Saint John approves metered taxi fares in new bylaw

Saint John council has given final approval to a new taxi bylaw that will make meters mandatory and limit the maximum age of cars.

The controversial change has been discussed for several years but was given a final vote on Monday night at a council meeting.

RickBelding, a taxi cab owner, showed up for the meeting and later said he was not happy with council's vote.

"Everybody's hurting and they want to put the price up? It's ridiculous," he said.

"They talk about old taxi cars, what about the old buses running around, 20 to25 years old. Why don't they put them off the road?"

The installation of meters will likely result in an increase in fares across the city.

For example, the fare from thecity's uptown areato the airport on the east side would jump by about $10 to $40.

The trip fromNasonRoad, on the east side, to the Saint John Regional Hospital, would be about $22, up from the current $14.

The final meter rates will be decided in consultation with the taxi industry. It is expected those new rates will be put in place in a year.

The bylaw says that all vehicles older than seven years be takenoff the road.About 65per cent of taxis in the cityfall into that category, according to municipal statistics.

Drivers would also be required tocarry moreliability insurance and to submit to a standard training program under the bylaw.