The Price Control Administration of Xiamen recently announced two taxi fare adjustment proposals that were discussed at a recent hearing.
The first proposal is to adjust the starting price of taxi rides to 9 yuan within 3 km. The waiting time for the first five minutes will be charged at a rate of 0.5 yuan per 75 seconds.
Waiting time refers to time spent waiting for traffic lights or when car speed falls below 12 km per hour. Presently, the waiting time for the first five minutes is free. The proposal also hopes to establish a new linkage mechanism between taxi tariffs and fuel prices to replace the current fuel surcharge.
The second scheme proposes to increase the starting price to 10 yuan within 3 km, with waiting time fees the same as in the first proposal. However, the second proposal would include a premise that the fuel surcharge should be cancelled.
Apart from starting price and waiting time charges, all other fares and prices are likely to be maintained at their present levels.
The final decision will be announced soon.