Crazy Cab System or A Rant

We have this insane zone system of cab fares in Washington. No meters. You pay based where you start and where you end up, according to a crazy map that makes no sense, even to people who live here. It doesn't matter where you start in zone 1, if you're only going one zone, it's $5. From my office to my house is two zones, $6.90. If you have more than one person in the cab, they charge you an extra $1.50 per person. And an extra $1 for a suitcase or other thing that goes in the trunk.

There are all kinds of other rules, too. You can't just flag any cab you see on the street down. Cabs that are licensed in Maryland or Virginia are not allowed to pick up passengers in the District unless those passengers are going back to Maryland or Virginia. If you're sharing a cab, and you need to get out at wo different stops, you each have to pay the whole fare. And my least favorite rule, if I'm already in a cab, the driver is allowed to pick up other riders as long as it won't take me more than 5 blocks out of the way. The other day, I flagged down a cab, and it already had a rider in it. The driver asked where I was going, and I told him I don't share. He actually yelled at me! Like that's going to make me want to get in his cab.

Most of the time, I don't realize we have this insane system. But when Sarah & Cap were here this weekend, they were complaining about it, and how much more expensive it is than the meter system they use in New York.