tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821217210219768767.post8709672112530847848..comments2007-04-18T20:55:40.156-05:00Stewart Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06637399729151713426noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5821217210219768767.post-59966671624254008842007-04-18T20:55:00.000-05:002007-04-18T20:55:00.000-05:00Hi Rudy, <BR/><BR/>This cabbie post is v. interesting to me coz I've been following the Philly taxi industry for a while now. The GPS and credit card machines were installed in Dec. 2006, in spite of cabbie complaints, and there are both positives and negatives...<BR/><BR/>To take just one e.g. of the credit cards: <BR/><BR/>It MIGHT be true that more people will take cabs if they can use plastic to pay instead of cash, coz cards are more convenient to carry around than bills or coins... But cabbies typically have to wait around 7-10 business days before they receive cash for their receipts. The problem is, a large segment of the cab industry runs on day-to-day basis, with daily cab rental fees, gas payments etc. This means that the poorest cabbies can't afford to wait for two weeks to get cash, and keep sliding into debt! AT the same time, they are not allowed to deny a passenger use of the credit card option... so basically even while they're earning, they're actually incurring debt!!!<BR/><BR/>It's scary how "convenience" is such a lopsided affair...<BR/><BR/>Anyways, keep blogging! I've enjoyed reading your posts.ellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02549787983157029565noreply@blogger.com