The Editor, Re: "Cab fears allayed as firm breaks into YVR market," News, July 19.
"Cab fears unfounded" would be a more accurate headline. Garden City Cabs, with only 30 vehicles, has already established itself as the taxi to call if you, like me, are in a wheelchair.
They do not ignore calls for a wheelchair pickup, as others do. The drivers understand that they only make money while the meter's on, with a fare in the vehicle.
I remember when there was one accessible taxi vehicle in Richmond and the typical two-hour waits, in snow or rain. I call Garden City now and within 10 minutes I'm safely strapped in and on my way. That's with their existing fleet.
Councillors, if you truly care, approve these nine new vehicles, but define them as a separate fleet, not to lower existing, non-YVR, service.
With all you've done to increase the cost of living in Richmond, this is your opportunity to better the quality of living. Don't penalize a good company that voluntarily accepts to provide VIP service to an often marginalized group, without prejudice.
I understand why so many other cabbies deliberately ignore requests from a wheelchair-using fare. TransLink has basically instructed us to not tip taxi drivers.
Every company I've dealt with, from every city in Metro Vancouver, has only ever seen me as just another non-tipping wheelchair fare, but Garden City has always treated me as an individual, so they get rewarded, as I tip the same 20 per cent other chauffeurs get automatically, or more.
Garden City drivers, even before knowing that about me, always had the attitude that it's always better to be moving, with the meter on, than waiting for that "perfect" fare. Please, council, reward competence and compassion.
George Pope
Richmond
