Motorbike taxi drivers must buy new, village rules

Only three-wheeled motorbike taxis bought from a local village committee in Fengtai district are permitted to operate in the area, a move that has angered poor drivers.

As many as 40 new motorbike taxis hit the streets Tuesday in Songjiazhuang area, the southern terminal of subway Line 5, but the committee has set its sights at 200.

"The village committee and chengguan told us all to buy new vehicles a couple of days ago, but they cost 7,000 yuan each. This includes 4,000 yuan for the bike, 2,000 for a safety deposit and 1,000 for two months of tax," said a cart owner surnamed Peng. "I can barely earn 100 yuan a day and I need to spend half of that to live. As a result, it will take me at least six months to balance the cost of a new bike."