Taxis by country
Consequently, there is some variation in the types of cars used as taxis, although the Tofaş Şahin (including the licensed version produced by Nasr) and Hyundai Accent predominate.
The prime exception is in Cairo, where a new class of taxis with a different livery (white with a black checkered band around the middle) have electronic meters installed and used.
In most other cases, the price of a journey is generally determined through negotiation or bargaining between the passenger and driver, either just after the cab is hailed or just after the destination is reached.
Both systems have a yellow sign on top of the car which says "Taxi" in Hebrew and English and the identification number, which illuminates as the driver turns on his vehicle's headlights.
Due to low costs of fuel and fairly high purchasing power parity in Oman, taxicabs are extremely cheap when compared to other parts of the world, even in the engaged mode.
In smaller towns and villages, taxicabs are generally unregulated and may consist of a bike with a carriage, or more commonly, motorcycles with extensions that allow three people to sit in the rear.
[13] The pulled rickshaw, first imported from Japan in 1870, was a popular form of transport for many years, peaking at more than 7,000 in the early part of the 20th century.
Taxis and all other commercial vehicles have a yellow number plate so charging taxes and toll on highways are easier for the officials.
[citation needed] Taxicabs began to be popular in Jakarta from the early 1970s operated by Bluebird with cars such as the Datsun 220C, Holden Torana, and Toyota Corona.
Before the start of local car production, the Mercedes-Benz 200, Mazda 323/Ford Laser, Toyota Mark II X80 series and the Opel Kadett were used.
Most taxicabs have yellow colored license plates, taxi signs, LTFRB Registration number, and taximeter, which is mandatory in every cab.
[29] Taxis in larger cities are widely metered with fares generally based on distances and now more commonly with surcharges for times in slow and stopped traffic.
[citation needed] Throughout the 1990s in Taipei, violent clashes resulting from traffic disputes broke out between rival taxi companies.
[30] After two major murders in late 1996, Yao Kao-chiao, the director-general of the National Police Agency, said that his daughter would not dare to ride in taxis.
[39][40] After this finding, an amendment to the Highway Act was passed in December 2016, increasing the fines levied on illegal taxi service operators.
[45] A 2019 amendment to Article 103-1 of the Transportation Management Regulations, dubbed the "Uber clause," barred rideshare companies from forming partnerships with vehicle rental agencies.
Drivers for such services do not have to use yellow vehicles, and are paid a metered fare, but passengers must use an app to make initial contact.
There are also taxis in Phuket, Chiang Mai, Samui, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Chonburi using similar cars as in Bangkok.
Mercedes has remained the archetypal taxi ever since, although other makes such as Volvo (especially estate models) and Volkswagen Audi Group (VAG) brands are also common.
[citation needed] An important event in the history of the taxi was the invention of the taximeter by Friedrich Wilhelm Gustav Bruhn, a German engineer, in 1891.
[citation needed] Although allowed, street hailing is relatively uncommon in Germany because cabs rarely circle the cities when vacant.
Although this has proven to be more economical for cab drivers, it is considered very inconvenient for commuters because taxis include the ride from the waiting station to the pickup point in the fare.
In September 2006 a nationwide taxi fare system was introduced so that charges no longer depend on the county or city council area.
[60] They use white, brand new Ford C-Max[61] or Volkswagen Touran models,[62] allow passengers to pay for the trip using a credit card, use tablet computers instead of radio to communicate, and the drivers have special uniforms.
Cheap taxis in Lithuania mostly use older high-end vehicles such as Volkswagen Passat (B4) or Audi A6 (C4) instead of the Chevrolet Spark or similar.
[65] The Mercedes-Benz E-classes is the most common new cab, with the hybrid Toyota Prius in second place, the latter having increased its sales due to the tax regime favoring low carbon dioxide emissions.
However, London's black cabs, known historically and legally as hackney carriages, are particularly notable for their vehicles and the extensive training course (The Knowledge) required for fully licensed drivers.
Licensed vehicles will normally have an ID plate at the rear, and sometimes also at the front, which shows information such as the licence number, expiry date, and how many passengers it may carry.
[76] Originally taxis were yellow with a white roof, until they were changed in the mid-1990s (allegedly because yellow was the official colour of the Partido de la Revolución Democrática, which at the time was competing for the newly created Mexican District governancy with the Partido Revolucionario Institucional, which is mostly identified with green colour; officially it was to identify green taxicabs as environmentally-friendly ecológicos, even though they were the same polluting Volkswagen Beetles[citation needed]).
Today, most models are Chevrolet Corsa and Fiat Siena, with retrofitted or factory-built NGV engines, which means much lower fuel costs than gasoline.
