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Czech Taxis Get Upgrade?

Big news in the world of Czech taxis! Last week, Prague City Hall declared that taxis in the city would all have to be painted yellow, air-conditioned, and be no more than eight years old by 2009. Over the years, Prague taxis have accumulated a horrible reputation for rip-offs; the call-in services (Profitaxi, AAA) are much better, but most visitors aren't aware of them.

Prague taxi drivers agree with essentially none of the new rules.

Miroslav Žežulka, who runs Profitaxi, says the maximum age of the cars should also be more flexible. "It should depend on the car's condition, not on how old it is," he says. "There are 3- or 4-year-old cars out there that belong in the junkyard." The yellow color should be optional as well, he says.

OK, we can understand that. Maybe they'll have inspections instead of age restrictions, and they can always pick white instead of yellow as a color. Says another Czech taxi driver:

Every taxi operator should be able to set his own fare. The fare you set is part of your business strategy, and no one should interfere with that."

So, to review: In response to the new regulations, Czech taxi drivers want to add air-conditioning only if they can charge extra. Everything else, forget it. What a spirit of compromise!

[Image via So Cal Metro/Flickr]

Related Stories:
·   New Taxi Rules [Prague Post]