Taxi charges may be raised to ease drivers' woes

Taxi fares in the capital may rise in the next six months as authorities look to balance out the impact of the recent oil price hike.

The cost of 93-octane gasoline, the grade most commonly used by Beijing cabs, has jumped to 7.45 yuan per liter, up from 7.17 late last year, leaving drivers with an additional 180 yuan per day in expenses, the city's development and reform authority told Beijing News.

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To help fill the gap, officials are to consider increasing fares, including the standing charge, the per-kilometer charge and the 1-yuan fuel surcharge. A spokesman for the capital's development and reform commission was unavailable for comment when METRO went to press.

A Beijing taxi driver surnamed Wen said oil is costing him an extra 10 yuan a day, almost 10 percent of his daily earnings. "They (officials) were talking about raising prices last time the oil prices rose, but it didn't happen," he said. "I hope there'll be some adjustment this time."

Although the price hike may reduce the financial burden on cab drivers, Wen said he is hesitant to embrace the changes, fearing a raise may deter people from using taxis.

"When prices rose from 1.6 yuan per kilometer to 2 yuan, for a short while I was carrying fewer passengers," he added. "I'm afraid another price hike will affect business again."

For Li Tingna, a manager at Shunjing Hot Springs Center, increasing taxi fares would make it impossible for her to take cabs. "The taxi price is already very high," she complained. "If it's still to rise, I may have to use the subway, especially considering our salary is not rising."

Canadian Bruce Gremo, who owns a car, often uses taxis when traveling into the city center to save time and money parking. However, taking a cab from his home in Shunyi is already far more expensive than driving himself, he said.