Fare rise is partial solution

Taxi fares in Beijing look set to be raised not just the starting price and per-kilometer charge, but also the charge for waiting time.

No party is happy with the situation at present. Cabbies are cursing their low pay and high levies, customers complain about the difficulty of finding a cab, and even the government-protected monopoly - the taxi companies - are crying foul.

The proposed hike in fares is said to be an all-win solution, but whether higher fares will proportionally increase the incomes of taxi drivers and at the same time ease the difficulties people face in getting a taxi during rush hours remains to be seen.