Taxi Industry "Declining Taxi Revenue Threatens Livelihood"
Full Review of Call Bus Operations Planned for Expansion After Negotiations with Taxi Industry
Cheonan City in Chungnam started the 'Cheonan Call Bus,' which begins operation when passengers call without fixed routes or schedules, but expansion was halted after four months due to opposition from the taxi industry.
In December last year, the city designed the call bus service area targeting about 8㎢ around Jiksan-eup, covering a total of 89 stops between the 2nd and 4th Industrial Complexes, Jiksan Station, and Seobuk-gu Office, and began a pilot operation.
This is a measure to increase operational efficiency by flexibly converting routes in vulnerable areas with low public transportation demand. During the pilot operation period, the number of users increased by about 80 per day, exceeding the original plan, showing high public response.
Accordingly, since January, the city has further expanded the operation of the 'Cheonan Call Bus' in the Jiksan-eup area. The expanded area includes Chungnam Technopark, Sangdeok-ri, Majung-ri, Yangdang-ri, covering 7.5㎢ with 26 stops, totaling 15.5㎢ and 115 stops.
Encouraged by the high public response, the city planned to expand the service to Seongnam-myeon and Susin-myeon in Dongnam-gu in the first half of this year, but the taxi industry blocked the plan.
Individual taxi drivers and the National Transport Service Industry Union have demanded the withdrawal of the call bus pilot project and the complete cancellation of the expansion plan, holding rallies in front of Cheonan City Hall since the 1st.
They raised their voices, saying, "The introduction of the Cheonan Call Bus reduces taxi profits and threatens our livelihoods," and "We will fight to protect our livelihoods until the project is withdrawn."
They also criticized, "The taxi industry operates rural taxis in Gwangdeok at costs less than one-third of bus expenses," and "The city is pushing the taxi industry's livelihoods to the brink to provide unfair benefits to the bus industry."
The city reached an agreement after three rounds of negotiations with individual taxi drivers and the National Transport Service Industry Union, focusing on reconsidering the additional expansion of the 'Call Bus.'
The agreement includes △ maintaining operation of five Jiksan call buses currently running △ full reconsideration of the planned call bus expansion △ sufficient consultation with local conditions, citizens, bus industry, and taxi industry when expanding pick-up taxis or rural taxi businesses.
Mayor Park Sang-don said, "We will resolve conflicts with the taxi industry caused by the call bus operation as soon as possible and simultaneously provide satisfactory public transportation services to all citizens," adding, "We will strive to encourage active participation and commitment from related industries for this."
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