This has peeved several taxi drivers, who told TNP that their livelihood is at stake.
“This is very unfair,” said 50-year-old taxi driver A. L. Tan in
Mandarin when told of Uber’s airport surcharge.
“Uber is stealing our rice bowl. They don’t have to follow
LTA pricing, yet they are providing the same
service. Not only that, they don’t even need to wait in line under
the hot sun.”
Another taxi driver, who spoke to TNP on
condition of anonymity, said he is “outraged” at the current
situation.
The cabby, who is in his 60s, said the airport route is getting
unprofitable because of the queues and the fact that the airport is
usually far from their last drop-off point.
Said the cabby: “The $5 surcharge makes it profitable and I
don’t want it reduced. But now it may not be competitive.”
The National Taxi Association (NTA), which represents cabbies
here, wants LTA to look into the matter.
“Based on feedback from taxi drivers, many of them hope
LTA can ensure that competing services comply
with existing regulations on private hire vehicle,” said
NTA president Gerald Chan.
He also hopes that Uber drivers receive vocational training and
abide by LTA’s “strict set of service rules”,
similar to what taxi drivers have to go through.
Added Mr Chan: “Perhaps, LTA can consider
imposing similar requirements for drivers in these competing
services that cater to the public.”
But Mr Tang, who has nearly four years’ experience as a personal
chauffeur, disagrees that Uber services are encroaching into taxi
drivers’ territories.
Rather than price, he believes that customers prefer Uber
because of convenience and service quality.
All UberX and UberExec drivers have to be employed by a company
that already offers limousine services and have to be covered by
commercial insurance to be an Uber partner, said its spokesman.
“Because of our limousine background, we know how to be safe
drivers, how to provide good service and most of us can speak
English,” said Mr Tang, who drives a Toyota Wish.
He argued that taxi drivers have several ways to get passengers,
while UberX and UberExec drivers are not allowed to pick up
passengers who hail them and can only do so via the Uber app.
“Their concerns are unjustified. If taxi drivers are afraid of
losing business to us, they should look at their own qualities,”
said Mr Tang.
Taken from Asiaone.
Any comment on Mr Tang critics?
