It was only a matter of time before the gas prices affected Las Vegas. Beginning July 6, Vegas tourists and locals hitching a ride in a taxi will be paying about 45 cents more for each mile they travel.
At the end of last month, the Nevada Taxicab Authority approved a new plan to change the rate structure for the city’s taxis. Right now, it stands at 45 cents extra per mile. That includes a permanent increase of 20 cents for each mile in addition to a temporary increase of 25 cents. They are calling the 25 cent increase a “fuel surcharge” to make up for the rising gas prices.
To put that into perspective, a normal four-mile trip in a Las Vegas taxi costs $12.85 right now. In three days, though, that same trip is going to cost you $14.65. That doesn’t seem like a huge increase, but it does add up if you use the taxicab service a lot.
The 25 cent increase is only temporary because the board is going to re-evaluate the cost every so often. If gas prices drop below $4 a gallon for at least 20 consecutive days, the board may vote to drop the 25 cent surcharge. Similarly, they can vote to increase the surcharge if area gas prices go above $5 a gallon.
As we all know, everything that happens doesn’t actually stay in Vegas. That means that this type of surcharge is likely to catch on across the country. It’s only a matter of time before it comes to the New Jersey area and the East Coast. But with a new or used fuel-efficient car from your local Nissan dealer, you can forget about ever paying any fuel surcharges for taxis and enjoy driving yourself around wherever you need to go.
