Taxi fares in Taichung are to rise slightly as of May 15, the Taichung City Government said on Saturday.
Taxi fare meters are to be replaced starting from Sept. 1, it added.
The starting fee is to remain unchanged at NT$85, in line with the starting price of taxis in Tainan and Kaohsiung, while the remainder of the journey would be charged at NT$5 per 200m. Waiting time is to be charged at NT$5 for every 2 minutes.
After the new rate system takes effect, an average trip of 5km would result in a fare of NT$170, up 9.7 percent from the current NT$155.
The Taichung taxicab union has been requesting an increase since August last year to reflect rising retail and gasoline prices, but Taichung Transportation Bureau had refused to give it a green light until now.
The bureau said the increase should fall within a “reasonable range,” in view of the fact that taxi fares have not increased in nearly 11 years.
Taxi fares in Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan and Tainan have all been increased in recent months.
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