Cost of Chicago taxicab ride to go up $1

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Updated: January 17, 2012 4:24PM

Chicago’s on-again off-again, $1 fuel surcharge on taxicab fares would become permanent — and part of the cost of entering a cab — thanks to a surprise change tied to Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s overhaul of the cab industry.

The cost to get into a Chicago cab will go up to $3.25.

Rosemary Krimbel, commissioner of the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, said her department gets many complaints from passengers who don’t understand the fuel surcharge.

“Since it’s consistently been in place for two years, we’ll move it to the flag pull. That will be easier to understand for passengers and consumers,” Krimbel said.

Krimbel warned the new $3.25 flag pull “does not necessarily give the drivers a fare increase. That’s not on the table at this time.”

The permanent change in the flag pull was not enough to appease cabbies, who have petitioned the City Council for a 22 percent fare increase.

“We don’t get that money. It goes to the gas stations. Gas is $4.07-a-gallon now. We have the lowest cab fares in the country and the highest gas prices in the country,” veteran cabdriver Ken Cooper said.

“It would be a raise if gas wasn’t up and we got that $1. We still need a fare increase.”

Veteran cabbie George Kasp welcomed the city’s decision to fold the $1 fuel surcharge into the flag pull.

“It helps ease the burden and the headache of having to explain the fuel surcharge. It’ll make my job much easier. But, it doesn’t help me economically in any way,” he said.