High Cost Of Gas Has Detroit Cabbie Looking To Raise Rates

DETROIT (WWJ) - Four dollars a gallon gas prices are a drain on the budgets of most motorists but if you drive a cab on the streets of Detroit for a living like Mike Allen the high cost of gas is making it difficult to make a profit.

"City of Detroit has been behind this thing for the longest time, if we take somebody to the suburbs our rates are going to be $20-25 dollars to take somebody to Royal Oak, the same person coming from Royal Oak ... the same distance...to Detroit would run $40 dollars," said Allen.

Allen wants Detroit cab rates to be comparable to suburban rates: "As a cab driver you may use a tank a day, especially when you are desperate and you are driving around (looking for a fare), not everybody can sit near the casinos, a lot of drivers are cruising and you'll use up a tank a day, that means you are losing $60 bucks a day, that you have to make up somewhere."

City Council wants the Attorney General to convene the rate commission to determine if a modest rate increase is needed.

However, it's expected that a rate increase won't go over very well with people who need a cab in Detroit.