Jane Lai

THE first batch of 500 red and yellow taxis started offering a flag fall — or minimum fare — of 10 yuan (US$1.5) for the first two kilometers in Shenzhen yesterday, with all cabs taking turns to adopt the new fare by Nov. 24.

Previously, the flag fall price was 12.5 yuan for the first three kilometers, but the new plan allows a charge of 30 percent empty return fee for distances beyond 25 kilometers between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. The mileage fee remains at 2.4 yuan per kilometer.

Although passengers taking taxis for distances less than two kilometers could save 2.5 yuan, some said they were disappointed with the new fare plan.

“The new price is still too high for residents and the new plan will only benefit those that take a taxi for distances within two kilometers, which obviously cover a very small percentage of the overall number of passengers,” Yu Xingjun, a retired doctor, said yesterday.

Most taxi drivers were not sure about the impact of the new plan so far. They said over 50 percent of customers paid more than the flag fall price, but very few passengers took a taxi for distances beyond 25 kilometers.

Some taxi drivers commented the only way to benefit residents was to urge taxi companies to lower taxi rental fees, so that the drivers would not pass on the high costs to their passengers.

There are 13,000 taxis, including green taxis, running on the city’s roads.