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Why I Probably Can't Be a Beijing Taxi Driver

Laura Robertson

CBN News

April 20, 2007

I remember being in Beijing in 2001 when they got the bid for the 2008 Olympics. Every cab driver was given an English tape to practice little phrases, like "hello" or "Where would you like to go?" Today, Beijing taxis must go to much greater lengths to ensure visitors have more comfortable cab rides.

Sometimes a headline is worth 1,000 words, and here are some of the headlines worldwide on the new regulations for Beijing taxi drivers: Beijing Bans Smelly Taxi Drivers, Taxi Drivers Given a Spit and Polish,  and the one closest to my heart: No Fare for Red Hair.

So what's the bottom line? With the Olympics just around the corner, Beijing taxi drivers are now being held to pretty high standards. Last Wednesday Beijing released a new 12-point code, which gives cab drivers some fairly strict codes for hygiene and manners. Today's the first day cabbies had to follow the new rules, and failure to do so can result in some serious consequences.

Beijing cab drivers serve "as a window to China's capital" according to Yao Kuo, vice-director of the municipal transport management bureau. As such, drivers must improve their personal hygiene and grooming habits.  Men are expected to have short, neat haircuts, and neat clothing.

Women can't wear chunky earrings, tight-fitting clothing, or brightly dyed yellow or red hair. They might let a natural redhead pass inspection, so I might have a fighting chance of survival, but I'm not counting on it.  Good thing that being a Beijing cab driver has never been one of my lifelong ambitions!

Drivers can no longer spit, smoke or litter while driving, and they're expected to pick up all passengers without overcharging them.  Failure to abide by these rules can result in a loss of license. Also, as of today, if a cab doesn't smell good, it's out of commission until things improve.

On the surface, these things sounds great.  Honestly, I wouldn't mind if cab drivers in the U.S. were required to brush their teeth after eating garlic. For that matter, I would be thrilled if some of these were requirements were part of a global mandate- imagine a world where nobody was allowed to have really bad body odor!  But, like all of the best intentions, there might be a few kinks in the plan.

For one, the new smell requirements might result in a huge rush to supply cabs with air fresheners that sometimes smell signfificantly worse than whatever aroma they're trying to mask. I guess, something is better than nothing, and better hygiene standards will get rid of some of the smells, but I'm not holding my breath.   Actually, in this case I probably should (author's apologies for the really bad joke)

Furthermore, chances are, the people most likely to be overcharged are the ones least capable of alerting the proper authorities. Who are the people most likely to be overcharged by mean cab drivers? Naive-looking tourists with their "I Climbed the Great Wall Tee-Shirts" and bags full of souvenirs.

And who are the people least likely to be aware of the new regulations, and least likely to be able to place a complaint in Chinese to the taxi association? The same tourists at the Pearl Market, Silk Market, or Dirt Market who are desperately trying to find their ways back to the hotel.

So, the moral of the story is that while Beijing taxis strive to be the cleanest, most pleasant vehicles in the world, it's quite possible that many of the intended beneficiaries of these regulations won't be able to enjoy them. On the other hand, for the typical Beijinger, the new standards might just be a welcome breath of fresh air.