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8/16/09
“Response to NEVs being Grounded” by Mike Mulligan
As the smoke clears after the decision was made at the Public Transportation Commission on Wednesday, August 12, 2009, public outrage entails. I have received hundreds of calls and emails from irate patrons and business’s that work and live in downtown Tampa and Hyde Park. They are totally aghast and upset at this decision. The shuttles are extremely popular. We already have almost a thousand signatures on a petition to keep the shuttles in just a couple of days.
The main point was who did this decision benefit? Certainly not the people. It benefited the taxi cabs who brought this issue up, and perceivably the politicians who get campaign contributions from the taxi cab owners and special interest groups. I really don’t think the politicians, who voted to shut us down, realized how popular these shuttles are and how disgusted people are with the taxi cabs and the industry as a whole.
I am one of the owners of the NEVs operating in Tampa. The name of my company is called “Take a Mulligan Shuttle”. We have been in business for a year and a half now. Our business has been progressing steady with hundreds of calls on the weekend nights.
I hope to give you some background on the business and counter Rose Ferlita’s points she made at the meeting of August 12th. First of all, none of the electric car companies were represented at this meeting. We were urged by e-mail not to attend. We were told that Louis Minardi, (owner of Yellow Cab), and his attorney would be there, and it would be useless for us to be there. This e-mail further stated that a workshop was set up for us to attend on how to co-exist with the cab companies in 2 weeks. We had no idea, or reason to believe a final decision would be reached at this ‘mother of all meetings’. The e-mail focused on the workshop and not the meeting of August 12th. Who would think they would reach a final decision with a “workshop” coming up in 2 weeks to co-exist. So a decision was reached without our representation or final input. PTC. Hmmm.
Below is a copy of the article printed in the St Pete Times on Thursday
TAMPA — Hillsborough County transportation officials Wednesday slammed the brakes on electric cart operators providing shuttle services downtown.
The Public Transportation Commission ruled that the companies run vehicles for hire, which means they need permits to stay in business.
The company owners have argued that they aren't subject to regulation by the commission because they don't charge fares. Their drivers accept only tips and the companies make money by selling ads on the carts.
The board made the decision after hearing from an attorney for Yellow Cab.
"After a year and half of operating a profitable business, I have to close my doors because of the fact that more than anything the taxi cab industry wanted us out of there," said Todd Persico, owner of Hop Tampa, which provided trips around Harbour Island, downtown and the Channel District. "They were seeing us as competition."
Persico didn't attend Wednesday's meeting, saying he didn't want to try to fight the cab company's attorney.
"There wasn't anything I could say. The board had to make a decision," he said.
He said he is likely to move his business to downtown St. Petersburg.
Commission members Kevin White, Joseph Caetano, Rose Ferlita and Dan Raulerson supported the ruling that subjects the companies to regulation by the commission.
Ferlita said her decision was made in part out of fairness to the cab companies.
"Given the fact that they transport passengers, I thought they should have to go through permitting just like we ask the cab people," she said.
But she also cited safety reasons, saying she worries someone will get hurt in the small, open-air vehicles.
"They do transport people and right now nobody's regulating them," she said. "It has to be under somebody's purview."
Commissioners Mark Knapp and John Dingfelder voted against the ruling.
"Now it means they have to have permits as a taxi cab. And guess what? There are no permits available," Dingfelder said. "There are only a limited number of permits available, and they're always taken."
Typically, the commission issues fewer than a dozen permits for new cabs each year, and competition for them is stiff.
Four companies have been operating the electric carts downtown, with a total of fewer than 20 vehicles.
Senior assistant county attorney Orlando Perez, who represents the commission, said a workshop will be scheduled to discuss how the cabs and carts can coexist.
Options include creating a special permitting system for the electric vehicles and limiting them to certain geographic areas.
Tom from St. Pete Aug 12th, 2009 4:35 PM
Maybe if dingy-yellow cab had drivers who knew what they were doing, more people might use them....Businesses like dingy-yellow should have monthly state inspections for their cabs, and their drivers---
Jasonhouse from Tampa Aug 12th, 2009 4:39 PM
Hey Councilman Dingfelder, here's a newsflash for you... Issue more taxi permits!
Chris from Tampa Aug 12th, 2009 4:42 PM
Is the government trying to destroy everything that works??? Way to tell entreprenuers that Tampa is the place to start your own business... NOT!!!
dave from tampa Aug 12th, 2009 4:42 PM
politics blow. who takes a cab in downtown anyway? downtown tampa is like 5 blocks by 5 blocks. walk your fat butt
clunker from Tampa Aug 12th, 2009 4:54 PM
Good! those buggies were totally unsafe and just waiting for a major wreck with baaaaddd injuries.
Shirley from Tampa Aug 12th, 2009 5:38 PM
This is ridiculous! Way too progressive for Tampa. Enjoy St. Pete. I sure did. If the cabbies want to fight it why don't they compete instead of being rude, late, and complain about low mileage fares!
Holly from Tampa Aug 12th, 2009 5:43 PM
Rose Ferlita just lost my vote!
B. Fife from St. Pete Aug 12th, 2009 6:31 PM
This is unfortunate because they provide a good, free service for short distances in downtown Tampa. The cab drivers don't like to do quick short distances like from Channelside to the Forum.
Casey from Tampa Aug 12th, 2009 6:47 PM
Now tell me, how does this decision help the consumer? Shouldn't we be the first consideration, not the cabs?
Todd from Tampa Aug 12th, 2009 6:57 PM
Another BRILLLLLLLIANT move by the commission! Now visitors have another reason not to go downtown and spend the money they saved by not getting robbed by a cabbie. Stay classy Tampa!
Bruce from Pinellas Aug 12th, 2009 7:00 PM
No wonder tumbleweeds reign in Tampa after 5. The local politico's want to regulate free services. Next you will have to pay them a dime when you say "bless you" to someone who sneezes. Idiots.
Conservative Tom from Largo Aug 12th, 2009 7:30 PM
Ur Govt. at "work" again. Rose your job doesn't entail making it a level playing field. So shut down some hard working Americans and not we can't save the enviroment either cause we just took some Electic Cars off the street. Nice Job Rose!
Holly from Tampa Aug 12th, 2009 7:48 PM
Rose Ferlita just lost my vote!
sue from tampa Aug 12th, 2009 8:01 PM
This was a terrible move. The electric cars are perfect for short distances near downtown - they don't go to the same places as the cabs! If the County TRULY cared about trying to minimize drunk driving and DUIs, they wouldn't have voted this way!
kelly from st pete Aug 12th, 2009 8:01 PM
issue more permits and make this fair..limiting competition is not fair. Then let the 2 duke it out
Chris from Tampa Aug 12th, 2009 8:20 PM
I've been a loyal supporter of Ms. Ferlita for a long time - and planned on voting for her if she ever ran for mayor. She just lost my support for her. The others won't get my support either, but Ms. Ferlita's decision is very upsetting to me.
George from Tampa Aug 12th, 2009 8:25 PM
I ride my bicycle around Tampa and next thing you know they'll be making me pay a tax just to bike around the Quiet City.
Jim from Tampa Aug 12th, 2009 8:41 PM
Yet another reason not to get into a stinking, polluting, dirty cab.
Richard from Tampa Aug 12th, 2009 8:53 PM
Welcome to socialist America! If govt can't control it, you can't have it.
voxy from tampa Aug 12th, 2009 9:17 PM
waited until all the permits were taken and STRUCK. good for you mr.s knapp and dingfelder. Where was the allegeded PROGRESSIVE MULHERN ON THIS ONE? as usual.
voxy from tampa Aug 12th, 2009 9:20 PM
dave? RIGHT?!?!? You can walk the WHOLE DEAL in less than two hours from bridge to bridge
sheila from port richey Aug 12th, 2009 9:20 PM
they will complain in St. Pete too. Yellow cab is there also. The cab company even has homeless drivers...I know my ex was a driver for them and lived in his cab....go figure!!
Tony from NPR Aug 12th, 2009 9:35 PM
Im sad to hear a FREE service is out of business and that these rubes sided with yellow cab. I say move to Clearwater beach somewhere, or Clearwater, offer people rides to the beach
Downtown Girl from Tampa Aug 12th, 2009 10:47 PM
I'm very disappointed to read this. What a total shame! The shuttles were the perfect solution for work/client lunches several blocks away or on the islands.
Art from Tampa Aug 12th, 2009 11:11 PM
BBP-Big Business Pouting---Issue more permits, check condition of present cabs more closely, increase free enterprise. Commissioners, do what's right for us (remember US?)
Meg from Tarpon Springs Aug 13th, 2009 3:12 AM
@Tony from NPR - Then the Jolly Trolley ($1) and Suncoast Beach Trolley ($1.75) will lose out.
Steve from Tampa Aug 13th, 2009 5:43 AM
This is an example of what is wrong with our country. We can never progress, because big $$$ intersts and lobbyists get to politicians and cause them to make decisions against the people. Those who voted for this are in danger of losing my vote.
Mike from Tampa Aug 13th, 2009 6:43 AM
Just what we need, more regulation! How does this help downtown thrive? BOO on the commisioners for folding to Yellow Taxi.
Frank from Plant City Aug 13th, 2009 7:26 AM
These vehicles are correctly called shuttles, "THERE'S NO CAP ON SHUTTLE PERMITS" Once again the marionettes on the PTC have jumped when Yellow and United Cab yanked their strings.PTC protects the cab interests, not the interests of the public!!!!
Unstable from Tampa Aug 13th, 2009 7:46 AM
What a load of crap! I didn't realize the cab companies had such a powerful lobby.
Paul from Tampa Aug 13th, 2009 7:46 AM
Guess who will be getting campaign contributions from Yellow Cab!
Jim from St. Pete Aug 13th, 2009 7:47 AM
Yellow represents cowardice, and green represents Tampa's short-sighted bottom line. Bring those electrics over here! If St. Pete won't have it, try Gulfport-- let Tampa go green with envy, as we see red, and then go green in a good way...
walt from spring hill Aug 13th, 2009 8:00 AM
Ferlita & all can cite safety all they want. In the mean time their rule (1.18) allows any IAMADRUGGIE LIMO Operation driven by Chester the Child Molester to transport prom kids around Tampa as long as the limo loads the kids across the border.
Jerome from Countryside Aug 13th, 2009 8:04 AM
Plug should have been pulled.
Jeff from Tampa Aug 13th, 2009 8:25 AM
Yellow Cab didn't adapt and became obsolete. Then they ran to government to shut down the competition. The county did their bidding, stifling an innovative solution to transportation problems. Gov should not protect obsolete companies (GM, AIG, etc).
nico from tampa Aug 13th, 2009 9:15 AM
Great! One more reason St. Pete is a more livable city than Tampa. Thanks for putting the residents and business of Tampa first. (Yeah Right!) Our downtown will never have a pulse - hopefully they can still operate in Hyde park and Ybor.
Mike from Valrico Aug 13th, 2009 9:17 AM
They should not have shut them down - they should have put them on "probation" or something until they get their act together. Way for the government to foster small business in a recession.... DOLTS.
Boycott Yellow Cab from St. Pete Aug 13th, 2009 9:39 AM
What a bunch of crap. Leave it to the backward thinking idiots of the PTC to side with the cabs. The shuttles were great for downtown; affordable, accessible, and environmentally friendly. I WILL boycott Yellow Cab. There are other options.
Arielle from Seminole Aug 13th, 2009 10:23 AM
Problems with open air vehicles? How does San Francisco get by with rickshaws? Not very progressive, Tampa!
Bill from Tampa Aug 13th, 2009 10:29 AM
These carts were a fantastic way for Tampa tourist and residents to get a short distance. At a time when every city is competing for more tourism we need to be encouraging local businesses that add appeal to the area, not shutting them down?
Kenneth from St. Petersburg Aug 13th, 2009 10:44 AM
I took a cab a quarter mile from the airport to my office - a distance I sometimes walk, and it cost $15. This seems like a good idea for shorter distances.
Larry from Lutz Aug 13th, 2009 10:52 AM
The only people that do not know the cab systems sucks, is the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Comission. The is a lame, lack of common sense decision. Remember the comissioners votes, and vote them out of office.
Jay from St. Pete Aug 13th, 2009 11:07 AM
Please come to downtown St. Pete! As long as OUR city commission doesn't screw things up like Tampa's just did, it'll be a boon to the community. This is EXACTLY the kind of thing we need over here. People might actually go to the Rays games too!
Clyde from Palm Harbor Aug 13th, 2009 11:48 AM
Powerful business interests win out again. This hurts every other business in Tampa, hurts EV drivers, company. Tampa going green? a joke. Tampa friendly to average working people? a joke. Cabbies in Tamp, look for better jobs elsewhere,coming soon
south tampa voter from tampa Aug 13th, 2009 11:49 AM
This is exactly the type of backward thinking that has people leaving Tampa and Florida in general. Did you ask any citizen's how they felt about the carts? Of course not. They were a great way to get around town & will be missed.
Clyde from Palm Harbor Aug 13th, 2009 11:58 AM
Powerful business interests win out again. This hurts every other business in Tampa, hurts EV drivers, company. Tampa going green? a joke. Tampa friendly to average working people? a joke. Cabbies in Tamp, look for better jobs elsewhere,coming soon
Mad from Tampa Aug 13th, 2009 12:04 PM
I would take the shuttle to lunch to avoid the hot walk and spend $ to eat and tip the guys. I'm sure as heck not going to leave my parking garage or pay some stupid cabby just to eat. Ridiculous Tampa. Just Stupid on your part. Stupid Stupid Stupid!
Yborurbanite from Ybor Aug 13th, 2009 12:09 PM
very sad day for the connectivity of our city. If we are to discourage sprawl and encourage designed density we will need amenities to connect people. create an urban Amenity zone and allow competition of cabs + elec veh.to add value to the zone-city
Gunny from Hernando Aug 13th, 2009 12:12 PM
The State Legislature created this PTC animal. The State Legislature needs to get rid of it. Ronda Storms called for its abolishment in December & people who are offended by this latest action need to contact their State Rep & demand action.
All N My Mind from the far side Aug 13th, 2009 12:32 PM
No decent bus system, no light rail, no shuttle service. Just over priced cab fair on over crowded roads. Florida is so far behind the times it's a joke.
JuJo from Port Tampa Aug 14th, 2009 8:49 AM
Kudos to Knapp and Dingfelder, they have the foresight and downtown's best interest at heart. Whatever happened to free enterprise? The rest of you PTC crew should allow special GREEN permitting then you can sell/limit and get paid for those too.
Larry from Tampa Aug 14th, 2009 4:14 AM
What a joke! Protecting the interests of the cabbies? How much money was in that envelope that they gave you Commissioners? It's obvious there was a payoff here. Safety? How many drunks do the carts take off the streets b/c of their service?
Charli from Tampa Aug 13th, 2009 4:46 PM
"safety isuue"???? There are smaller cars on the road! If it weren't for the carts, being handicapped, I would have to spend all my lunch hours at my desk. I am not going to pay a cab fair and tip to go a few block!
Charli from Tampa Aug 13th, 2009 4:39 PM
Contact the Commissioners and the Transportation Authority. Slam them with emails and phone calls. Stupid decision by the board. They are eco friendly as opposed to the cabbies who sit on corners with the engines running to keep AC's running!
Kris from South Tampa Aug 14th, 2009 12:13 PM
this was great for college students and preventing the hyde park/harbor island locals from the worries of drinking and driving. I continously get rippsed off by cab drives - and will refuse to use tampa's cab service.
Munch from South Tampa/Hyde Park Aug 14th, 2009 12:10 PM
This is absolutely ridiculous. Not only do these vehicles provide a safe, green way to ride but an alternative to shady cab drivers who are dishonest and unsafe for young women. Sad to see that the bottom line for the greedy cabs is all that matters.
TBLimo from Redington Beach Aug 14th, 2009 9:32 AM
They can?t give them a ?green? license, remember when they refused to license my Toyota Prius for airport runs? They are screwed! The only way to go is to abolish this agency by the same legislator who created this. They lost 300K in the past 2 years
ResonantDev from Tampa Aug 14th, 2009 2:28 PM
From a letter I wrote to the PTC: Instead of finding a way to allow a progressive business to find it's way in a reviving downtown area--through setting boundaries, or making a small change to bring them into the regulatory fold--you decided to ban
http://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/plug-pulled-on-free-shuttle-service-by-downtown-tampas-electric-carts/1027143 »
Four points that Rose Ferlita made that I want to address are:
1. “Ferlita said her decision was made in part out of fairness to the cab companies”.
2. “Given the fact that they transport passengers, I thought they should have to go through permitting just like we ask the cab people”.
3. “But she cited safety reasons, saying she worries someone will get hurt in the small open air vehicles”.
4. “they do transport people and right now nobody’s regulating them. It has to be under someone’s purview”.
Point number one, “decision made in part out of fairness to the cab companies”, fairness to the cab companies……...
Poor old cab companies. Nancy Castellano owns more than 300 cabs in Hillsborborough County with three cab companies, the largest being United Cab. I understand she charges her drivers $95 to rent one of her cabs per day. Let’s be conservative here and say ½ of her fleet is out on any given day (150 cabs). Let’s say that Nancy is in a good mood and she rents out her cabs for ½ price of $50 per day. Let’s do the math. 150(cabs) x ($50 per day) equals $7,500 per day and we are halfing everything. Times 365 equals $2,737,500 per year. Lets take away another 50% for operational expenses. That equals $1,368,750 per year. Poor old cab companies.
Now lets look at the cab drivers. They must come up with $95 before they make a dime. The owners get their $95 no matter what the cab driver does. So that cab driver might owe money at the end of the night….. I get it…. Nancy how about in this “Great Recession” we’re in now, you lower your rent to the cabbies to $50 per night. Might make them happier, you still make your cash.
Point number two: “given the fact that they transport passengers, I thought they should have to go through permitting just like we ask the cab people”. Permitting just like the cab people…. First of all we want to be registered and permitted. We have always asked for this. They already said no. They issue 12 some permits a year and they are already taken. Hmmm. Secondly, we are not exactly a “cab”. We don’t look like one. We are a new, progressive, green business which enhances the downtown areas. We are the precursor to the electric car. We make a statement, as well as carry advertising on our sides and tops. We are restricted where we can go (roads 35 and under). We are a “shuttle”, a "connector", a "short distance transporter". We take people 2 blocks who carry groceries or are handicapped. We have been shuttling handicapped people who work in the downtown County Court House to lunch and gym 4 blocks away.
St Pete has instilled a beautiful system for us. They have an application for “Public Vehicle Certificate”. We must show proof of insurance and have a mechanics affidavit, all drivers must go through background checks. We are called a “vehicle for hire” and a “motorized non-gasoline powered vehicle” Seems to work just fine. St Pete is not worried, and neither are many other communities and towns across America that have the shuttles. Another valid point, why did PTC pull the plug, before the workshop? Something happened between June and July. Perhaps the cabbies can negotiate better coming from a position of strength. Oh politics..
Point number 3: “She worries someone may get hurt in the small open air vehicles”. If the cabbies will quit tailgating us and cutting us off, it would be much safer, yes. The cabbies have done this to us dozens of times which we have lodged complaints to the cab owners. How about those open air trolleys in San Francisco? The shuttles are street legal. They have steel frames and are quite strong. They are larger than many vehicles out there on the road. Remember we are only going 25 mph on streets 35 or under. People see us. We have installed additional lights and reflectors to our vehicles. Believe me, the cabbies could care less about safety, this is their best excuse to scare the public and politicians and get us off the streets. What happens if a cab is in a fatal accident? Do we shut down all taxis? Remember they travel on roads 70 miles per hour. Quite dangerous if your cabbie does not have his wits that day. Background checks, ok fine with me. But I do wonder about some of those cabbies.
Point number 4: “they do transport people and right now nobody’s regulating them. It has to be under someone’s purview”. No kidding. We have asked for this. But lets not over regulate or over state the issues here.
In conclusion, this issue clearly was instigated and sponsored by the taxi cab owners, not any politician. This is clearly a special interest group behind all this. Whatever they come up with are issues and tricks to get us off the streets. They could honestly care less about safety, but guarding their union of permits. The permits are created by the PTC. Its like the Wizard of Oz, a wink and a nod. Type up the permits. Or better yet create a new "green" category. Other communities in the US, and throughout the world, have deemed these safe enough since we are on slower roads. Simply the popularity of the vehicles deems them safe enough in the public eye. In the year and half we have been running there have been no accidents. Again we have had the taxis trying to intimidate us by tailgating and cutting us off. This is our biggest worry, the rogue element in the taxi cab world and politicians that don’t have a clue. Grounded after a year and a half in business. Thanks, PTC, lets keep the good old union spirit going especially during the "Great Recession".
click link below for your opinion to PTC and County Commissioners
http://www.tampagov.net/appl_customer_service_center/form.asp?strServiceID=43 » »
http://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/plug-pulled-on-free-shuttle-service-by-downtown-tampas-electric-carts/1027143 » »
The following editorial from The Tampa Tribune was published on August 18, 2009.
"Run Safe Run Silent"
The Tampa Tribune
Published: August 18, 2009
In response to the termination of free electric taxis, a groundswell of support has appeared for the charming vehicles that gave downtown Tampa a resort feel.
With imagination and flexibility, officials can bring them back.
Tourists and convention-goers love them, and so do downtown workers. But it isn't enough that the silent, smokeless carts are popular. Complaints from the highly regulated taxi companies were on point and persuasive. If a regular cab must be licensed and meet safety and quality standards, why does the competition get a pass?
If the little taxi carts are ignored and allowed to continue carrying passengers below the bureaucratic radar, the big cab companies might follow the golf-cart business model, operating low-cost vehicles whose revenue comes from advertising fees and passenger tips. But if all are regulated in the same category, the electric carts will be squeezed out, because no additional taxi licenses are available.
If the entire business were deregulated, a variety of gypsy drivers would soon be roaring around town in beat-up clunkers, golf carts or anything with wheels. In a few weeks Tampa would look like a Third World city.
Cabs are regulated and their numbers limited for a good reason. The rules help reputable companies make a profit and guarantee a certain level of reliability and quality.
A compromise, being sought by Hillsborough County's Public Transportation Commission and the Downtown Partnership, should find a fair way to return the golf-cart-like vehicles to service without greatly upsetting the existing system.
Other cities allow similar vehicles. Rickshaws in San Francisco, for example, are licensed. Among other requirements, operators must be insured, bonded and have basic safety equipment.
It is safety that tops the list of challenges. What happens if a little golf cart full of people is rear-ended by a speeding car or run over by a bus? The same question can be asked of bicycles, motor scooters and other small vehicles that are legal to operate on public streets.
Despite the risks, use of these low- or no-horsepower vehicles should be encouraged, especially in areas where public money is being invested to promote pedestrian activity. The city's job is to minimize the risks. Along with a new licensing mechanism, Tampa needs to designate special lanes and pull-off areas for slow, ultralight vehicles.
Signs should be posted warning of their presence. Speed limits can be lowered in the specially marked lanes.
The legal obstacles the little taxis ran into should become a starting point to make Tampa safer for everyone who dares travel outside of 3,000 pounds of protective steel.
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