DRIVERS of green taxis in Bao an and Longgang districts went on strike Monday to protest against rampant illegal car and electric bike taxi services, Chinese-language newspapers reported yesterday.
The protesters claimed the illegal taxis were ruining their livelihoods by attracting passengers with cheaper charges, the Daily Sunshine reported.
Dozens of green cabbies staged a protest at the Guanlan Subdistrict Government Office in Bao an on Tuesday morning, calling for an immediate crackdown on illegal taxis.
Another 50 outraged protesters raided a bus station in Shajing Subdistrict and smashed dozens of electric bike taxis parked there.
They [the illegal taxis] leave no room for our survival, said one green cabbie, identifying himself as Deng.
According to Deng, green cabbies are barely able to make ends meet faced with competition from their unlicensed counterparts.
Prices of food and gasoline, and rents are climbing, he said. Besides, we have to pay the taxi company money each month. Most of us are actually losing money even though we are working day and night.
He complained that operators of an electric bike taxi could earn 1,500 yuan (US$221) more than him.
In answer to the protesters call, the city s transport commission announced Tuesday it would reduce deposits paid by taxi drivers from 90,000 yuan to 50,000 yuan for the five months between October and February next year.
It also launched a campaign against illegal services in Bao an and Longgang on Tuesday afternoon.
A large number of electric bike owners operate illegal and highly dangerous bike taxi services in the two districts, fueled by an inadequate public transport network in the former non-special economic zone areas.
While it is hard to estimate the number of electric bikes in the city, police say there has been a definite increase in the number of accidents involving them in recent years.
There are three types of taxis in Shenzhen: red, yellow and green taxis. Green taxis are only allowed to operate in Bao an and Longgang districts, as well as Guangming and Pingshan new zones. (Mu Zi)
