Fifteen City Council members are calling for taxi fares to be increased, saying they are ready to risk constituents' ire to prevent cabbies from leaving the streets.

Members of a union representing 11,000 taxi drivers, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, joined the council members yesterday outside City Hall to ask the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission to reconsider its request for a $1-a-ride fuel surcharge to offset rising gas prices. The money would go directly to the drivers, who say they are making at least $1,000 less a month since the last fare hike in 2006 because they are forced to spend more money at the pump.

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