HUMBOLDT — Michael Behiel, Humboldt’s mayor, said the city is currently looking into options after the community’s last taxi service shut down— leaving no private or widely accessible public transportation.
“We are in the process of reviewing what the possible solutions can be. Right now it’s a temporary issue, we’re trying to find alternate solutions the next couple of months,” Behiel said.
“The city is taking this very seriously. It’s right in line with my belief and actions for an inclusive community, so it’s nothing we’re taking lightly or taking lying down. We want to find a resolution as fast as possible to keep our city flowing smoothly for everybody.”
In February, Direct Taxi & Delivery announced over Facebook that they would be shutting down services by the end of the month, citing difficulties caused by the pandemic.
In the post, the service explained that during the beginning of the pandemic they shut down for three months but feel it “wouldn’t have made a difference.”
“I have been basically been working for free breaking even after bills are paid and I’m just at the point of burn out. I keep telling myself things are going to change but the reality is I know they are not,” they wrote on Facebook.
“I apologize for this announcement, but I need to do what’s best right now.”
Behiel said that within hours of the announcement being made, city council had begun communicating to find a temporary alternative solution.
Some ideas they’ve discussed included granting temporary exemptions for use of the Handibus, which currently focuses exclusively on residents with disabilities.
“We’ve explored the possibility at one point of a U-ride coming to Humboldt,” he said. “So we reached out to them to see if they’re interested in coming still and if they would be interested in bringing some drivers to the city.”
Regardless of the final decision, Behiel said the city has no intention of creating a long-term public inner-city transportation system.
“The city has no interest in interfering with private [businesses], we have an interest in guaranteeing that it has service to the residents. Certainly if we’re going to put something municipally it will be in the short-term until we can find a private enterprise that’s willing to explore that option.”
