Secondly, make sure that the cabs working Taipei City have passed some type of safety inspection. About two days ago I was in one where the drivetrain and rear end were about to fall out.
Finally, ensure that cabbies have passed some type of physical. About two weeks ago, I made the mistake of getting in a cab whose driver was old enough that palsy had set in and he was all over the road.
Those three things would go much further towards improving Taipei's cab service than would some plan to allow the cabbies to tack on an extra 20 percent to foreign passengers. I speak harshly and quickly against this plan because the City of Taipei has a proven history of lame- brained plans to "internationalize" the city. It started with former mayor (and now president) Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) program to create a unique system of romanization for Taipei, followed by Mayor Ma's new street numbering system. Both of those programs were idiotic. This latest plan is worse. It is both idiotic and racist.
Brian Kennedy is an attorney who writes and teaches on criminal justice and human rights issues.
RSS