Report: New Didi Dache Services Declared Illegal
In the latest saga of illegal/not illegal and car-booking services in Beijing, Didi Dache's "Didi Express" and "Didi Zhuanche" services, which allow private drivers to accept paying fares, have been declared illegal, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Unlicensed cars and drivers are not permitted to pick up and accept fares for passengers, whether they be private citizens just looking to make a bit of extra money, or "black taxi" drivers who drive professionally but without going through the official licensing procedures for taxis.
This isn't the first time some aspect of Didi Dache or Uber has been declared illegal. "This behavior of drivers without operating credentials is not only illegal, but also seriously affects the normal, orderly operation of taxis," said Liang Jianwei, spokesman of the Beijing Traffic Enforcement Unit, in an interview with Beijing Youth Daily in January.
"Beijing has 66,000 taxis, about the same number as it did 20 years ago. In that time, Beijing's population has doubled and the same can be said for many other Chinese cities. Of those 66,000, most are operated on licenses granted before 1994," Xinhua wrote. The demand for taxis has increased, as service has declined.
Although offices of car service Uber have been raided in other Chinese citiies, that company's operations in Beijing continue as normal for now. As such, take advantage of the People's Uber 12 percent discount for June.
Until you see the app disappear or taxis forcibly taken off the road, learn how to book yourself a taxi via Didi Dache or Uber with our guide here.
More stories by this author here.
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