Refreshing transportation news, readers! San Francisco is set to get water taxi service. The San Francisco Port Commission just approved a five-year agreement with John Scannell, who runs those duck boats for tourists via Bay Quackers, "and plans to launch the taxi service within the next two to three months." Service will depart from Pier 1½ or the Hyde Street Pier. "A one-way fare from San Francisco to Oakland will cost about $18." [Mercury News] more ›

An Ohio couple on their way from SFO the Mark Hopkins Hotel died in yesterday's taxicab crash at the Mariposa Street off-ramp from 280. "The woman was pronounced dead at San Francisco General Hospital shortly after the crash, and the man died at about 4:20 p.m., " reports CBS 5. The driver was also seriously injured "but left the hospital Monday afternoon." The cab, according to CHP Officer Shawn Chase, "smashed into a highway support beam and the taxi caught fire" after the vehicle's brakes failed. more ›

What with St. Patrick's Day synonymous with binge drinking, the number of drunk drivers on the road increases. Obviously. So, instead of trying to weave home after your ninth round at your favorite local pub, why not catch a cab home paid for Berg Injury Lawyers. See, their the Safe and Sober Free Ride Home for St. Patrick’s Day program will give residents in Alameda, Oakland, SF and Berkeley rides home for free. more ›

With three women in the back, a Town Cab cabbie was injured at around 1:45 a.m. this morning after brick crashed through his windshield as he was emerging from the Broadway tunnel. The brick came through the windshield smacking the guy in the shoulder. No arrests have been made. The attack is under investigation. Also: Ouch. (KTVU) more ›

Did you know that the Taxi Commission is going to be transferring their duties over to the SFMTA (the blob that runs Muni, parking meters, traffic lights, and stuff like that)? By consolidating all of SF's ground transportation under one agency, the MTA can ensure that all trips throughout the city are slow, unreliable, and involve a minimum of 75% surliness. (SF's taxi-surliness index is currently hovering just under 60%.) more ›

Dear SF Cabs: more ›

In some four-day old news that managed to limbo under our radar, two cabbies (allegedly) racing with one another down Fulton Street on Monday night crashed into parked cars at around 11 p.m. Lovely. According to KTVU: more ›

Over on KQED's food blog, Stephanie Lucianovic writes about her spoiled fine-dining engagements due to San Francisco's crippling taxicab companies, which fail to pickup/deliver in a timely fashion. This tardiness, you see, can cancel a reservation. Also, according to her: more ›