Yellow taxis’ contract at risk of failing to meet demands

The license granted to Vang Iek Radio Taxi, the company running the so-called yellow taxis in Macau, might not be renewed. They are reportedly failing to comply with demands, said Kou Kun Pang, who currently serves as the convenor of two ad hoc groups in the Traffic Consultative Committee, which gathered yesterday at the Transport Bureau (DSAT) for a meeting.
Kou Kun Pang told reporters that data on the yellow taxis’ service index, which focuses on their ability to respond to customers’ calls, was presented yesterday during the meeting. Figures showed that the number of calls to request a taxi and the number of taxis that were provided were not satisfactory.
“The committee was not satisfied with these numbers. The number of [taxis responding to requests made via telephone calls] was really low,” he said.
Figures on the number of calls that actually reached the taxi company’s call centre also failed to impress. The license of the yellow taxis, which is due to expire in November, is thus at risk of not being renewed, Kou Kun Pang told reporters. He added that the committee has already suggested that DSAT establish “a contingency plan” if Vang Iek does not envisage its licence being renewed.
Last February, the government extended Vang Iek’s license for nine more months, stipulating specific rules and new conditions. These included the fact that the company could only run 40 taxis operating normally, and that they could only take passengers within Macau’s streets. However, sixty percent of these taxis would have to operate on an on-call basis, which therefore means that they are not allowed to take passengers who attempt to hail them. Citizens have nonetheless complained of difficulties in requesting a yellow taxi via their call center.
Asked about the Facebook group Macau Taxi Driver Shame, an initiative which has also prompted the creation of the Macau Taxi Passengers Association (MTPA), Kou Kun Pang said he was not informed of this.
The Facebook group was intended to help fix taxi problems in Macau and this initiative has the same objective. Several Macau citizens have joined the Facebook group and keep posting both positive and negative experiences about city-based taxi services. They have also created a black and white list, hoping to cast bad drivers out of the industry.
Macau’s government is currently reviewing regulations on the taxi industry and has also launched a public consultation. One of the measures currently under discussion is the addition of CCTV systems in the taxis, as well as the introduction of undercover agents who could supervise taxi services.
“Some of the taxi drivers expressed concerns regarding the undercover agents. They feel it’s an unfair situation for them. But, in my opinion, this will not be something bad for the drivers. Actually, what we are planning is to protect them, by casting out unqualified drivers, and maintaining those who are clean, so we can have a healthy environment for taxi drivers,” said Kou Kun Pang.
The government is also soon due to revise the price to acquire a special taxi license. The members of the committee support the increase the MOP1 million bid to MOP2 million to operate dial-a-cab licenses.