As previously reported, SFMTA has been considering adding as many as 125 new taxis to the city’s streets. They were supposed to hold a hearing on the proposal June 21, but delayed discussion of the proposal even as angry drivers demonstrated, blocked traffic, and packed that meeting.
Now, as the Ex notes, the SFMTA has announced that at their August 2 board meeting they “will consider whether to issue up to 125 taxi permits (medallions), which may be designated as any combination of electric taxi vehicle permits, part-time permits, peak time permits, single operator permits, full-time transferable medallions or full-time non-transferable medallions.”
Right now, there are 7,000 registered cab drivers in SF, leasing out about 1,500 medallions between them. These 125 new permits are expected to increase SF’s fleet of cabs by around 8 percent.
On one side are the SFians who take cabs around the city and say that hailing one is difficult enough; at the other end are taxi drivers who believe competition is already stiff enough as it is. So, what do you think of adding more cabs?
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