DSAT to evaluate taxi services

In a move to address the ongoing taxi shortage in Macau, the city’s Transport Bureau (DSAT) has announced plans to launch a comprehensive study this year, focusing on the fleet’s capacity and service levels provided by both regular and special taxis. However, one key passenger concern, the alleged rudeness of many taxi drivers, will not be part of the evaluation.

According to a written response from the bureau’s director, Lam Hin San, to queries from lawmaker Ngan Iek Hang, service standards remain the responsibility of the taxi companies themselves. Taxi operators are legally required to provide training to drivers and monitor their behavior.

The DSAT has expressed support for the idea of taxi companies developing an online booking platform, either independently or through collaboration. However, Lam emphasized that the authorities would not accept passengers being charged excessive fees.

Macau’s current taxi fleet of 1,518 vehicles for a population of 700,000 is widely recognized as insufficient, leading to a drastic shortage of cabs and an inability to meet demand from both residents and the large numbers of tourists who swell the city’s population on weekends. To alleviate the problem, officials launched a public tender late last year, which is expected to put 500 new taxis on the streets in the coming months, although they acknowledge this may not be enough.

The lack of ride-hailing services such as Uber, which terminated operations in Macau in 2017 after a protracted legal battle with local authorities, has further exacerbated the city’s taxi shortage. Victoria Chan