Beijing faces challenge from illegal taxis

China's capital Beijing has seen increasing numbers of illegal taxicabs on its roads, as the city'spublic transportation system fails to cover remote areas in its expanding territory.

Experts estimate that the number of unlicensed taxicabs in Beijing is two thirds that of legal ones, which means that for the legal 67,000 taxicabs, according to statistics, there are at least 30,000 to 40,000 taxicabs running without government approval.

One taxi driver said, however, that the actual number of illegal cabs is much higher, and in fact could be as many as the authorized ones.

Sunday's Beijing-based Worker's Daily reported that the illegal taxicabs are mainly working at the airport, scenic spots, remote railway stations or residential areas, which are far from the downtown area, and where buses are rare.

In fact, the great number of illegal taxicabs are edging out the business of the authorized ones, making some drivers even quitand to join illegal operations.

Experts propose that it is not a problem that be solved by banning the illegal cars, but it is the city transport authority who should encourage legal driving of taxicabs.

Source:Xinhua