Moscow to get rid of unofficial taxis

Link copied to clipboard

Published: 01 April, 2010, 21:37

TAGS: Russia, Terrorism, Law, Vehicles, Prime Time Russia, Economy

City authorities are declaring war on unregistered taxi drivers after reports on tenfold fare-hikes right after the terrorist attacks in Moscow.

Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov has called for the unofficial taxi industry to be regulated by federal law.

He claims the capital’s gypsy-cab drivers do not pay taxes and thereby enlarge the black market, forcing legal companies out of business.

However, winning the market back might pose a certain challenge.

The most conservative statistics suggest that at least half of Moscow’s taxis are gypsy cabs. Therefore, experts say, the city needs nearly 25,000 official taxi cars – just to be able to compete.

Apart from that, gypsy cabs have become an important part of Moscow life and an indispensable feature of the city culture. Unlike registered taxi drivers, gypsy ones readily negotiate the price, and in most cases you do not have to wait for you car at all.

“I would not like to see them go,” British expat Sam Gerrans told RT. “I like the fact that there is always a human element – you can negotiate with people.”

Last but not least, doing away with unregistered taxis will leave a lot of people without an additional source of income.