A taxi driver changes the label of the taxi fare in Shanghai May 11, 2006 as the city began to roll out its first taxi fare hike since 1998. Under the new price system, the flag-down price in downtown, which covers the first 3 kilometres of a trip, has risen to 11 yuan (US$1.35) from 10 yuan (US$1.23) while charges on each additional kilometre will edge up 0.1 yuan (1 US cent) from the existing 2 yuan (25 US cents). The increase is the direct result of a newly enforced mechanism that allows taxi fares to float with fuel prices to counter the influence of rising gas prices on the taxi industry and drivers. [Reuters]
 

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