Note on the author: Dan Quiery is in the Service and Sales Department of American Taxi Dispatch, Inc and the recipient of the 2008 Mount Prospect Business Leader of the Year award.
We drivers and taxi dispatch service organizations are always working on increasing ridership. Now, with the current state of the economy, try driving on Senior Street.
Do not try to put Senior Street into your GPS unit. It is not there. Just look out your taxi window. Seniors are the fastest growing segment of the United States population. Serving this market will keep your taxi loaded and you making money. Short trips, medical trips, shopping trips, church trips and yes, even airport trips, are ordered by seniors everyday. The local governments are helping by granting discounts to registered senior residents. The senior passenger gives the coupon to the taxi driver and earns a discount. The driver turns in the coupon to the taxi dispatch organization for payment of the full amount of the discount and the taxi dispatch company turns in the coupon to the local government for full repayment. Everyone wins.
Check the rules for the senior taxi discount program in the towns you serve. Honor the rules, treat the senior users well and you will develop a following in this profitable market.
