As reported a couple of weeks ago here on Latino Report, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) was planning on banning curbside pickups for taxis and ridesharing companies. That day finally came last week and it was chaotic to say the least. The pickup system involves people waiting at the new “LAXit” pickup lot, which is now the only place that ride-hailing and taxi services are allowed to accept riders. Unfortunately, traffic bottlenecks caused long wait times and frustrated both drivers and passengers at the LAXit lot. Simon Momennasab, general manager for Bell Cab, stated the following to the Los Angeles Times regarding the new system,
It’s been awful, to be honest with you. [Its] too small for taxis and rideshares. And they have to find ways to improve the entrance and exit.
Momennasab claims that on Sunday it took over an hour for taxis to drive to the pickup lot during rush hour. Taxis are required to wait at a nearby place and then drive over to the pickup lot. Rideshare drivers also had similar difficulties getting into the pickup lot. Passengers have to wait at their terminals to ride a shuttle that will take them to the LAXit pickup lot, or walk there, and then wait in line to get their rideshare. The entire process can take over an hour, which is less efficient than the old system. LAX will reportedly expand the LAXit pickup lot area to allow more taxis and rideshare drivers in the lot at any given time to remedy the issue.
