RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE REVISION OF TAXI REGULATIONS IN SEATTLE AND SAN DIEGO

The nature of major taxi regulatory changes implemented in Seattle and San Diego during 1979 and the preliminary results of such changes are discussed. The changes substantially reduced fare and entry controls while retaining safety and insurance requirements. These changes are significant because taxis in most U.S. cities have operated under conditions of regulated fare and entry for 40 years or more. The reasons why major regulatory revision took place in these cities are complex and difficult to attribute any single cause. Some prominent reasons were the "progressive" nature of the San Diego and Seattle City Councils and the desire to avoid frequent hearings on fare increases and other time-consuming regulatory matters. The generally unfavorable image of taxis in both cities did not aid the industry's vehement opposition to these regulatory changes. The implementation process involved the taxi industry, elected officials, and licensing and regulating authorities. The conditions of the taxi industry in both cities immediately prior to regulatory revision are described, and the revision process is examined. Explanations are offered as to why regulatory revision occurred in these cities, and the short-term and possible long-term impacts of the revisions are explored. Although the results are tentative, they should be helpful to those evaluating the desirability of regulatory changes in other cities. (Author)

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1980/778/778-004.pdf
• Summary URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=RECENT+DEVELOPMENTS+IN+THE+REVISION+OF+TAXI+REGULATIONS+IN+SEATTLE+AND+SAN+DIEGO&author=S.+Colman&publication_year=1980
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Urban Transport Service Innovations (Paratransit). Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Colman, Steven B
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 19-24
• Monograph Title: Paratransit 1980
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 778
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: City government; Deregulation; Fares; Implementation; Licenses; Politics; Taxicabs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fare reduction
• Geographic Terms: San Diego (California); Seattle (Washington)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00334538
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309031230
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 28 1982 12:00AM