Outrage over banned taxi death

By Qian Yanfeng and Meng Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-15 09:15

A motorist passes by two three-wheel taxis yesterday near a subway station in Chaoyang district. [China Daily/ Feng Yongbin]

The death of a woman in a three-wheel taxi crash has triggered renewed calls for better regulation of the popular but controversial Beijing transport.

A 24-year-old Shanxi university graduate died after being thrown from a motorized tricycle at high speed in Haidian district on Sept 22.

She suffered head injuries and died four days later despite emergency treatment at a local hospital.

Under Beijing law, it is illegal to use the taxis, which carry two people, for commercial use and to drive them in regular traffic. The motorized tricycle must be driven in the bicycle lane.

Drivers, who charge between 5-10 yuan per trip, can be fined up to 1,000 yuan ($146) and detained for five days if caught breaking the law. However, it is difficult to police in areas where public transportation is scarce and demand for alternative transport is high.

"Small taxis are convenient in places not covered by public transport, and are popular with people since they are much cheaper than taxis," a Beijing resident surnamed Hong said.

"But they are not safe. Drivers usually ignore traffic regulations and that has put passengers' lives at risk," she added.

Zhang Guoxiang, a 46-year-old three-wheel taxi driver, said he drove a three-wheel taxi because he could not find another job.

Zhang suffered a hip-bone fracture two years ago and was forced to give up his former job as a taxi driver. Driving a smaller taxi saves energy and working time, he said.

Instead of working for more than 10 hours a day, Zhang now works eight hours and earns about 2,000 yuan a month.

"This is not much, but enough for people like me without any reputable skills," he said. "It's very difficult to live in a city like Beijing where everything is just expensive. I need to support my family and save money for my son to go to college."

Yang Tuan, vice-director of the social policy research center under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the existence of the small taxi business is linked to public demand.

"They are smaller than taxis, so they can go to a lot of places where the taxis cannot reach and their gas emissions are relatively less than what the taxis have," she said.

Yang also believed the vehicle could supplement the current public transportation system if organized properly. She called for a self-governed motorized tricycle organization to be founded under the supervision of the government.

"With an improved management system and stricter standards, the motor tricycles can surely provide better services to the public," she said.

Beijing police refused to comment. Calls to the transportation authorities went unanswered.