tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196201224507060771.post3802398114044612938..comments2023-12-18T05:12:50.293-05:00Comments on LAW PROF on the LOOSE: Of Local InterestJon Siegelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05903271363747693689noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196201224507060771.post-13846430730633564322007-10-18T22:23:00.000-04:002007-10-18T22:23:00.000-04:00Good point, jms, I believe the answer is that a sm...Good point, jms, I believe the answer is that a smart taxicab commission usually deals with this by arranging for there to be a substantial initial fare at the fall of the meter's flag, which is supplemented by the smaller per-mile or per-minute charge. If these amounts are set correctly, the cabbie has an incentive to get you to your destination as efficiently as possible so as to reap the benefit of the fall-of-the-flag charge again as soon as possible.Jon Siegelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05903271363747693689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196201224507060771.post-87228498615930457262007-10-18T16:59:00.000-04:002007-10-18T16:59:00.000-04:00I've always wondered about how a switch to a meter...I've always wondered about how a switch to a meter would shape taxi driver incentives. In a city like DC where there are so many possible routes and random one-way streets, I kind of like the comfort of knowing that the driver has the incentive to get to your destination through the most efficient route possible. Once (or if!) the switch to the meter becomes effective, I wonder if I am going to have to start paying more attention to the roads that the taxi driver is taking. To give a brief anecdote, I took a taxi home from Virginia one night (therefore it was using a meter), and the taxi driver took a completely circuitous route which ended up costing me an extra $2 or so.<BR/><BR/>Of course I won't miss paying $8 for a 7 block cab ride.JMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08233722962085528965noreply@blogger.com