Story in today's (Wed) Union/Trib. about the taxis will start going to a metered rate.

TIJUANA – Thousands of taxis that ferry passengers along established routes will have to adapt to a new way of doing business after a major overhaul of the city's public transportation system.

Represented by powerful and vocal unions, taxi drivers have been key players in Tijuana's public transportation system for decades, providing more route options than buses. An estimated 7,000 drivers representing about 30 companies have fixed city routes.

Under a new plan, the taxi routes will be discarded. Instead, the cabbies will take passengers to destinations anywhere in the city, using meters to calculate the fares.

The City Council last week approved the change, which is expected to go into effect gradually, sometime this year. The new regulations will also require cabdrivers to undergo drug tests and end the longtime practice of allowing taxi company owners to accumulate permits that they then "rent" to their drivers for a fee.

Despite these radical moves, taxi union leaders seem to support the city's efforts.

"I believe that there is enough business for all, and it will only require a change of mentality," said Abel Mora Rodarte, who heads the Transportation Workers Alliance. Stricter measures, he said, will also help ensure that "no person denigrates the image of taxi drivers."

Mora and other taxi union leaders originally opposed what they interpreted as the city's intent to give Tijuana's mayor, Jeśus González, the power to decide who would get taxi permits. Such a move, they said, would lead to political favoritism.

Flexing their union muscle, the leaders staged a large protest just before the City Council's vote. The city quickly clarified its position, saying permits will be issued by a committee that includes council representatives from four political parties as well as the mayor.

For decades, the Tijuana taxis and their assigned routes were controlled primarily by unions affiliated with the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI. The unions worked closely with the state government, which until 2001 was in charge of issuing permits, when the PRI was in power in Baja California. But the relationship soured in 1989, when the National Action Party, or PAN, won the state governor's post.

Some taxi union leaders complain that the PAN-controlled state has issued cab permits to friends and acquaintances friendly with the party, contributing to the growing numbers of city cabs. PAN supporters say they have simply opened up the PRI-controlled system to those who were once excluded. The PAN remains in power in both Tijuana and the state of Baja California.

Last year, the city took over cab-permit regulatory powers from the state, leading to this week's changes. Drivers will now have to get their permits directly from the city.

This will make some of our short trips cheaper like runs up to upper revo from La Zona.These guys will miss getting five or six dollars for rides the length that thier peers in Mexico city or Veracruz get much less for.
If they have a time charge going they may try to stick you in traffic more or long route you but this will probably be good news for those who know thier way around TJ unless they were taking the routa taxis.

Do you think that the drivers will take unsuspecting gringos on a scenic tour of TJ before dropping them off at the AB?

Hey Snapper,

"Ya think?"


StrikeEagle

Whippersnapper
My first trip to TJ the Taxi driver asked if we wanted a small tour and we said yes.
He was very informative and took us around to Rev and showed us what bars would good and what was not.
As newbies he told us CC and Adelitas were sure bets and not to venture off to the side streets.

We paid him 7 fucks for his time and he never asked for more.
In fact he met us a few hours later outside Adelitas to drive us back to the border.

Most cab drivers i have been with are nice hardworkers people.

Only twice have they tried to take me for more money and I told them i wasnt your average dum white man and gave them only 5 fucks.

The cabs outside adelitas cater to stupid gringos who pay 7 to 10 fucks a ride to the border.

I mostly walk now to and from the border

Take care
Milky

after glancing at the article--it looked to me like they are talking about collectivos and not the average taxi at the border or in front of ab or cc.

after further review i guess they are talking about everyone. i'll have to get jesus' take on the whole thing.

It wouldn't make sense to change the collectivos like this. The whole point of them is that they have a fixed route. Also, how do you meter multiple passangers that get on and off at different points. If they are effected by this it is essentially doing away with them which would be a BIG hardship to much of the population.

PS - In Chiapas all regular cabs charge 15 pesos (around $1.65) for anywhere in the city. The collectivos (VW Microbus) are 3 pesos. It was a 80 peso ride to the beach 26 kM away.

according to jesus, this will effect the collectivo drivers the most--in a negative way. he doesn't seem to think it will effect the regular drivers too much.