"A PUBLIC hearing is to be held within the next few weeks concerning plans to raise city taxi fares, the local price authority said yesterday. The detailed adjustment plan will be announced late this month, officials said, which is widely viewed as a signal that taxi fares will be increased. This follows hikes in fuel prices that have hit cabbies' earnings. Twenty-four people, including 10 consumers and four taxi drivers, will take part in the hearing, according to the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission. New prices would come into force by mid-July, government officials said. The current taxi fare, introduced in October 2009, is 12 yuan (US$1.84) for the first 3 kilometers. Previously, the minimum charge was 11 yuan. Online speculation says the price will rise this time to 15 yuan - a figure denied by top traffic officials. 'I'm afraid I will lose more passengers if the fare rises,' said Ao Hongwei, a cabbie of 10 years' experience. Ao also said he has seen profits fall as fuel costs rise. Taxi companies say they expect a rise but do not want too steep a hike. The price of 93-octane gasoline, widely used by taxis, is now 7.79 yuan a liter in Shanghai, compared to 5.90 yuan a liter in October 2009." [Shanghai Daily] more ›

Shanghai is a big ol' place, and so traversing it by taxi is often the quickest, if most costly, option. To lessen the scary surprises given out by the taxi meters, you can now calculate your fare online. Thanks to this new application from Kuber, you simply type in your departure location and destination, and you'll be given the exact distance and approximate fare. Forward planners, unite! more ›

If you've seen stickers for an English speaking hotline and thought that was cool, you'll be blown away by the new dispatch system: press a button and be connected instantly to a translator. Cool, right? But perhaps better than the added service is the uniform regulations: all 100,000 or so taxi drivers have to dress in blue suits, white shirts and blue ties during the entire span of the expo. Having met many cab drivers we couldn't picture in a suit if we tried, we wonder how exactly the relevant authorities plan to enforce this one. more ›

Shanghai Daily is shouting that taxi cabs are now going to be more expensive. Starting from October 11th, the floor price will be raised from the 11RMB/3KM we've been used to all these years to a wallet-busting 12RMB/3KM. The stretch cabbies drive after that 3KM floor will be increased to 2.40RMB, from its original 2.10RMB per km. There was never a better time to learn how to ride the bus. more ›

Definitely welcome news to our ears, eyes and headspaces - the televisions streaming constant looping advertisements in the back of Shanghai's taxis are thankfully on the out. more ›

more ›