Taxi Drivers Hoping For 0% Approval Rating

By now, you’ve probably ridden in a Philadelphia cab and attempted to pay with a credit card. And, if you’ve done that, you’ve most certainly been told by the cab driver the credit card machine is broken, or you’ve been yelled at for not informing the driver you were intending to pay with a credit card, because, you know, that’s a rule of some sort.

Of course, the credit card machines aren’t broken 24/7, the drivers just don’t want to deal with ‘em. And so, to protest these evil credit card machines (and GPS systems), Philadelphia taxi drivers have begun a two-day strike.

The strike is a joint action in solidarity with cab drivers in New York City. Philadelphia cabs already have the GPS/credit card system installed, while New York cabs will be making the switch over soon. The GPS system does go out somewhat frequently, but the real reason for the strike is cab drivers don’t want to accept credit cards for some reason (they have to report tips accurately?) and they’re being forced to.

Anyway, it’s okay if cabs are on strike; now you can hail a limo!

Linda J. Miller, Parking Authority spokeswoman, said the executive order allowing the city’s 161 limousine companies to fill the vacuum left by striking taxi drivers was also used to cope with a one-day strike in May 2006 that left about 100 cabs operating.

Miller said that the limousines would respond to anyone hailing them on the street but that there would be no central dispatching as with taxis. Anyone calling for a ride would have to pick a limousine company from the phone book.

But here’s the question: Do limos have those credit card machines? Probably not.

2-day taxi strike has begun [Inquirer]