Beverly Hills Cab Company Says Los Angeles Cab Use on the Rise

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- There was once a time in Los Angeles when you had a better chance of getting a ride to your destination by hitchhiking by the side of the road than by trying to flag down a cab. It was necessary to call well in advance if you wanted to get a ride. Joseph Mehrabi of Beverly Hills Cab Co. sees the trend shifting. "Today people flag down our cabs all the time!" But, he says, there are growing pains due to the change. "On the other hand, here in Los Angeles, they don't know how to recognize a cab that already has a fare, so they might want to call ahead anyway," he says. The reasons for the change are numerous, and mainly point to a great deal of positive social change, by small increments, happening in recent years.  

One possibility for the increased Los Angeles taxi use is a newfound environmental concern. It may seem counterintuitive to suggest that getting a ride in a gas-powered automobile is progressive, ecologically speaking, but the suggestion on the part of analysts is that with reduced car ownership comes more frequent use of taxis. Mehrabi is realistic about the upshot here. "It's not that people suddenly take taxis everywhere. We can't compete with buses and trains in price, but when people are out in the city, and they're too tired to deal with public transportation, or they're lost, or it's just too late at night, they call us." He's also eager to point out that it's increasingly feasible to rely in hybrid cars. "More and more of our cars are green, and it's saving me money," he says. "You can't go wrong."

Still another possibility has a darker undertone, but points to another positive change: reductions in the social acceptability of drinking and driving. Drunk drivers are still a major issue in Los Angeles and all cities. Small shifts in the public attitude toward driving after even one drink have turned it into a faux pas. This changing norm is a possibility when looking for causes of the growing reliance on taxi service in Los Angeles. "I've heard people are actually looking for 24 hour parking when they go out drinking, and planning to take a taxi home when they go out." That's good for public safety, and it's also good for the taxi business.

Still another cause of public reliance on taxis is competition to be the cleanest, most inviting taxi cab on the road. "We definitely take that prize, and we don't even charge more," says Mehrabi. Beverly Hills Cab Co.'s iconic, blue taxis are far and away the most aesthetically pleasing on the road, drawing attention with their scratchless appearance. "When you do business in an area like Beverly Hills, appearance matters," says Mehrabi.

Beverly Hills Cab Co. also specializes in providing your taxi to Los Angeles International Airport. Find out more at www.beverlyhillscabco.com or call 1 (800) 398-5221.

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SOURCE Beverly Hills Cab Co.

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