The city is finally planning to do something about the interminable lack of cabs, but unfortunately for Puxi dwellers, only in Lujiazui.
The plan to put more taxis on the streets of the financial district has been met with skepticism, however, even from the Shanghai Daily, who report on the announcement with what appears to be uncharacteristic sarcasm:
Without giving any details, [transport committee head Sun Jianping] said that a “special” fleet of taxis might be put into operation, which he “hopes” might solve the problem.
Sounds “promising.”
The Daily’s lack of confidence in the city’s transport authorities comes after a half-hearted campaign to crack down on picky cab drivers, which saw 100 officers deployed to patrol the area, “though their precise role would appear unclear and their powers seem[ed] limited.” The paper continues:
A Shanghai Daily reporter yesterday witnessed a cabby apparently cherry-picking fares in full view of one of the officials on patrol. When questioned, however, the driver claimed he was unable to take the would-be passenger as he “had to use the toilet.”
We feel your pain, Shanghai Daily. Here’s hoping Lujiazui’s extra taxis do the job and we get some “special” taxis on the other side of the river.
This article originally appeared in That's Shanghai.
