Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200811/20081107/article_379762.htm
Cab fares in Chongqing should rise, says official
Created: 2008-11-7 0:46:34
Author:Cyril Li
TAXI fees in Chongqing are too low, the Party chief of the municipality said during a meeting with representatives of cabbies who went on strike early this week.
Compared with other major cities, the 1.2 yuan (US$0.17) per kilometer charge was too low, said Chongqing Party chief Bo Xilai yesterday. His three-hour meeting with the taxi drivers was broadcast live by Chongqing Television and main news portals.
Drivers earn an additional 0.6 yuan per kilometer after an initial distance of 3 kilometers. Other cities have similar charges, but they only kick in after a longer initial distance, Bo said.
Bo also asked cabbie representatives whether their future business will be affected if fares are increased as Chongqing residents have lower average incomes compared to people in other big cities such as Beijing or Shanghai.
The representative replied that sometimes it was cheaper for passengers to hire a taxi than take a bus.
Authorities in Chongqing on Wednesday announced that 9,000 urban cab drivers had returned to work after a two-day strike that was marred by outbreaks of violence.
Almost 4,000 drivers had returned to work as of Tuesday afternoon after the municipal government moved to address their grievances.
Drivers in the main urban areas of the city stopped work on Monday morning to protest insufficient supplies of compressed natural gas, which fuel most cabs in the city competition from unlicensed cabs, high fines for traffic violations and the unfair division of fares between drivers and companies. Drivers said they had to wait for up to three hours to refuel at a limited number of gas stations.
The strike became violent when some drivers attempted to stop others from working, pulling them from their cars.
Compared with other major cities, the 1.2 yuan (US$0.17) per kilometer charge was too low, said Chongqing Party chief Bo Xilai yesterday. His three-hour meeting with the taxi drivers was broadcast live by Chongqing Television and main news portals.
Drivers earn an additional 0.6 yuan per kilometer after an initial distance of 3 kilometers. Other cities have similar charges, but they only kick in after a longer initial distance, Bo said.
Bo also asked cabbie representatives whether their future business will be affected if fares are increased as Chongqing residents have lower average incomes compared to people in other big cities such as Beijing or Shanghai.
The representative replied that sometimes it was cheaper for passengers to hire a taxi than take a bus.
Authorities in Chongqing on Wednesday announced that 9,000 urban cab drivers had returned to work after a two-day strike that was marred by outbreaks of violence.
Almost 4,000 drivers had returned to work as of Tuesday afternoon after the municipal government moved to address their grievances.
Drivers in the main urban areas of the city stopped work on Monday morning to protest insufficient supplies of compressed natural gas, which fuel most cabs in the city competition from unlicensed cabs, high fines for traffic violations and the unfair division of fares between drivers and companies. Drivers said they had to wait for up to three hours to refuel at a limited number of gas stations.
The strike became violent when some drivers attempted to stop others from working, pulling them from their cars.
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