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September 24, 2015

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Lujiazui might get ‘special’ taxis

THE city’s transport authority is planning to put more taxis on the streets of Lujiazui in an attempt to stop cabbies from cherry-picking fares.

Sun Jianping, head of the the city’s transport committee told a press conference yesterday that the problem is mostly due to a shortage of cabs in the financial district.

Without giving any details, he said that a “special” fleet of taxis might be put into operation, which he “hopes” might solve the problem.

His comments came after the city last week launched a campaign to crack down on overcharging cabbies in response to media reports and angry complaints from the public.

The transport authority subsequently deployed more than 100 officers to patrol the area, though their precise role would appear unclear and their powers seem limited.

A Shanghai Daily reporter yesterday witnessed a cabby apparently cherry-picking fares in full view of one of the officials on patrol. When questioned, however, the driver claimed he was unable to take the would-be passenger as he “had to use the toilet.”

According to Fei Zhengrong, an officer with the traffic enforcement authority, the problem faced by the men and women on the street is proving that cabbies are breaking the rules.

“It’s very difficult, because we have been told that we have to provide video evidence of the drivers refusing to take a fare,” he said.

Ecuadorian tourist Tanya Tamaya told Shanghai Daily at a taxi stand yesterday close to a shopping center that she had been waiting for more than half an hour for a cab.

“I walked all round the mall trying to find a taxi, but there weren’t any. Then a policeman showed me here,” she said.

Fei said the problem is one of simple economics.

“Most people around here are only making short trips, like going back to their hotels, so it’s not good business for the cabbies,” he said.




 

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