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BROCKTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A Brockton senior citizen is working to keep one of the last taxi companies in the city alive that has a big impact on his community.
Yellow Cab of Brockton is one of the last remaining 24-hour taxi services still operating south of Boston.
Don Carp, part-time Yellow Cab driver, said ride-booking apps do not have to follow the same city-imposed rules and regulations that Yellow Cab has to follow making it difficult for the service to stay alive. Uber, Lyft, and other ride-booking services have hurt the cab industry over the years as they have grown in popularity.
"It's more regulated than the liquor industry," Carp told WBZ's Kim Tunnicliffe.
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Carp is using his business background to help the owner of Yellow Cab get a price hike approved by the city council. He says the last time they had a price hike was in 2008. They are also working to get rid of some of the outdated taxi regulations in place that govern Yellow Cab. Carp said there are about eleven pages of rules taxis need to follow.
Carp said many residents in Brockton rely on the Yellow Cab service, "Basically the working poor, the elderly," and other vulnerable groups.
"Blue collar town like Brockton of over 100,000 people, it's a vital part of the infrastructure, so many people rely on it," Carp said.
Older Brockton residents rely on the service to take them grocery shopping, to and from doctors' appointments, and to run other errands.
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