Another step towards fair fares for taxis

If you step into one of Panama’s better cared for taxis in the coming weeks and see a taxi meter, don’t build you hopes on dodging the complicated area payment system  currently in place..

Your cab will be part of an ongoing experiment that will, hopefully one day lead to metered rides and the end of “no voy” drivers.

Five taxis from the City Taxi Company have been outfitted with meters that are being installed on a test basis. This follows an early short test period.

 The ticking clock will be collecting  information and statistics to help the Transport Authority (ATTT) decide if the meters should be used in the future and what would be a fair rate.

 The information will be compiled by researchers at the University of Panama.

 The meter starts operating when the driver presses a button. At the end of the journey, it prints a ticket stating how long the trip took, as well as the distance covered. Over 7,000 tickets will be collected to determine a proper rate.

Being stuck in one of the ever  growing traffic jams will be compensated for as the recoding mechanism will slow  down when the car stops.

The ATTT hopes that  placing meters in taxis would  end the “No Voy” (Not going there) syndrome, that can leave customers standing on corners in a rain storm searching for a cab that will take them.. It would also prevent cabs from picking up more than one passenger and taking the original fare on a detour around the city.