William Davy started driving a cab because of his job in the water department.
“That’s where they sell the taxi coupons,” Davy said. “I heard a lot of people say, ‘Boy, it takes a long time for a cab to come. So I thought, when I retire, I’ll run a cab company.”
He did just that, going into business with friend and poker buddy, exterminator Stan Stevens. The two now run City Cab Co., a two-car operation that made its first run on Feb. 5. It doesn’t seem to be taking long to shift into high gear — the company made 40 runs on Thursday, its best since opening.
The company is the second taxi service to operate in Emporia, following in the wake of the long-established DZ Cab. But Stevens said he figured there was room for a competitor. He still remembers when the city had four cab companies.
Besides, he said, it’s an awful lot of fun.
“It’s pretty rewarding,” Stevens said. “You get to know a lot of people. I’m on a first name basis with some of the customers now.”
There are seven part-time employees and three full-time drivers: Davy, Stevens and Stevens’ wife, who covers the 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. shift. The fares are set to match the competition: $5 anywhere in town, $2 per additional person heading to the same location, $10 for a round trip. Out-of-town rates are still being worked out, but the drivers will do a run of up to 50 miles, just enough to reach Topeka. And yes, City Cab does take taxi coupons.
The two wanted to put a third cab on the road, they said, but the insurance rates were outrageous.
“We’re talking $15,000 a car for two vehicles at a $1 million liability,” Stevens said. “That’s a lot of $5 rides.”
About the time that Davy and Stevens opened, they learned that they were in time for the off-season. Winter, it seems, is the slow time of year for taxi companies.
“That shocked me,” Stevens said. “But there are a lot of people that just don’t get out, especially older people afraid of breaking an arm or a hip.”
Neither one plans to take a vacation in the first year. And neither one is trying to shut down the competition.
“We think there are enough customers for two companies,” Davy said. “We just want a little piece of the pie.”