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++++++++++++ First we had pharmacists refusing to sell contraceptives...now this:

Minneapolis-St. Paul is concerned that its taxi service is deteriorating. Citing their religious beliefs, some Muslim taxi drivers from Somalia are refusing to transport customers carrying or suspected of carrying alcohol. It started with one driver a few years ago, but the average number of fare refusals has grown to about three a day, says airport spokesman Patrick Hogan. "Travelers often feel surprised and insulted," he says. "Sometimes, several drivers in a row refuse carriage."

Taxi drivers and officials from the airport, taxi companies and the Muslim American Society are discussing how to address the issue. Partly out of concern that taxi drivers might be citing religion to avoid short-distance fares, the airport is now forcing drivers who refuse a fare to go to the end of the line for waiting taxis. It is not a popular decision among drivers, Hogan says.

The airport is expected to propose today that drivers who wish to avoid alcohol-toting passengers change the light on their car roofs, possibly to a different color. Hogan says the move will help let airport employees and customers know which taxis serve alcohol-carrying passengers. Drivers refusing a fare won't have to go to the end of the line. "Airport authorities are not in the business of interpreting sacred texts or dictating anyone's religious choices. ... Our goal is simply to ensure travelers at (the airport) are well served."

Separately, travelers will not be able to use Metro Transit rail to ferry between the two main terminals at the airport — Lindbergh and Humphrey. The city-operated Hiawatha line, which runs from downtown Minneapolis to the Mall of America, usually stops at the two terminals, making it convenient for intra-airport travelers catching connecting flights. On Sept. 9, the airport closed the Humphrey stop for a year to build a $73 million parking ramp next to the terminal. The Metro will continue to stop at Lindbergh, which serves large, traditional airlines. The airport provides free shuttle buses that run between the two terminals every 10 minutes.

how about:



do your job or lose it. :rolleyes:

If they can refuse to carry passengers, they can refuse. I know some refuse to go into particular neighborhoods.



Although ............ I wonder what would happen if a cabbie refused to pick up unescorted women because it's against his religion? Can they leave Jews standing? How about refusing to pick up GI's because they might have killed the driver's countrymen?

PREEEECISELY. And what about women in burkhas? Obvious hookers? The beat goes on....

Accountable wrote: Although ............ I wonder what would happen if a cabbie refused to pick up unescorted women because it's against his religion? Can they leave Jews standing? How about refusing to pick up GI's because they might have killed the driver's countrymen?


Yes.

In Kiwiland it isn't legal to arbitrarily refuse a fare. I believe that it's like that in Oz too.

I think that I like it that way.

I just heard that another taxi driver refused to pick up a blind woman because it was against his religion to allow the dog in.





I've been thinking about this. Taxi's are private businesses. It's not government-paid public transportation, like buses or subways. I think if the taxi company loses enough profits, they'll start losing their prophets.



Let the market take care of itself.

Accountable wrote: Let the market take care of itself.
A generally sound philosophy, and it would work in an environment where the taxis are unregulated.

In NSW there are a finite number of taxis, and the taxi plates themselves are a significant investment ... comparable in cost to a house ... meaning that there are a lot fewer taxis on the road than would be if the market forces set their number.

In this environment I think that it is important that the taxis that are out there are moving the people in a non-partisan manner.

Bored_Wombat wrote: A generally sound philosophy, and it would work in an environment where the taxis are unregulated.



In NSW there are a finite number of taxis, and the taxi plates themselves are a significant investment ... comparable in cost to a house ... meaning that there are a lot fewer taxis on the road than would be if the market forces set their number.



In this environment I think that it is important that the taxis that are out there are moving the people in a non-partisan manner.Sounds good on the face of it, but it also seems that business people pay an awful lot for the privilege of not running their own businesses. :-2

ACCOUNTABLE "Let the market take care of itself."

At every major airport I've ever seen, cabs are lined up in a set pattern and you have no choice in which to use. Now, if the cabbie refuses to drive that blind woman with the dog, I suppose she just SCHLEPS along until she can find one who will? How will that ultimately impact the market? The refusing driver will still be at the head of the line, imposing his own criteria on his passengers.

Lulu2 wrote: ACCOUNTABLE "Let the market take care of itself."



At every major airport I've ever seen, cabs are lined up in a set pattern and you have no choice in which to use. Now, if the cabbie refuses to drive that blind woman with the dog, I suppose she just SCHLEPS along until she can find one who will? How will that ultimately impact the market? The refusing driver will still be at the head of the line, imposing his own criteria on his passengers.If that's where it stops, but that wasn't where it stopped, was it. It became public. It angered people. It's not over.