Taxi drivers face stiff competition from illegal mini-vans

Abu Mustapha, a 60-year-old taxi driver, says he has to work twice as hard as he did 20 years ago to earn a living for his family. “I’m forced to work day and night,” he said. “I used to get more customers, but because of competition from illegal van drivers, I’m able to get half the passengers I got four years ago.” Abu Mustapha, like his fellow taxi drivers, complains that the competition enjoys an unfair advantage vis-à-vis fuel prices. “The government isn't helping us out with rising fuel prices,” he said. “And the illegal taxis and mini-vans run on banned – but cheaper – diesel oil.” In 2003, the government banned diesel-fuelled taxis and mini-vans in an effort to reduce air pollution. The ban worked for a time, establishing regular inspections and issuing fines for offenders. According to Ali Muhieddine, head of the Taxi Drivers' Union at the time, the daily consumption of diesel oil was reduced from around 3,700,000 litres to 700,000 litres per day. Nevertheless, large diesel-fuelled vans continue to operate as taxis. “If they were concerned for the environment, they should have banned all diesel vehicles, including the big busses and vans that can accommodate up to 24 passengers,” said Muhieddine. Taxi drivers say that the larger vehicles – which can offer lower fares – end up taking the lion’s share of business. “Poor people prefer to ride in mini-vans, which cost half as much as taxis,” said Abu Mustapha, who, like many drivers, pays the equivalent of $13 a day to rent his taxi. Mini-van drivers, meanwhile, are unrepentant. Ali Awada, sitting proudly behind the wheel of his diesel-fuelled van, justified his taxi service: “Mini-vans save money for poor people,” he said. “If the government doesn't take care of its own citizens, then we, as citizens, should take care of each other.” Awada went on to point out that mini-van drivers also tended to be quite poor. “We work hard, until the late hours of the night, to be able to earn a few cents,” he said. “We can’t survive if we work on regular fuel, because we would have to spend our small profits on gasoline.” According to Jihad Ashi of the transportation ministry’s media office, a plan aimed at regulating illegal taxi services was recently forwarded to the cabinet for review.