Uber's Beitou Motorcycle Transport Service Plan Faces US$790,000 Fine Threat
Ride-hailing giant Uber is eyeing a trial service for motorcycle taxis in the hillside town of Beitou, modeled after the area's decades-old local tradition. However, Taiwan’s transportation ministry warns the plan is illegal, as current regulations only permit four-wheeled vehicles for commercial transport. Uber could face fines up to US$790,000 if the unauthorized pilot plan goes forward.
Motorcycles weave through winding roads in Taipei’s hillside hot spring district, Beitou. Historically, locals here have relied on moto-taxis to get around and to have food delivered to their door, all to avoid walking up and down the hills.
The six-decade-old service is now being eyed by Taiwan’s largest ride-hailing platform, Uber, which has been looking to do a service trial.
One local cultural NGO supports the service.
Lin Kuan-hung (TAIWAN ART COOPERATION PHILANTHROPIC ASSOC.):
[These motorcycle riders] are based in Beitou and have lived here for a long time. They know a lot about the culture and history here. They can even take odd jobs, such as a tour guide.
Some tourists also say it will be more convenient to have another ride option.
We’re getting older. It’ll definitely be better to get a ride there. It’s more convenient. It’ll save us a lot of walking.
But the plan seems to have hit a regulatory roadblock. The transportation ministry says transport businesses are only allowed to use licensed cars and buses. If Uber goes through with its plan, it could be fined up to 790 thousand US dollars.
Hu Ti-chi (PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & SUPERVISION DEPT., TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY):
Current regulations for the taxi transport industry only allow four-wheeled cars for service. Two-wheeled vehicles are forbidden.
Responding to the ministry, Uber says it’s still assessing the service’s feasibility. And the Taipei City Government is also being called to advise and control local unlicensed ride services. But cutting out the informal motorcycle rideshare economy of Beitou may prove to be an uphill battle.
Patrick Chen and Irene Lin for TaiwanPlus.
