CHICAGO, Ill. (WBBM) -- Chicago taxi drivers are being asked to park their cabs for one day Tuesday to demand an increase in fares and a decrease in tickets from the city.
The bright yellow flyers have been handed out for several days.
"Do not continue to be bullied by the City of Chicago," the flyer proclaimed.
The flyer did not indicate who issued it, or where drivers should report, if anywhere, on Tuesday, except to "park your cab."
City Service Taxi Association owner Mahmoud Khan told WBBM he is urging those who drive his dozen cabs to honor the strike.
"Mayor Daley is not taking care of the cab driver," he said.
The flyer seeks 100 percent participation by taxi drivers. But Chicago's cabbies are a notoriously splintered group. Some questioned Saturday by WBBM said they will not honor the strike and do not want to talk about it.
Some offer whole-hearted support. One driver for Globe Cab told WBBM, "There's a lot of problems the cab drivers are facing."
Those drivers who are organizing the strike say in their flyers that the prices of gas, maintenance, insurance, lease rates and even the loans needed to purchase medallions have, but the last increase in cab fares occurred in May 2005.
The organizers and several other drivers contacted by WBBM claim Police and city Dept. of Consumer Services personnel ticket many cabbies for no reason, except that they're vulnerable.
Still other drivers support some goals but not others.
"I don't believe in increasing the fare rate because of the gas," said one driver for Royal/Chicago Carriage Cab. "The situation is for the city to call the cab companies in to reduce their lease (rates)."
One driver showed WBBM a receipt for one week's rental at $574. Others said $600 weekly rental rates are not uncommon.
Currently taxis charge $2.25 for the flag pull, 20 cents for each additional 1/9th of a mile, $1 for a second passenger and 50 cents for each additional passenger beyond three. Waiting time is calculated at a rate of $20 an hour.
A Globe driver indicated he would like to see a $3 flag pull and higher rates for additional mileage. Others said they would leave that decision up to the city.
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