BY BILL BRADLEY
Sudbury merrymakers and those who depend on essential cab services are advised to plan ahead now that ABC Taxi is defunct.
At midnight Saturday, 30 ABC taxis and 60 drivers were taken off the road.
The family business is closing down, said Tom Hanley, director ABC.
Residents shouldn't expect other cab companies like Lockerby Taxi to pick up the slack any time soon.
?We?re maxed out. We have no spare capacity. We already have taken on some ABC taxi drivers,? said Ken Flint, president of Lockerby Taxi.
?This situation is very untimely especially with New Year?s approaching. It?s going to be a zoo that night, very difficult for people,? he said.
Flint recommends people make alternative arrangements, perhaps using a designated driver.
?After New Year?s I expect there will be no cab shortage. There really was no shortage before this business closure. Cabs are always in short supply in December.?
Flint says users who depend on the transcab service in outlying areas like Long Lake will be taken care of.
?We run the transcab service for the city and we expect no problems in delivering good service.?
Flint blames the city?s taxi cab policies, such as restricting the number of taxi plates available, for preventing cab companies to ramp up for emergencies like this.
?Council would have to pass a separate bylaw to allow flexibility in crisis like this so the private sector can do what it does best-serve the demand in the community,? he said.
