Taxi group in Osaka Pref. considering fare hike
Archiveless Gomiuri Shimbun
The Osaka Taxi Cab Association, comprising 151 taxi firms in Osaka Prefecture, is considering raising fares in response to demands from taxi firms whose drivers are making less money every year.
To prepare for the fare hike application with the Kinki District Transport Bureau by the end of March 2006, the association members will hold their first meeting on the issue Wednesday. Should the Construction and Transport Ministry approve the fare hike, it will be the first increase since regulations concerning taxi fares and the number of taxis were eased in 2002.
The association members agreed to band together in spite of the cutthroat competition within the industry to apply for the fare hike because the average income of taxi drivers in the prefecture has decreased every year.
They hope to increase the current starting fare of 660 yen for the first two kilometers by a few tens of yen.
As of the end of September, there were 17,228 taxis belonging to 182 taxi firms in the prefecture.
The ministry examines applications for fare hikes made by taxi firms in the region only if their taxis exceed 70 percent of taxis in the region. In Osaka Prefecture, firms are required to have 12,000 taxis to be considered for a fare hike.
