WASHINGTON — D.C. taxi drivers on Wednesday plan to hit the streets — but instead of picking up riders, they are in protest.
They want the D.C. Council to pass legislation that they say would level the playing field for cabs and private competitors Uber and Lyft.
Taxi drivers say that Uber and Lyft have a competitive advantage right now.
Drivers plan to gather at East Potomac Park around 10:30 a.m., then caravan through the city to Freedom Plaza, arriving shortly after 11 a.m.
On Wednesday, the head of the D.C. Taxicab Commission is scheduled to make a series of proposals that are designed to help compete against the private driving companies.
One of the proposals is for a single app that could be used by all D.C. taxi drivers.
A similar protest in June caused gridlock in downtown D.C.
WTOP’s Megan Cloherty was there.
Cabs honking demanding to be let through Pennsylvania Ave by. freedom Plaza. Police blocking @WTOP https://t.co/eahRqVUdCy
— Megan Cloherty (@ClohertyWTOP) October 8, 2014
Police let the hundreds of cabbies through on Pennsylvania Ave. They're honking loudly https://t.co/1GOJ8WVJOa
— Megan Cloherty (@ClohertyWTOP) October 8, 2014
The protest continues. Police blocking off feeder streets to Pennsylvania Ave as cabs make their way past City Hall. pic.twitter.com/MskAB52CaA
— Megan Cloherty (@ClohertyWTOP) October 8, 2014
Cabbies say they want services like Uber and Lyft to be regulated as they are by the city. Say they're losing money. pic.twitter.com/DFUcTdSSGg
— Megan Cloherty (@ClohertyWTOP) October 8, 2014
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