San Antonio taxicab operators say their business is down 50% since Uber and other Transportation Network Companies were granted permission to begin long term operations in the City, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
But a City Council committee heard differing opinions from cab drivers today on what the City can do to level the playing field and revive the flagging industry.
One proposal, on the logic that there is no limit on the number of Uber cars that can operate at any one time, to life the current cap of 886 taxi cabs licensed in the city.
But many cabbies shouted that idea down."If anything we can use less taxis, so what is left of the industry would be spread more equally," one cabbie told the Council Public Safety Committee.
Others said they were worried that more cabs would simply clog up taxi stands near the Airport and near the Convention Center and downtown hotels, making it even harder for them to pick up fares.
"This would create and bring chaos to the industry," one cabbie said. "This would impact in a negative way the lives of hundreds of drivers and families."
Under City law, only taxis can pick up fares at taxi stands. It is illegal for Uber drivers to 'pick up fares,' and you cannot legally 'hail' an Uber.
John Bouloubasis, who is President of Yellow Cab San Antonio, said the suggestion wouldn't work."The city doesn't have the resources to monitor the additional permits, insure drivers are vetted, check for proper insurance or cab safety, and it imposes a liability to the city and the police departments," he said.
Another idea is to allow taxi cabs to operate as independent operators, much like Uber, and to pick up customers by mobile phone app, much like Uber.