TKC BREAKING AND EXCLUSIVE NEWS!!! QUESTIONS ON BLAST CONCERNING KANSAS CITY YELLOW CAB FEES AND PASSENGERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS!!!
Last year Kansas City faced a lawsuit for supporting what critics complained was a "monopolistic" taxi permit system.
Basic economics teaches us that consumers suffer under monopolies and the lack of competition unduly raises prices. Sadly, free market capitalism is becoming mostly a myth in the bi-state area as big business i.e. white welfare corporate moochers become almost totally dependent on taxpayer subsidy.
But I digress . . .
Right now AWESOME TKC TIPSTERS have a question that should shine a light on an overlooked transit issue concerning accessibility. It seems that while Kansas City politicos and hipsters are busy advocating for a $100 Million toy train in front of coffee houses and shopping centers, there is a financial dilemma regarding transit for those who need wheelchair access that's far more important to the local quality of life.
Check it:
KICK-ASS TKC TIPSTERS ARE CALLING INTO QUESTION THE FEE STRUCTURE FOR THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS FROM A KANSAS CITY TAXI COMPANY ENDORSED AND OFTEN SUPPORTED BY CITY HALL!!!
Check the testimony . . .
"How is it that Billy George can charge wheelchair passengers $65.00 for a ride? When ADA clearly states that you can not charge a different rate because someone is disabled. Happens everyday at Yellow Cab."
Now, we did more than a bit of investigating and got in touch with A TOP KANSAS CITY INSIDER on the subject.
Here's what he said:
"This is a fact. He charges $65 EACH WAY for an accessible cab. The only other option is bus service or Share-a-Fare, which must be booked 24 hours in advance and which requires pre-qualifying."
And here's a perspective on what bigger, better and more important cities are doing in similar situations:
"Washington D.C. taxis providing wheelchair access cost at the same rate. No special fee."
One more example that puts this Kansas City transit question in perspective . . .
"NYC has a special program using GPS to dispatch one of their 233 accessible yellow cabs to customers with special needs. Drivers will be paid up to $15 for the trouble from the taxi fee kitty, but the rate among passengers stays the same."
Finally, factor in ALL of the costs for those with special needs in Kansas City who don't have many alternatives for transit.
"Let's not forget there's also a mileage restriction on the $65 fare AND special needs riders factor in a tip just like everyone else."
Kansas City Taxi Cab Dude Bill George could not be reached at the time of this post was published but we're more than willing to post his side of the story as well.
In the meantime, this question and concern about wheelchair access among Kansas City's best and brightest reveals that a great deal of local transit advocating has forgotten those with special needs.
DEVELOPING . . .
UPDATE . . . WE HAVE MORE INFO ON THIS STORY ALONG WITH AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW THAT NOTES UPCOMING ACCESSIBILITY NEWS!!! STAY TUNED!!!
Not bad but needs a better photo. Lucy Pinder ever take a cab?
ReplyDeleteSnip a few city official spinal cords and see if the system changes.
ReplyDeleteIf it doesn't, snip a few more.
1:30, won't work. Politicians are the only mammal born without a backbone.
ReplyDeleteOrphan - Politicians are mostly snakes, which would make them reptilian.
ReplyDeleteThere are those who are rats though...
Yellow Cab will never get a dime from me. A few weekends ago we used the reservation application to book a cab at 2pm on a Saturday for pick up at our home at 6pm. Reservation confirmed. We thought everything was fine. 6:10 came around and no cab. Called Yellow Cab and they said no cab had been assigned.
ReplyDelete"How long will it take to get one here?" We asked...dispatcher said, "At least thirty to 45 minutes."
We had to be at our destination at 6:30 so we cancelled.
A friend was at a bar and decided he should not drive home and had the bartended call a cab. He waited 2 hours for the cab and it didn't come until after the bar had closed.
Seems like Yellow Cab only wants business from Westport, P&L and the Plaza.
I had a special need one night. The cabbie gave me a handy for an extra $20.00.
ReplyDeleteand you don't think Kansas City isn't a shithole cowtown...World Class??? yea right.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteAnother FINE example of Kansas City being highly cultured and cosmo to the point where we have to control the throngs of tourists coming here by awarding passage into our Nirvana via a limited travelers lottery system.
I thought the DOJ got the city for its shitty treatment of disabled people. Time to contact them about this cab business. And able people should boycott.
ReplyDeleteNotify the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities. And notify a lawyer. Squeaky wheelchair wheel gets the grease.
ReplyDelete5:59 PM - Do you mean that DOJ run by Eric Holder, you know that guy who, with Barry Soetoro, did a massive gun running campaign to Mexican drug cartels?
ReplyDeleteThe same people who refuse to prosecute hate crimes that are black-on-white?
Yep - they are all about "justice" in name only.
Yellow Cab is a owned by a French Industrial Behemoth that bought it for Super Shuttle and the SAF Contract. It is no longer owned by Billy George. The least they can do is be fair with disabled people in their cabs. If not the city should get new companies to run those contracts.
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong Tony? The new Yellow Cab owners behind on the payments to you for trashing public transportation?
ReplyDeleteI would hope that if TKC was taking payoffs this blog wouldn't suck so much.
ReplyDeleteSo we're probably safe.
Bwahaahahahahahahahaha!
7:27, that French company,myeloid, pays George s very high six- figure salary to lobby on behalf of Yellow and stick their nose in every city trough. But George is a troll to whom no one likes. This one ought to be good! Will see what dust. We'll see how he spins this sees.
ReplyDeleteWe wouldn't need taxicabs if we had the toy train. They just strap the cripples on the caboose and don't charge them anything since they don't take up a seat. What the hell. They're in a goddamn wheelchair anyway. Medicaid already paid for their fucking seat. Sounds like a win-win to me.
ReplyDeleteBill George is paid by Veolia, the French owners of Yellow Cab. He makes a very large salary to keep YC in City Hall's good graces and keep good solid political connections. Bill is a snake and a weasel.
ReplyDelete