Gas prices are up and some public transportation prices are on the rise as well.
Some University of Memphis students depend on public transportation while others are concerned about increasing rates.
Tina Benamon, a U of M music education major, said the higher gas prices have become an inconvenience because they have increased cab fares.
“I was going to start catching taxis until I heard of the increase so now I’ll just drive,” Benamon said. “I don’t know what to do.”
The Memphis City Council recently approved a $2 gas surcharge for taxicab customers to pay because of the increase in gas rates.
Kennesha Rhodes, manager of Arrow Cab Transportation, said the company would comply and charge an additional $2 fee for services.
However, Robert Fletcher, manager of Metro and City Wide Cab, said the company has not yet decided on whether to charge customers the additional fee. The company will meet to discuss the matter.
“We just haven’t decided yet,” he said.
However, one U of M student said the more people who are in the city, the more travel businesses would succeed, because high gas prices would initially have an affect on both businesses and customers.
“More businesses are going to increase their revenue,” said Rovonda Lowery, a psychology major.
“They know that we might need to use alternative transportation due to gas prices going up,” she said.
Lowery said that from a business standpoint, raising cab fees would be a convenience, but from her view, it’s an inconvenience.
Some Mid-south taxi services explained why the surcharge was needed.
“Yes, the city council approved of it,” said Hamilton Smythe IV, president of Yellow and Checker Cab Services.
“The company had to figure out a way to reimburse our drivers for high gas rates,” Smythe said.
Smythe said they are working with their customers the best way possible, but that cab fares depend solely on the driver.
A customer representative from Yellow and Checker Cab explained how customers would be charged.
He said there is a $2 charge at the time the customer is picked up and flag drop of $1.60 of first 1/8 mile, not including other meter fees.
The increase of taxi fees brings into question whether other public transportation, such as buses, will also increase their rates because of high fuel prices.
Sherry Thurman, the customer representative administrator of Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA), said fees won’t be increased for rides on buses, game shuttles and main trolleys.
MATA, however, did raise their fees May 1.
Adam Christensen, a recording technology major at The U of M, said driving would be more expensive than using alternative forms of travel.
“I think the gas prices should just go down,” Christensen said. “If you need (taxicabs), go ahead and pay them.”
