Newly proposed color schemes for taxis in Washington, D.C. have sparked the ire of some District councilmembers.
Yesterday, Mayor Vincent Gray and the DC Taxicab Commission (DCTC) revealed four proposed color schemes for the District's fleet of taxis, as required by the Taxicab Service Improvement Amendment Act, which went into effect in October.
The law calls for the installation of credit card readers, new meters, and GPS devices in the District's 6,500 cabs, as well as a uniform color scheme for all.
Mayor Gray said the proposed styles will help "set a new standard for public vehicles for hire and will help improve enforcement to prevent illegal vehicle service by creating a more recognizable DC taxicab."
Five more potential color schemes were revealed today. Of the nine, only one is a solid color (black). The others all use combinations of at least three colors. And they are coming under fire from DC councilmembers. Jack Evans of Ward 2 said he was "appalled by all of them," the Washington Post reported.
The current law gives the DCTC final say over the color selected; the Commission has solicited public opinion, posting the proposed color schemes on its Facebook page.
Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, who sponsored the original law, called the proposed styles "horrid," and is considering legislation, with Evans, to stop the voting process and go back to the drawing board.
DCTC head Ron Linton told the Washington Post the Commission could change the proposed colors without new legislation.
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