Responding to a December deputation from the Napanee Cab Inc. owner Ron Yeomans to raise fares by 10 per cent, mayor Marg Isbester posed a thought-provoking question.
What other private business has to appear before town council to seek permission to raise its fees? No one in council’s virtual ‘squares’ had an answer.
With that in mind, council’s decision at the Jan. 11 meeting to move to allow taxi companies within the town set their own rates makes the most sense. That council ever had any authority over the matter in the first place is baffling. Keeping tabs on the vehicles to ensure safety standards is one thing, but telling a business owner how much they can charge is an over step. Fortunately yearly safety checks will remain in place regardless of next month’s outcome.
One caveat to the above is the fact Greater Napanee doesn’t have a full service public transportation system in place. Taxi remains the only option for some residents who need to get from A to B when only vehicle will do. Walking isn’t always an option for some of the more vulnerable of the community-particularly in the winter months. Another wrinkle is currently Napanee Cab owns a Monopoly of sorts as the only licensed taxi business within the town limits. While there are those in neighbouring cities such as Kingston and Belleville, calling one to make a trip in town doesn’t make a lot of sense-or cents-for those cabbies.
As far as consumers are concerned, competition is always a good thing in that it helps to control the market. And there’s no denying transportation is an essential service-whether its making a weekly trip to a grocery store, getting to a medical appointment or simply providing a responsible option to get home after a night of too many Pepsi-taxis play an important role. When push comes to shove, people want to know there’s a safe, reliable and regulated mode of transportation available. Ride sharing apps aren’t always an option and even when they are, they’re a pain for municipalities to regulate.
That’s where council’s proposed by-law, which could pass on Feb. 8, can turn into a bit of a leap of faith. Council is trusting the cab company won’t completely price out some of its customers. For some of those customers, even a slight increase of a dollar or two per trip could stretch an already thin budget. Meanwhile those operating the cabs have to deal with rising costs of insurance and fuel while still earning a livable wage. Fluctuating fuel prices make that task all the more challenging, especially lately when the pendulum has only swung towards 1.40 a litre and higher.
Simply put, council has no ground to stand on when it comes to setting a cab’s rate for getting across town. To really ensure people can move about the town affordably council needs to continue to push ahead with plans to develop a public transportation system. Ideally their decision on Feb. 8 could put some pressure on that pilot project to become a reality.
-Adam Prudhomme