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This week, the Los Angeles City Council approved major overhauls for the taxi industry. They’re intended to help the struggling cab companies in the face of competition from Uber and Lyft and also the Covid pandemic. Eric Spiegelman, the president of the city’s Taxi Commission said that the ordinances are expected to change the taxi industry for the better.
ERIC SPIEGELMAN: “The ordinance has been a long time coming. We’ve been working on it for eight years. Its a very major overhaul. We saw the need for it very quickly after Uber X launched in Los Angeles. The pandemic accelerated something that was already happening. It lit a fire underneath the the taxi administration to basically innovate now. This was the time to do it. And it also alleviated some of the disadvantages we had.”
One of the biggest updates with the new ordinance is that taxis will have apps like Uber and Lyft do. And, the new taxi apps will have access to traffic data. Spiegleman says this will make cab rides more efficient.
SPIEGELMAN: “The thing that I’m most hopeful about is we’re basically saying that anyone who wants to start a taxi app, if they want to open up shop in L.A., not only are we going to say its fine, as long as they follow our regulations, but we will integrate our entire system with that app.”
The city will also get rid of another big obstacle, the number of authorized cabs. LA will now allow many more taxis in hopes of better meeting the needs of Los Angeles’s population.
SPIEGELMAN: “It became very clear that the cap on taxi cabs at 2364 put the taxi industry at a severe disadvantage. I think that probably was the most debilitating regulation.”
For Angelenos and taxi drivers alike, many believe the ordinance will open up more--and better--transportation options for both drivers and riders. Why drive taxis rather than other ride-shares?
SPIEGELMAN: “It pays better.”
So, when you’re searching for your next ride maybe instead of Uber and Lyft, why not try out the new updated taxis?