My wife and I live on the eastern edge of downtown Minneapolis and use taxis frequently for things such as shopping, dining or attending a Twins game. The cabs are generally in poor condition.
Recently the taxi we took after a game was filthy inside and out. It felt like it had no springs or shocks; there were rattles in the chassis and dents and rust on the exterior. This taxi, like so many others, had what I will call debris in the front-seat area, loud music playing and front windows open. We had to ask the driver to roll up the windows and turn off the radio.
We have been fortunate to travel to many large cities in our country, Canada and Europe, and their taxis are well-maintained inside and out, and the drivers very presentable. If Minneapolis wants to be a first-class city for tourism, business and conventions, why don't we start with the taxis?
For many who come to our city, it will be their first impression. It's obvious there must be standards or inspection requirements.
