Reform of the taxi industry in Beijing is inevitable

Reforming Beijing's taxi industry will be a tough process and will have to tackle vested interests, says an article in Beijing News (excerpts below).

The city's traffic authorities have discussed various ways to boost the taxi industry.

Reforming the industry will be no easy task but a crucial step must be taken to begin the reform.

The near impossibility of catching a taxi during the rush hours is a burden on Beijing residents. And even when you manage to get a taxi, charges can vary.

A shameful episode occurred on the night of July 21, 2012. That night saw torrential rain and some taxi drivers were charging ten times the legal fare. Charging illegal fares is not uncommon, as many passengers will agree.

Taxi companies often fail to reinvest profits into the business, to the detriment of the industry.

There is growing public unease about the capital's taxi service. A better way of providing taxi services must be found.