Pocono News Section

Changes Coming To Posten Taxi

Changes Coming To Posten Taxi - Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 4:31PM EST

Reported by: Jill Konopka
Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 @ 04:31pm EST
((WILKES-BARRE, Luzerne County) -

Changes are on the way at Posten Taxi in Wilkes-Barre. A dispatcher at the oldest taxi company in the Diamond City says it’s partially due to high prices at the pump.

Company officials won't say what specific changes will happen or when, but customers tell us it's no longer a secret. Kathy Piccolotti of Swoyersville told Eyewitness News, "The cab driver told me they're cutting back. There aren't any cab drivers. Today is her last day, she's being let go."

Kathy Piccolotti says the ride from a Posten Taxi to Public Square took too long. Piccolotti added, "An hour and a half I had to wait from Swoyersville Posten's made pick-ups and deliveries 24-hours a day, seven days a week for years. When asked how often she uses taxis, Terri Hardy told Eyewitness News, “Usually once or twice a week, usually more."

Now, customers like Terri Hardy wonder what'll happen to the services provided by Posten. Hardy added, "There are only two taxi services in Wilkes-Barre, everyone only has those two to use. If there's only one, Burgits, it'll be more hectic, it’ll take more time to get to you." Natural sound, “Where are you going?"

The manager at the only other taxi company in the city says the calls here keep coming in. Natural sound, “O. k. give me about 15 minutes" In fact, Burgit's city taxi is hiring. And as far as workers here know, service isn't changing from six am to midnight; weekdays and three in the morning on weekends. Hardy added, “Posten is more expensive than Burgits. It's a well known thing and Posten is more backed up, Burgits gets here quicker."

Posten's owner never returned our calls, but Dennis Bass says he's optimistic to get hired here, even with rising fuel costs. Bass told Eyewitness News, "I'm here applying for a job. I'm on disability. I can't do the work, I used to. I know with the price of gas, it's hard. It's hard on all of us."