Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Taxicab Authority heeds drivers, won't add more cabs

Record volumes of cab passengers won't mean more taxis on Las Vegas Valley streets, after the Nevada Taxicab Authority decided Tuesday not to increase the number of licensed taxis here.

The authority backed driver arguments that a glut of cabs already on the streets is able to handle increased numbers of riders, who took more than 25 million trips in the 2005 fiscal year that ended June 30.

"We do not have a demonstrated need for additional cabs," said Yvette Moore, the authority's administrator. "The statistics show there's too many cabs on the road,"

There are slightly more than 2,000 licensed cabs serving Clark County. Last month, the average cabdriver made about 22 passenger trips per shift, just under an industry benchmark of 24.

Drivers said many drivers suffer depressed incomes when there are too many drivers hunting for fares.

"When you go driving certain parts of the day, you can't even pull into a hotel, there's so many cabs there already," said David Summers, a driver for Star Cab Co.

The decision to keep cab levels unchanged is the latest economic victory for local cabbies, who earlier this year successfully lobbied Gov. Kenny Guinn to veto a bill that would have banned kickbacks for cabdrivers.