Can they drive a ferry?

From the Portland City Hall:
As the feasibility study determined, creating a seasonal central city circulator ferry may be possible through a private/public partnership. Developing a local ferry system along the Willamette River could be an excellent way to connect Portlanders and visitors with the river, and foster river-oriented business and neighborhood development.

Posted by: Steamboat Willie at August 8, 2006 03:21 PM

Is that why you have a skunk on the masthead?
Sorry, an attempt at poor humor.

Posted by: jim at August 8, 2006 05:57 PM

Actually jim I thought it had something to do with the crabs Jack was hunting.

Seriously though Portland needs to take a serious look at the taxi regulations and get rid of half of them and make room for neighborhood cabs, shuttle, jitneys and private buses.
M.W.

Posted by: Michael Wilson at August 8, 2006 07:06 PM

Alright, you're a cab. . . *rimshot*

Posted by: Robert Canfield at August 8, 2006 10:46 PM

The greens were involved in a fatal accident within the past year or so (was it the figure skating championships?). Why does a cab ride from the airport have to involve risks to life and health and assaults on the senses? Most of the cabs I get in (green, white, whatever) are old, run-down, with mechanical deficiencies of one kind or another. And expensive! This is an area where city regulation could -- easily -- be much better than it is.

Posted by: Allan L. at August 9, 2006 08:13 AM

Yes the cabs are poorly maintained, etc but suggesting that the drivers need to bathe could be considered a racist remark given that Green Cab is mostly African or African American.

Posted by: Don at August 9, 2006 08:28 AM

The guy I recently smelled for half an hour was neither African nor American.

Posted by: Jack Bog at August 9, 2006 10:33 AM

Since when is bathing race-dependent?

Posted by: Allan L. at August 9, 2006 01:57 PM

When does the suspension take effect? I saw three green cabs parked by the Marriot this afternoon.

Posted by: Mister Tee at August 9, 2006 07:33 PM

"suggesting that the drivers need to bathe could be considered a racist remark "

hmmm...suggesting that a driver needs to bathe because they stink would be a fact...not racism...sheesh.....no mention was made of race until you brought it up....so the racist remark was made by whom?

Posted by: thaddeus at August 10, 2006 02:43 AM

I'm sorry to burst anyone's bubble, but there are major public misperceptions and huge close-minded prejudices concerning our city's taxicab industry which have nothing to do with truth. It's very disheartening to me especially, since I'm proud to think of Portland as an open-minded city. Unfortunately there are a vast majority who like to sensationalize a negative story and pretend, or fool themselves into believeing, for reasons I can't imagine, into thinking they know something or enough of something to be able to comment on it as if they're an authority when the truth is, they are just pathetic wannnabes, causing a stir and trouble where none belongs.
This recent smear campaign, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS AND NOTHING MORE, against Green Cab was brought on by a disgruntled driver who had an unfortunate incident occur to him which had nothing to do with the company, but who wants the company to pick up the tab for. The actual responsible party for his misfortune is a bum with no resoures to plunder, and he felt the city was too big to sue so he went after the company who he drove for. But first, he set out to cause a big negative public perception of the company in order to help his weak lawsuit. And congratulations, with the help of shotty reporting by our city's most respected news agencies, the majority of you have taken the bait and have already written Green off. Thanks to our forefathers for having the foresight to see how easily public opinion can be manipulated, to set up arenas of impartiality where truth and justice can be heard, and I believe in this case, served. So follow the whole story, if it is interesting enough for you, but try to suspend judgement until all the facts are brought to light. Thank you.

Posted by: Paul at August 12, 2006 02:08 PM

The only smear campaign here is yours. About the truth. The truth is Green Transportations system is terrible. There is no way for an honest decent person to make a living. To begin with they have an old and outdated radio dispatch. When a call goes out, its the first cab to the scene that gets the call. No global GPS or text dispatch. So you have anywhere from two to ten cabs racing through downtown to get the call. Dooing U turns, illeagal lane changes the works. And the corrupt dispatchers. If a cab is in a zone that cab is supposed to get the call. Because there waiting for a long time. The dispatchers call anouther cab driver on there cell phone to give them the call. So you have a cab in a zone waiting their turn. And they get robbed by the other cab. Plus the company does nothing to promote itself. There are no attempts to promote the business outside of downtown or the airport. We dont need anymore airport cabs. The average wait time for a cabby at the airport is 1-3 hours. With no green cabs. Maybe 30min to 90 minutes. That seemes like an improvement to me. The Airport almost never runs out of cabs. We dont need Greencab having anymore accidents because there so poor at what they do!!Other cabs companies can hire on the one or maybe two good greencab drives worth saving. The rest of the permits could be divided between the other cab companies. If they even need them in the first place. The truth is Portland does not want so many cabs. If they did they would use them. The one night of the year you cannot get a cab New years eve. Because there are to many people drinking. Everyone wants a cab. The cabs make bank. Which is great! They deserve a great payday. The rest of the time the other cab drivers starve because they live in cabs at the airport. And if you get in a cab and need to go only a few miles at the airport. You almost get assaulted by your cabby. Because he just waited two hours for a ten dollar fair. At three dollars per gallon and anywhere from 75.00 to 90.00 to rent the cab for only twelve hours the cabby is going broke because there wait is so long. I have alot more but I will restairn myself. I just thought someone had to say the truth!!!!!!!!!!

The easiest way to sum this up is that ZGreencab is causing most of the problems. Focus attetion where it belongs. Theres not enough of Greencab worth saving. Just a bunch of bad apples in a rotten barrel.

Posted by: James Smith at August 12, 2006 07:44 PM

Wow! Thanks a lot for proving my point! I will also restrain myself, but I will say you talk rot and shit that you only wish was true so, I don't know why, it will help you get through your day. Peace.

Posted by: Paul at August 13, 2006 01:50 AM

The Truth Hurts!!

Posted by: James Smith at August 13, 2006 03:51 PM

My facts are authority by the way. I have first hand current knowledge of goings on. You proved my point. Youre use foul and nasty language is the same as Greencabs reputation. Thereby proving my point!! Good Job!!

Posted by: James Smith at August 13, 2006 03:58 PM

thank you Paul! that put it all into great context. I know this, since I am too a green cab driver. sounds like we have some haters out there? most of which are radio cab drivers. Why? because we actually get to the customers location in a timely manner, and No, not by racing through the streets to get there. but by actually heading towards the location when the call is dispatched, not thinking "oh they'll wait on me". No, they won't. we pick-up alot of the other companies business simply because they end up waiting on someone else for some outrageous length of time that they give us a call, and like magic "POOF", we show up. you see, when someone calls or hails us it's usually for a reason,like they need to GO somewhere. The best part of this job, to me, is knowing that I will get them to where they need to go safely, and at no more than the set meter rate. And WITHOUT any form of negative customer service. Must run for nowi have customers that need my services.

Posted by: John G at August 18, 2006 05:33 PM

[Posted as indicated; restored later.]