Beijing to Drop Taxi Fuel Surcharge Starting Next Week

Steven Schwankert | Jan 15, 2015 9:00 am | 12 comments | 7213 reads

Here's something we didn't expect: even as subway fares rise, taxis are about to get less expensive.

One yuan per fare, to be exact. With fuel fares dropping globally as oil prices hit five-year lows, the irksome fuel surcharge, which due to poor labeling and explanation led tourists to think they were being shaken down for baksheesh, will be removed, starting January 21.

Taxis are due to have their meters recalibrated on that date, so for the first time in years, the metered fare will be, shockingly, the metered fare. Let's see how smoothly that goes.

"Adjustment of taxi meters will take place from Thursday to January 21. During the period, passengers still must pay the surcharge if the taxi's meter has not been adjusted," a Xinhua News Agency report stated. In that case, we expect drivers will insist their meter has not been adjusted until sometime in 2017.

Taxi drivers in other cities have been protesting low incomes in other cities, something averted in Beijing when taxi fares rose in 2013. The subhead of a Wall Street Journal article from Wednesday implied that ride-hailing apps were one of the reasons for the drivers' discontent. However, this makes no sense: non-taxi services like Uber don't serve enough cities or have enough drivers to make a meaningful dent. And if the number of people standing around for the empty cabs that zoom by in Sanlitun, or Hujialou, or Shuangjing, or anywhere else in the city on any night of the week are an indicator, the demand for taxi services certainly has not dwindled.

Photo: China Travel Compass

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Faychangbaoler's picture Faychangbaoler Submitted by Guest on Sat, 02/21/2015 - 15:04

Beijing Taxis are a bargain. Terrible quality of service, but I would much prefer to stay here in Beijing and have the luxury of getting door to door (even if I have to wait sometimes while some taxis pass me) and get to use them every day. I used to live in London which has arguably the best taxi service and quality in the world. But they are also some of the most expensive. So for the small inconveniences, I hope the Beijing taxi service stays shit, and hopefully the prices stay low so I have the luxury of using them every day. Stop moaning, and just embrace adn appreciate how cheap they are.

stech's picture stech Submitted by Guest on Tue, 02/17/2015 - 09:24

Actually, I always tip the drivers here in Beijing.. Tipping 5RMB (or more depending on the fare) is minimal at best to your wallet, but makes a large difference to the drivers. and I have actually had a few times where some of the same drivers pick me up out of a field of people becuase of it.

turapeach's picture turapeach Submitted by Guest on Wed, 01/21/2015 - 14:04

Thank you, Stech! IMO Beijing taxis are one of the biggest transportation bargains in the world. Yes, I get passed by empty cabs more than I used to, but considering how many people use the apps to call cabs now, that isn't surprising. Most of all, I am grateful that unlike smaller cities in China, it is incredibly unusual for drivers to attempt to cheat me as long as I'm not trying to get home from a major tourist destination (i.e. Pearl Market or Summer Palace).

stech's picture stech Submitted by Guest on Thu, 01/15/2015 - 17:52

Having driven hack for 6 years over my lifetime, in some of the most demanding markets (NYC , Boston, and to a lesser degree, Burlington VT) I always chuickle when I hear people complain about taxi rates here.

A Taxi from Sanlitun to where I live now is roughly 60rmb, depending on traffic, which equates to about 10 USD. 10 USD in the states, in most EVERY market, will get you possibly a mile, in some cases, not even that.

Taxi drivers, as a norm, usually work 12 hour shifts.. thats 12 hours sitting around driving, and on weekend nights, driving around drunk-ass beligerant people. I find it hard to believe how Cab drivers make a living in china, based on what seems to me to be barely sustainable money.

after almost 3 years in the Big Smoke, I have encountered losing taxis who are unoccupied to people using the apps, but I have never been passed by more than 3 times by an empty cab. even if its raining. It may be a pain, but its the cost of living in the city.

Just my two cents

admin's picture admin Submitted by Guest on Thu, 01/15/2015 - 12:05

to clarify: the prices are being lowered beginning today, and the deadline for all taxis to update their meters so the extra fee is not charged is Jan 21.

And you know how these things work: that pretty much means they'll charge the fee until the 21st

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mtnerror's picture mtnerror Submitted by Guest on Thu, 01/15/2015 - 11:39

Either this article or China Daily is wrong, as the latter states the surcharge will be dropped starting Thursday (Jan 15) until Jan 21, when at that time all the taxi meters will have been updated. Check this: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2015-01/14/content_19319836.htm

The latter also states passengers are to pay what is stated on the meter. If the taxi they ride in hasn't yet had its meter updated, fork over that extra yuan.

Julya01's picture Julya01 Submitted by Guest on Thu, 01/15/2015 - 11:10

This is the most stupid think I ever hear ! How could we know if the taxi was lowered the price or not ???/ We can ask the taxi driver this ??? They will say " yes, it was ! " and they will charge us as the same as before ! If you make a law, make it law !!! But in China always are 2 exntires and 2 exits from everything ! ...... Everyone choice which they want ! This is called corruption ! From this article, I understand that some taxi will not lower the price , which is a bulshit , you can't know which one is correct ! In the future they will make the same as in Malaysia, they even will not want to set the metter when you go up in the taxi and they ask a price at their convenoence ! Is a very wrong way ! If is law, there must be setted up all the taxi to work the same , not only some of them will set the metter at a lower price ! That is a very bad thing !

And yes, Beijing has no taxi ! In my country for example, you can call a taxi from home and they come in 3 to 5 mins to pick up you ! There are also many companies of taxi and you can shoice which one you want and the dispecer will anouncing your call and which taxi is in that area, more near you and is free, he will come to pic up you ! This is the bext service , not as in China ....where you can stay for hours to pic up a taxi because " they are not going in that direction "....

Steven Schwankert's picture Steven Schwankert Submitted by Guest on Thu, 01/15/2015 - 09:32

Frankly, I think Beijing taxi drivers get exactly what they deserve. They're essentially an unarmed gang and an unqualified embarrassment to the city.

Actually, I would argue that Beijing doesn't have taxis. A "taxi" is a car that picks up passengers on an individual basis in exchange for a set fare per ride and/or distance. Since Beijing's designated taxis don't actually do that -- they just drive around not picking people up because they "aren't going in that direction" -- then it is "black taxis" that are actually performing the taxi function.

The simple fact that they don't pick up the average, hailing passenger (my average is to be passed by five empty cabs before one stops) means that whatever they get, or don't get, is entirely deserved. What other business would you regularly patronize that expects you to have correct change, doesn't know how to perform his or her duties (knowing locations and routes), and doesn't provide service when it is desired?

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