Bob- Yo Taxi!
I'm sorry if you perceived my words to be somehow
offensive, and I'd appreciate it if you would accept my appology.
Bob -
Your appology is whole-heartedly excepted. Thank you, I can ask no more from the written word, though I'd let you buy me a beer, if you were near :^)
I was annoyed by the fact that you wrote this on the first line, where anyone purising the thread might see it.
Jim, I think that you are taking a giant mental leap here.
Subject forgotten...
One of my main reasons for believing in Taxi Cabs in China (which DWSC
rents) is the fact, I lived in Taiwan and saw an amazing amount of Taxi Cabs. This is a country that got it start after the end of the Korean War. It's done al right for itself in such a short time span. Granted it was based on Free enterprise. (Oil, Gas, Power the exception held by the Govt.)
Though for an island, with a couuple of major cities (all of which are small when compared to China's Major cities) Taiwan's has 170,000 cabbies.
la.ccchome.com
That's a very large number for it's size......
Though Taking a cab for the first time, can be scarier than the badest Roller Coster you've ever been on. After a while you begin to understand that Beep Beep, means I see you I won't hit you..
Afer a while it's fun and soon your saying Quady Quady Pon-yo.
One car rental Agency Income over 1 -3 years in Tai Chung, Taiwan (my old stomping Ground (I use "stomping" to protect the innocent)
fakeindy.linkease.com.tw
fakeindy.linkease.com.tw
________________________________
TAXI DRIVERS TAIWAN
These profiles can be freely distributed but cannot be sold or used for profit. Citations from the Global
Prayer Digest should include the following address: 1605 Elizabeth St, Pasadena, CA 91104. Send your
comments about the Nance Profiles.
The following is taken from the 2/11/83 issue of
GLOBAL PRAYER DIGEST
Frontier Fellowship, Inc., P.O. Box 90970, Pasadena, CA 91104
PLEAD WITH GOD FOR THE HIDDEN PEOPLES
Horns blare their uncompromising warning to thoughtless
pedestrians during Taiwan's rush hour. One taxi swerves to
miss a large boulder and comes within inches of another cab
coming up on his blind side. Both relieved and furious, the
two cab drivers glare and shout at each other.
In Taiwan, taxis are an indispensable means of transportation. Cars are too expensive to own for all except the wealthiest. Especially in the crowded cities, even those who could afford a car often choose to use public transportation and taxicabs because of the special skills needed to maneuver safely during rush hour. Chaotic traffic and intense competition make the life of a cab driver full of
stress. While most cab drivers are hard-working, honest people, there has been an increase of crime committed by drivers as well as by passengers. Citizens have grown increasingly dissatisfied with the taxi service. As a result (according to the China Post) the government of Taiwan has instituted greater controls on taxi cab drivers and their companies.
Who will share with Taiwan's cab drivers the true peace and rest found in Jesus Christ?
Pray that God will raise up an effective witness among the cab drivers of Taiwan. Pray that Taiwanese Christians will begin reaching out to this neglected group.
______________________________
Even if there were "a few thousand more of these pictures", they would only represent a small fraction of the roads needed to create a "road-based" transportation infrastructure.
I'm glad you took the time to add up those km, but I went over to our friends? the CIA, and poked around.
In 1990 ther were 102,000 miles of Paved Hiways in China and 515,400 miles of unpaved.
The following gives some comparisions to other countries:
odci.gov
China
Highways:
total: 1.029 million km
paved: 170,000 km 102,000 miles
unpaved: 859,000 km (1990 est.) 515,400 miles
Canada
Highways:
total: 849,404 km
paved: 297,291 km (including 15,983 km of expressways)
unpaved: 552,113 km (1991 est.)
Mexico
total: 245,433 km
paved: 88,601 km (including 4,286 km of expressways)
unpaved: 156,832 km (1993 est.)
Italy
Highways:
total: 305,388 km (including 45,076 km major roads, 112,111 km secondary roads, 6,301 km
motorways)
paved: 271,674 km
unpaved: 33,714 km (1991 est.)
US
Highways:
total: 6,284,488 km
paved: 5,574,341 km (in 1991, included 85,267 km of expressways)
unpaved: 710,147 km (1993 est.)
France
Highways:
total: 1,511,200 km
paved: 811,200 km (including 7,700 km of expressways)
unpaved: 700,000 km (1992 est.)
note: includes Corsica
Here is some more information on Taxis in China.
asia1.com.sg
Travelling around the cities
Bus:
In Shanghai, buses are packed and at times, impossible to board.
When on the bus, remember to keep your valuables out of sight as
pickpockets are rampant and very skillful. Buses 1 to 199 operate
from 5am to 11pm. Buses in the 200 and 400 series are peak-hour
buses, which means they do not operate any other time except
during peak hours. The 300 series buses provide all-night service.
The buses in Nanjing, are not as packed, but they are quite scarce
too, which means you may not be able to find the bus to bring you to
your destination.
asia1.com.sg
Taxi Moving Around Beijing And Tianjin
It is generally not difficult to get a cab in the two cities, except
during dinnertime (6pm to 8pm) and the afternoon nap time (1pm to
2pm). Most taxis are metered but if you get into one without a
meter, make sure you negotiate the price before taking the cab. It
is generally cheaper if you say beforehand that you do not need an
official receipt. Most taxi-drivers do not speak English, so get the
hotel staff or a friend to write down the destination in Chinese.
The Rickshaw came into being at
the beginning of this century. At that time
you were quite a somebody if you could
offord a rickshaw. "Rickshaw Xiangzi",
written by the famous writer Lao
She.vividly depicted a rickshaw man and
his fascinating story. If you take a
rickshaw, you could feel that you return
to Beijing in the old days. But nowadays
hiring a pedi-cab is generally more
expensive than taking a taxi. Anyway,
taking a pedi-cab can get you a feeling of
Old Beijing and is worthwhile having the
breeze touching your face.
www-students.unisg.ch
traffic in Shanghai is one enormous nightmare! Traffic jams are frequent, so reserve enough time to go to some place.
There are two kinds of Taxis. The smaller version is not air-conditioned, and has anti-robbery partitions. The
larger, more comfortables have air-conditioning. Prices range from USD 0.15-0.20 per kilometer. It definitely helps if you know where you want to go and can give the driver directions (use a map!)
A taxi from the airport to Nanjinglu or the Bund costs about USD 5 (if you take a red mini-cab instead of a Volkswage Sedan.)
Short List of taxis
hpis.com
Again Um-Goy-(Sigh) Bob
Jim Wilkinson |
