Shanghai, November 25 (Gasgoo.com) Taxi passengers in Beijing city have to pay an extra yuan to their fares starting today. The move is meant to offset the capital city's rising fuel prices which hit the highest level in years, Xinhua News reported.
Under the new taxi fare policy in place today, one yuan ($0.147) will be added to any trip exceeding three kilometers. Beijing will continue to work on linking taxi fares with gasoline prices.
Most of local residents say they accept the surcharge. A Beijing resident said, "A one yuan surcharge won't affect me too much." Another said, "Some Chinese provinces have already taken similar measures, such as Yunnan and Shandong. We should do it."
The extra one yuan will be used to balance the increase in pump prices, according to taxi drivers. "If I serve 40 passengers a day, it will create an additional 40 yuan. That can help me cope with the recent fuel price rises," a taxi driver said.
The new taxi fare policy said that the government, taxi companies, and passengers will share the cost of gasoline price fluctuations. Beijing last increased taxi fares three years ago.
