DC considers switch to metered cabs

Taxi industry rep: "The zone system is a good system, and I'll tell you why: People in Washington, D.C., they know what the fare is because the zones don't change -- I don't care how much traffic you're in." (WP)

To this I can only say, HAHAHAHAHA. Everyone knows the quoted fare for virtually identical trips in the District varies on the weather, the phase of the moon, and what your cabbie may or may not have eaten for lunch that day. And to successfully challenge a cabbie's interpretation of the fare, one must have a nearly encyclopedic knowledge of the DC zone map:


I say, make sure cabbies and riders are getting a fare shake: switch to a metered system that guarantees a fair price for riders and a living wage for drivers.