Taxicabs of Mexico

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Main article: Taxicabs by country
Mexican Volkswagen Sedán taxi

Taxicabs of Mexico is a form of public transport in Mexico, notably at Mexico City, with very low fares compared to that in more economically developed countries (about 90% lower). Is estimated to be a fleet of more than 100,000 taxis,[1] making it the biggest taxicabs fleet in the world.

History

Modern taxicabs in the country had their origin in 1970, when the government took measures in order to give Mexico City an affordable, cheap and small taxi transport, instead of the big cars used through the 50's and 60's. The Volkswagen Sedán (Beetle type 1) was the car selected to serve as taxicabs. They were coloured with yellow panels and white roofs. During the late 70's, however, other automobiles started to run as taxis, such as the Nissan Tsuru and the Datsun 160J. Sometime in the early 90's, government decided to change taxi and other public transport such as Peseros panel colour to green, in order to give an impression of "ecologic transport". VWs started to be called "taxis ecológicos" (ecological taxis) despite the engine emissions weren't modified at all. Soon, very few yellow taxis were running by the city. Nowadays, it is still possible to see some of them occasionally. In 2003, government decided to change once more the colours of the taxicabs, and finally, retire the old 2-door VWs and replace them with 4-door saloons or subcompacts, such as the Nissan Platina and the Hyundai Atos. The colour would change to a full white coloured car with a red stripe on both sides of the panels. A few years later, in September 2008, the government decided to change the colours once again, this time the taxis are maroon with golden rooftops and a row of the city symbol, the Angel of Independence. However, VW Beetles are still very common, at a point that are probably the most popular taxicab in the country.

Regulation

It is common for Mexican taxicab drivers to heavily customize their vehicles

In Mexico City, according to Mexican legislation introduced in 2001, public taxicabs (in contrast with private taxicabs, or 'taxis de sitio') must be 4-door red cars, with a white roof. Before 2001 most taxicabs were green Volkswagen Beetles with a white roof. They had the front-right seat removed in order to ease entry for passengers. Originally they were yellow with white roof, until they were changed in mid-90s (allegedly because of yellow color being the official color of the Partido de la Revolución Democrática who at the time was competing for the newly created position of Head of Government of the Federal District with the Partido Revolucionario Institucional which is mostly identified with the green. Officially it was to identify green taxicabs as environmentally-friendly 'ecológicos', but they are exactly the same polluting Volkswagen Beetles. As in most of the world a special license must be obtained in order to run a taxicab.

However, due to the increasing demand for public taxicabs, and the difficulties and cost of obtaining such license, there are many illegal 'pirata' taxis. These look like common taxis, but lack the legal and regulatory requirements to carry fare-paying passengers. Pirata taxis pose a higher security risk for passengers due to the lack of background checks for drivers, and can be distinguished because they carry a regular private vehicle licence plate (which is brown in the format XXX-YYY where X a number and Y a letter) or have a number drawn or printed in place of a licence plate instead of a taxicab licence plate (which is in the format LXXXXXX where X is a number). These pirate taxis are common throughout the city due to government's failure to enforce the regulations. Indeed, sanctions have been threatened by the trade unions, and others, should there be any clampdown on the illegal taxis.[2][3][4]

Security Recommendations when taking taxis in Mexico

The US Department of State claims that "Robberies and assaults on passengers in taxis are frequent and violent in Mexico, with passengers subjected to beating, shooting, and sexual assault. U.S. citizens visiting Mexico should avoid taking any taxi not summoned by telephone or contacted in advance. When in need of a taxi, telephone a radio taxi or "sitio" (regulated taxi stand – pronounced "C-T-O"), and ask the dispatcher for the driver's name and the taxi's license plate number. Ask the hotel concierge or other responsible individual to write down the license plate number of the cab that you entered"[5]

Taxi users in Mexico can now find the closest "sitio" taxis, verify if a cab is official and notify their friends and/or family by using Taxiaviso, this free service allows taxi users to distinguish between good and bad taxis. They can also order a safe cab with an app such as Yaxi.[6]

Cars which commonly serve as taxis in Mexico

Trivia

Matchbox launched in 2004 a 1:64 scale model of the taxi, released as "Beetle taxi".

References

  1. ↑ http://www.setravi.df.gob.mx/wb/stv/estadisticas
  2. ↑ "Estrenan `Panteras` nueva personalidad", February 13, 2005
  3. ↑ "Amenazan transportistas con medidas de presión si hay operativo contra taxis piratas", June 28, 2002
  4. ↑ "Acusan taxistas extorsión en operativos de PGJDF", September 4, 2003
  5. ↑ http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html
  6. ↑ http://www.yaxi.mx/

External links

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