Guangzhou Plans to Add 700 Taxis

Source: www.lifeofguangzhou.com

Guangzhou Transportation and Communications Commission announced yesterday (July 12th, 2007) that Guangzhou plans to put 700 more taxis into use before the 102nd Import and Export Fair.

Plans are for 50 in Nansha, 50 in Huangpu and Luogang, and remaining 600 in downtown Guangzhou. The hearing on this plan will be held on July 27th.

Currently, Guangzhou has 16,000 taxis and the number has not been changed since 1990s. With the rapid development of the city and the motorcycles ban in the urban area, it becomes more and more difficult for hailing a taxi in Guangzhou, especially during the Canton Fair. In order to tackle the problem, Guangzhou should have more taxis.

Citizens generally welcome the proposal and some also suggest to further improve the subway and buses construction at the same time. However, some taxi drivers expressed their worries that more competitors may decrease their incomes.

(By Helena Zhang and Kimberly Barteau)

Editor: Helena Zhang