国内英语新闻:Fare hike planned for Beijing taxis

BEIJING, Nov. 24 -- Taxi passengers in Beijing will have an extra yuan added to their fares. The move is meant to offset the city's rising fuel prices, as they hit their highest levels in years.

    The new taxi fare policy will begin this Wednesday on November 25, 2009. One yuan will be added to any trip exceeding 3 kilometers.

    Beijing will continue to work on linking taxi fares with gasoline prices.

    Meanwhile, most of local residents say they accept the surcharge.

    A local resident of Beijing said, "A one yuan surcharge won't affect me too much. I'm OK with it."

The new Beijing taxi fare policy will begin on Nov. 25, 2009. One yuan will be added to any trip exceeding 3 kilometers

    Another said, "Some Chinese provinces have already taken similar measures, such as Yunnan and Shandong. I think it's fine. We should do it."

    Taxi drivers have explained that the extra yuan will provide compensation for the increase in pump prices.

    A taxi driver in Beijing said, "If I serve 40 passengers a day, it will create an additional 40 yuan. That can help me cope with the recent fuel price rises. I don't think passengers will give up taking taxi just because of one yuan. But if the per kilometer fare rises, many will think differently."

    According to the new policy, the government, taxi companies, and passengers will share the cost of gasoline price fluctuations.

    Beijing last saw an increase in taxi fares three years ago.