Calgarians no longer face long waits to get a taxi, and cab companies say a sputtering economy is the reason.

Taxi companies say business has dropped almost one-quarter from the same time last year.

Alex Pallares recalled waiting 20 minutes on hold just to order a cab last year, then 40 minutes more to get picked up.

"It got to the point when I almost cancelled the call because it just took way too long," he said.

But Jeff Garland, general manager of Associated Cabs, said anyone ordering a cab in Calgary now will likely be picked up in 10 to 15 minutes, even on a Friday or Saturday night.

Curt Enders, who owns Checker Cabs, said fewer people are going out to pubs and clubs.

"People are getting laid off. They're watching how they're spending, so they're not going out, socializing with their friends. Or they're driving out in their own cars. So there are less consumers out there phoning in, trying to get rides," he said.

Garland agrees that fewer people are heading out on a Friday or Saturday night, but said there is another reason that people are getting a cab more quickly in Calgary.

"I think that there's a lot of people not going to work that were going to work before. Because the traffic is quite a lot lighter and there tends to be less people going places during the rush hour and stuff like that, so it adversely affects our business," he said.