Tips for containing spread of swine flu

A swine flu outbreak appears to have killed dozens of people in Mexico and caused mild illnesses in the United States.

The Atlanta-based federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York City Department of Health are recommending several steps to prevent the spread of the virus.

• If you have flu symptoms, stay home from work or school to avoid spreading the disease. Do not return until two days after your symptoms are gone.
• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, and wash your hands frequently.
• Go to the hospital if you have severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, but if your symptoms are mild stay home to avoid spreading the virus to others at the hospital. Read more »

Boston Cabs and Credit Cards

Ready to book your Boston transportation? To learn more about car service Boston option and finding a Boston car service that is right for you (or a Logan car service to Logan airport or back from it), read below.

Over two years ago, the city of Boston mandated that every taxi cab be equipped with a credit card reader for customer convenience. Today, one in every four Boston taxi cab passengers pay with credit. This installation has numerous advantages for passengers, but has created tensions between law enforcement and drivers.

Collected from registered taxi cabs, meters show that Boston cab usage has greatly increased since the credit card devices were installed. Taxis now carry more passengers, make more profitable fares, and travel longer distances. Analysts attribute the credit card readers, which were fully installed in Boston’s taxis in mid-2009, to some of the success.

Boston cab credit card processors, which are positioned in the rear seat, are attractive to passengers for various reasons. Obviously, passengers do not require cash money for their fare. This is particularly advantageous for customers after-hours, when banks or ATMs might be closed or in inclement weather, which Boston often experiences. In addition, taxi cab credit card machines are highly convenient. Many people might not carry substantial amounts of money, and cab fares in Boston can be relatively expensive. Instead, one simply needs to swipe a credit card through the taxi’s machine, and the fare and tip are accounted for without requiring cash.

However, the view from the front seat is quite different. Some taxi drivers and cab companies argue that the radio dispatch companies, which installed the machines, are profiting from the credit card readers, not the drivers.