 and 5 on Wednesday and Thursday. The series is tied 1-1.
After the Giants clinched a playoff spot, John Lazar, president of Luxor Cab, had pushed for a new taxi stand on Third Street that he said would be easier to access, especially for senior and disabled fans attending the games.
There are three existing taxi stands in the area, but cabbies have said they are too far from the ballpark or force taxis to sit in gridlocked traffic after picking up passengers.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency granted his request on Friday, blocking off 10 parking spots between McDonald’s and Happy Donuts near King Street to allow cabs to be stationed there before, during and after the games.
“The plan is to provide the trial taxi stand through the playoffs,” SFMTA spokesman Paul Rose said. “We’re going to take it one series at a time, and make the decision as they move forward, then make a long-term decision if it’s something we want to move forward with in general.”
Lazar was pleased with the decision and said his company is spreading the word to other cab companies.
“For years, cabs have been reluctant to go down there” because many have received expensive parking tickets from stopping near the stadium, he said.
Lazar said his company is planning on having lots of cabs ready, and said there have already been people asking for rides to the ballpark area before 9 a.m. today.
“We’re hoping for a good turnout this afternoon,” he said. “We will have cabs there, that’s for sure.”
Rose said SFMTA is running more trains and buses near the ballpark today to accommodate fans.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
