Image: South China Morning Post

Hong Kong taxi industry leaders and Uber have both voiced concerns over a looming quota for ride-hailing vehicles, despite transport authorities promising to consult stakeholders before settling on a figure.

The concerns were raised in response to the Transport and Logistics Bureau’s submission to lawmakers on Monday regarding regulatory details, which cited suggestions that between 10,000 and 15,000 permits should be issued.

Transport minister Mable Chan told lawmakers a day later that the administration had yet to express a preference for a specific figure.

The government earlier pledged to include a quota limit in the final gazetted document, pending lawmakers’ approval before their summer recess in mid-July.

The proposed ride-hailing regime aims to rectify a regulatory vacuum in which platforms such as Uber, Tada, Amap and Didi Chuxing currently operate – a situation decried by cabbies as unfair. Amap is operated by Alibaba Group Holding, which also owns the South China Morning Post.

Three major taxi groups told the SCMP that the quota would have far-reaching effects on the market.

“[Ride-hailing service providers] are supposed to help us serve the people better, not replace us,” Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus Association chairman Tran Chau said.

Source: South China Morning Post

Click Here to Read More

NYC's In-House Program Proves Speed Governors Work

“We now can design a vehicle that won’t speed. We don’t have to depend on the driver doing the right thing,” Keith Kerman, a deputy commissioner with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, told Streetsblog in an interview. “We’re not asking anything except to follow the law.” 

Click Here to Read More

Zoox Expands US Footprint: New Robotaxis in Miami and Austin

Zoox robotaxis are rapidly expanding their presence across the US, with growth in Las Vegas and San Francisco and planned rollouts in Miami and Austin

Click Here to Read More

Uber Has Always Wanted to Be More Than a Ride; Now It Has Reason to Hurry

Two weeks ago, Uber held its annual GO-GET product event in New York and announced something its executives had been circling for a long time: Users in the U.S. can now book hotels inside the Uber app, through a partnership with Expedia Group, with access to more than 700,000 properties worldwide.

Click Here to Read More

Calgary Is About to End Free Downtown Transit. This Councillor Wants to Expand It Citywide

City councillors voted at committee in favour of killing the downtown free fare zone, putting the decision on track for a final debate and vote on May 26. City administration and transit officials touted the $5 million in additional revenue, and purported new tools to crack down on social disorder. They also acknowledged that while this measure may reduce social disorder on LRT lines, it would likely lead to displacement, not elimination of social disorder issues.

Click Here to Read More

BYD Trucks Receives Transport Canada Approval

Build Your Dreams (BYD) Canada announced its zero-emission, battery-electric trucks are officially available to import into Canada for sale and operation. The announcement was made upon receiving confirmation of compliance with Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (CMVSR) and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS), and inclusion on the “Vehicle Manufacturers Registry” with Transport Canada.

Click Here to Read More

World’s First Piloted Hydrogen-Electric Helicopter Circuit Flight Completed in Canada

The latest phase of Project Proticity, led by the Canadian Unither Bioélectronique together with the Californian chopper maker Robinson Helicopter Company marked another impressive world first. The modified hydrogen-electric R44 successfully completed an entire airport traffic circuit in Quebec, confirming the performance of its PEM fuel-cell-battery architecture, and coming closer to the ultimate goal of bringing a fully certified hydrogen-electric helicopter to the market.

Click Here to Read More

‘A Long Road Ahead’: Could Community Car-Sharing Help UK Hit Climate Targets?

In the aftermath of the Covid pandemic Miriam Stoate, a regenerative farmer from rural Leicestershire, noticed that too many people in her small village in England’s East Midlands were struggling to get around. Although there were plenty of cars parked in Tilton, too often she found some of the village’s residents did not have access to one when they really needed it.

Click Here to Read More

Oxfordshire Transport Boss Andrew Gant Standing Down

Oxfordshire's controversial transport boss, who ushered in major changes, including the congestion charge, zero emission and 20 mph zones, is stepping down. After a four-year tenure, Councillor Andrew Gant (Lib Dem) will step away from his county council post as cabinet member for transport management.

Click Here to Read More

Railway Expansion and Transparency Central to Vitézy’s Transport Plans

Hungary faces major challenges in transport policy, incoming Minister of Transport and Investment Dávid Vitézy said during his parliamentary confirmation hearing on Monday, outlining an ambitious agenda focused on railway development, infrastructure renewal, and restoring access to European Union funding.

Click Here to Read More

Maharashtra Govt Orders Shutdown of Unauthorized Bike Taxi Apps Run by Ola, Uber, Rapido

Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Tuesday directed the cyber crime department of the police to shut down unauthorized bike taxi apps of aggregators such as Ola, Uber and Rapido, and register cases against the owners of these firms. Bike taxis are not allowed to operate in the state. In a letter addressed to the Additional Director General of Police (Cyber Crime) and copied to the Director General of Police, Sarnaik said several unauthorized bike taxi services have been operating in the state without mandatory permissions.

Click Here to Read More

Cape Town Commuters Brace for Looming Taxi Fare Hike

Commuters in Cape Town say they are bracing for higher transport costs following the latest fuel price increase as taxi drivers warn of coming fare hikes. Recent increases are already hurting the bottom line for taxi operators.

Click Here to Read More

Driverless Robo-Taxi Launched at Quba Mosque Amazes Pilgrims

A driverless robo-taxi service has been introduced at Quba Mosque in Madinah, surprising pilgrims and worshippers with its advanced technology. Saudi authorities said the initiative is part of a broader strategy to provide modern, safe and environmentally friendly transportation while supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

Click Here to Read More

Asher Moses, Founder and Chief Executive of Sherbet, and IATR President Matt Daus

The chairman of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) has warned the London taxi trade is facing a critical period of change as rising costs and the loss of financial support threaten the future size of the capital’s black cab fleet.

Writing in TAXI Newspaper, Paul Brennan said: “We are clearly in a period of transition for the London taxi trade,” adding that drivers now need “practical support to maintain a strong, reliable fleet”.

According to Brennan, around 1,800 licensed taxis are expected to reach the end of their licensing age limit over the next two years, creating uncertainty around how many drivers will remain in the industry and how quickly vehicles can be replaced.

He said some drivers will look to buy newer taxis while others may choose to retrofit existing vehicles to Euro 6 emissions standards using the recently available HJS conversion for TX4 models. However, Brennan warned many drivers may instead decide to leave the trade altogether.

“Rising costs, uncertainty, and the price of replacement vehicles have pushed many to that point,” Brennan wrote. “Every time a driver leaves, our fleet shrinks further.”

The LTDA chairman pointed to the ending of previous grant funding in March as a major concern for drivers weighing up whether to continue operating. Brennan said the industry had “successfully fought hard to retain funding for way beyond its original lifespan”, despite support being reduced over time.

Since the grant ended, Brennan said he has continued lobbying for a replacement scheme that better reflects current financial pressures facing drivers. “The truth is that we need a replacement scheme that helps drivers remain in the trade”

Source: Taxi Point

Click Here to Read More

RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP FOR 2026:

Weekly news snippets

Access to the membership database

Videos and files from recent conferences

Discounted rates for future conferences, and more!

Renew your membership at http://www.iatr.global or email info@iatr.global for any questions!