Rising Gas Prices Take Toll On Ossining Taxis

OSSINING, N.Y. – With the rising gas prices in and around Ossining, Cathy Albohn spends an average of $70 each day filling her car.

As the owner of Capricorn Taxi in Ossining, Albohn knows the pain at the pump all too well. The national average for regular unleaded gasoline rose roughly 30 cents in the last two months to $3.70. The statewide average is $3.92, up from $3.70 a month ago, according to AAA New York. In Westchester County, many cab drivers say it’s difficult to find a pump for under $4.

“It upsets us big time. Some days you’re working and the money you’re making goes right back into your gas tank,” Albohn said Friday, adding that current prices are the worst she has seen in five years. “It’s killing us and it’s making it really hard to make a living.”

The lowest prices for gas in Ossining hovered around $4.05 Friday while the lowest price in Briarcliff Manor remained at $4.09, according to NewYorkStateGasPrices.com. The lowest fuel prices are rarely in Ossining, Pleasantville, Briarcliff or other surrounding areas, Albohn said.

“I know a lot of drivers who will stop at the cheapest stations they see and they are never in Ossining or Briarcliff. Pleasantville used to have decent prices but they’ve risen lately too,” she said. “When gas is over $4, you feel it in your pocket. Sometimes we have to work 17 hours or more just to make a decent living.”

Many towns throughout Westchester regulate taxi cab rates in their respective areas, but for many operators like Croton Taxi and Airport Service Manager Carlos Posso, raising rates won’t help with the problem.

“None of us make much money anymore doing this,” Posso said, noting that his company services the Croton and Briarcliff Manor areas. “We don’t go to Briarcliff too often anymore.”

Posso said finding lower cost fuel is difficult when making longer trips.

“You can’t just drive all the way back to a cheaper station all the time so whenever we need it we just have to fill up with what’s there,” he said. “It wouldn’t help much anyway now.” 

 

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