Bethel’s largest cab company, Kusko Cab, is shutting down at 11:59 p.m. on March 20. They will be closed until at least April 1 to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“We were good until two days ago,” said company co-owner Naim Shabani on March 20. “Then half our drivers stopped driving. And last night, all the night shift drivers said they were going to take time off.”
Down to only 14 drivers, Shabani is taking his cabs off the road. “When you have half the cabs available but the same call volume, that increases the number of passengers per cab and increases the risk of exposure. So we are pulling the plug now,” Shabani said.
Cabs are a primary means of transportation for people without vehicles and for travelers coming to Bethel from across the region. Shabani says that the decision to close wasn’t easy but is necessary at this time.
“You don’t know who needs groceries,” Shabani said. “At a time like this, you want to be there to help, but being there might not be helping.”
