THE SOUTH LOOP (WBBM Newsradio) -- The city of Chicago is giving cab drivers a little help with the rising cost of gasoline, and that means riders will have to dig a little deeper the next time they hail a taxi.
Chicago's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection confirmed that the city's taxi fuel charge took effect Wednesday, after two separate AAA indices showed the average cost of a gallon of regular gas has been over $5 in the city for the last month.
That means riders will be asked to pay anywhere from $1 to $3 on their next cab ride, depending on the total fare. Rides up to $20 will be charged an extra dollar, with $2 surcharges on fares between $20 and $40, and $3 surcharges for any fare over $40. Riders should see a chart laying out the fuel surcharges displayed in city cabs.
As soon as the AAA indices drop below $5, cab drivers must immediately stop collecting that extra surcharge.
$1-3 to be added to fares while pump prices average $5+
$1-3 to be added to fares while pump prices average $5+
