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Last Updated:
Jan 19th, 2010 - 13:22:35 |
Michigan Green Cabs
Ecological & Economical
In the Vice Presidential debate, Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin scolded now-Vice President-Elect Joe Biden for looking back at what was to blame for global warming. Her "logic" of not looking at the causes of a problem in order to solve it was mind-boggling! Down a winding paved road in Wixom, amongst a backdrop of failed McCain/Palin signs, lies the home of Michigan Green Cabs, a business looking towards the future while keeping in mind the failures of the past.
Using alternative fuels and substitute methods of transportation is a clear neccessity. And with the Big Three gasping for air, the Motor City needs to focus on becoming greener. Realizing the need for change, Ryan Tobias of Michigan Green Cabs decided to work towards making the world a better place. “My uncle is a cab driver and he was sick of driving Crown Victorias,” Tobias says of his business’ birth. “He wanted us to lease him a hybrid car. It got us thinking that we could make the transportation service industry better by using current green technology.”
MGC focused on getting rid of old cab standbys that had extremely poor gas mileage. Tobias estimates that through switching cars, over a million gallons of gas can be saved per year. “Even though our cars drive just as much as the old Crown Victorias, we are reducing pollution,” states Tobias. "We are also cutting greenhouse gasses by over 70 percent with our Hybrid technologies.” With five cars in their fleet, the company's working hard to help Mother Nature and the pocketbooks of its riders. “I would say we are one of the most competitively priced cab companies in the country,” Tobias says of their fees. MGC ranges from $2.50 a mile for trips under 20 miles to $2.25 for trips over 20 miles.
Aside from helping the environment, the company is also creating jobs. “For every Michigan Green Cab we deploy, we create three new full-time jobs and one or two new part-time positions,” Tobias says. “In these Michigan economic times, I’m really proud that we are providing jobs to people who need them.” MGC hopes to increase its number of cars in order to hire more full and part-time workers.
MGC is also working with other local green groups in an attempt to set up a coalition of businesses that not only benefits the companies involved, but the community as well. For instance, riders of the Night Move, which offers rides from Royal Oak and Ferndale to downtown Detroit, will now receive coupons for discounted rides from the MGC fleet. In addition, they will also receive free tokens for the Motown’s beacon of mass transit, the People Mover. “Jennifer Harlan from Night Move contacted me right before they started,” states Tobias. “Since we're both green companies, it works out even better and we have been able to provide a service to their patrons after a night out.”
As MGC moves forward, the future keeps getting brighter for this local company. Not only have they established themselves in the local green movement, but they are also profiting, which only helps them to increase their selection of eco-friendly cabs. “We take pride in our clean cars and the fact that they are benefiting the environment,” Tobias states. “We want to build on that and keep the green movement moving forward.” | RDW
Need a Ride?: 877.GRN.TAXI • migreencabs.com
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