| The problem of short trips for airport taxis is not confined to Beijing and Shanghai. My hometown of Calgary, Canada has struggled for years to solve the problem.
Just like in Beijing, a Calgary taxi driver may wait in a queue for 4 hours to get a fare. The trip could cost anywhere from $5 to $50, depending on the destination. A trip to downtown (most business trips) is around $25, but there is also a "business park" that is a $5 ride away. There have been cases where the driver refuses to take the passenger if the distance is too short, or demanded that the passenger pay extra. The city has attempted a few solutions: a) "Flat rate" (of $25) for the trip, regardless of distance. b) Give the airport franchise to one company. Any company can drop off, but only one can pick up. The idea is that the one company can manage their drivers better, so the queuing time is reduced. Each of these solutions was abandoned, and rather quickly, for various reasons (unfairness, complaints from consumers, etc). In the end, it is back to the process where any cab can queue for passengers, and take the risk getting a short trip. As long as queuing for 4 hours for an average of $25 is worthwhile, the drivers will do it. |
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