Taxi Bite Going Up in Big Apple

The cost of a cab ride in the city is about go up by more than 25% under the first fare increase in eight years.

The Taxi & Limousine Commission on Tuesday voted to raise the base rate for stepping into a cab from $2 to $2.50, and increase the price for every additional fifth of a mile from 30 cents to 40 cents, beginning in May.

The commission also approved a new $1-per-passenger charge between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

“We don’t want to take the chance that we’re going to have any shortage of drivers in the evenings,” said Matthew Daus, head of the commission.

Owners and drivers of New York’s 12,000 cabs had petitioned for higher fares.

“You have a chance to change 30 years of driver income going down,” said Kevin Fitzpatrick, a driver and member of the United Taxi Workers Union.

The commission also raised the flat rate for a cab ride to Manhattan from Kennedy Airport in Queens from $35 to $45.