As Beijing Restricts Private Taxi Drivers, Didi Users Are Left Waiting

On July 1, Beijing authorities announced a new policy restricting private taxi drivers from operating in the capital, as reported by SupChina. The rule states that aside from being a Beijing resident, drivers must have a proper taxi driver license as well as a local license on their vehicle.

Failure to meet these requirements will result in heavy fines starting at RMB30,000 – about USD4,500 – and possible detention of the vehicle. Any income acquired from the job may also be confiscated.

The intent is to ensure safety for passengers, with the Didi murder in May undoubtedly raising concerns regarding the vetting process for drivers.

This has directly affected the widely popular ride-hailing app Didi – both drivers and users. Many of the drivers are not Beijing residents and do not have proper licenses, deeming them unqualified. Since the installment of the policy, drivers have been hesitant to respond to any requests, leaving many Didi users waiting in long queues of 40 minutes or more.

Things are looking up for the city's yellow cabs, of course, which have not been happy with ride-sharing apps for quite some time now. Beijing's public transporation such as subways and buses are also surely reaping the benefits.

[Top image via China Daily]