Calgary taxi situation still frustrating despite addition of new licences

Catching a cab in Calgary was supposed to be easier this holiday season with the introduction of 126 new licences earlier this fall.

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But getting a taxi on a weekend evening is still an exercise in patience and frustration.

Roger Richard, president of Associated Cab, admitted that last weekendthe taxi situation was grim with the city in a deep freeze.

Our efficiency dropped down 70 per cent, he said.

Richard said party-goers headed out this weekend should be prepared to wait, especially if its cold.

Choose your favourite company, phone them and have some patience.

More licences coming

Only 29 of the 126 new licences are on the streets so far, but the city says that number is growing every day.

City council approved 383 new plates in September, but decided to immediately release just one third of them. The remainder will be issued next year.

But Dave Howard, president of the Event Group, saysthe problem is the way taxis are dispatched, not the number of cars on the streets.

Taxi companies are just creating the illusion that more licences are needed, said the event planner.

They keep their phonelines jammed,Howardsaid.And so our perception is there aren't enough taxis.That's what they want us to believe.

Where does a taxi make their money? New licences.