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dairyairy
Joined: 17 May 2012
Location: South Korea
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 Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 2:30 pm Post subject: Keep an eye on this: Possible bus strike this week |
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http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2962543&cloc=joongangdaily|home|newslist1
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Bus drivers call for strike if taxis designated public
Bill would dip into same funds that support other forms of transportation Nov 19,2012
With legislation to designate taxis as public transportation, alongside buses and subways, in process at the National Assembly, bus drivers, unions and companies raised a loud outcry, threatening a nationwide strike this week.
The National Association of Bus Companies stated yesterday that it will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow with representatives of the nation�s 17 cities and provinces to discuss countermeasures against passing the bill, conceding that while taxis do need more support, designating them as public transportation is not an option.
It will further discuss a nationwide bus strike if lawmakers do not retract the draft bill to designate taxis as public transportation.
The National Assembly�s Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Committee unanimously approved a draft revision bill to include taxis as public transportation last Thursday.
If the National Assembly passes the bill, taxis will be able receive the same subsidies from the national and local government that buses and subways receive.
All that is left is for the draft bill to receive approval by the Legislation and Judiciary committee on Wednesday, which will then need to pass the National Assembly on Friday.
The national buses association stated that if the bill passes the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, they will potentially stop operation of buses starting the next morning. They added that if the National Assembly passes the bill, they plan to suspend operation of buses for an indefinite period.
�Despite the opposition of lawmakers, transportation experts and the bus industry, both ruling and opposition parties in order to garner votes ahead of elections ignored the government and bus industry�s voice and [the Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Committee] passed the unprecedented draft bill enabling taxis to be included as public transportation,� stated the national bus association spokesman at the National Assembly last week, requesting that the draft bill be promptly withdrawn.
Among various perks, in case of a deficit in operational profits, taxi companies will be eligible for subsidies by the government, and they will be also eligible to offer discounts to transferring passengers, which will be in turn subsidized by the national and district governments.
Taxis have especially long-coveted the bus-only central lanes, which they will be able to use if they are classified as public transportation. They will also be able to access public parking lots for buses. Buses have expressed that taxis using their lanes will clutter and block speedy commute.
�In a situation where the budget is limited, if taxis begin receiving government support, the subsidies for buses and subways will subsequently have to be decreased,� said Kim Jung-hoon, a head of the national bus association.
�If that happens, that can only be resolved in a price hike, which will result in unhappy passengers.�
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cdninkorea
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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I can see how they would be considered public transportation with all the regulations on them. After all, calling them private would imply the owners have control over them, but the fare is kept at an incredibly low rate by government decree and they have to use a certain kind of fuel.
Let taxis set prices wherever they want (require them to be open about it, of course) and get rid of subsidies. |
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Stan Rogers
Joined: 20 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 4:40 am Post subject: |
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I don't blame the bus drivers for not wanting to share bus lanes with the taxi drivers. It'll be chaos. Theoreticly it sounds reasonable, but I don't see this working out well at all.
I don't live in Seoul now but when I did I remember the bus drivers and taxi drivers never really like each other. I saw many arguments between them, and a few fist fights break out on the street. And just if you are curious, the bus drivers always won the fights. |
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transmogrifier
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 5:54 am Post subject: |
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| I like the idea of transfer discounts, but letting them use the bus lanes is crazy talk. |
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nicwr2002
Joined: 17 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 6:12 am Post subject: h |
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| I guess I'm missing something, but why would you need to transfer in a taxi? Would the taxi's have set routes that you would need to transfer from one taxi to another? |
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Stan Rogers
Joined: 20 Aug 2010
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SMOE NSET
Joined: 25 Feb 2010
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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| There will be a strike tomorrow if it passes the committee today. |
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Malislamusrex
Joined: 01 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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| It's amazing what a bride can buy. There is no public interest for having taxis as a public service. If anything there should be more competition. |
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thurst
Joined: 08 Apr 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 7:27 pm Post subject: Re: h |
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taxis are obviously public transportation, so i don't see the big deal. using the bus lane sounds like something best decided by those that actually study traffic patterns.
| nicwr2002 wrote: |
| I guess I'm missing something, but why would you need to transfer in a taxi? Would the taxi's have set routes that you would need to transfer from one taxi to another? |
just as an example, let's say you're in itaewon or hannam and there's a bus that goes directly to your house from samgakji or yongsan...taking a cab to the bus stop and then taking the bus would be the most convenient/cost effective move. |
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ewlandon
Joined: 30 Jan 2011
Location: teacher
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| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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| do you know if this will effect the Airport "limo"bus services? I need to take a bus to the airport friday morning and dont want any surprises. |
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Linda868
Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Same..does this affect buses going from one province to another? Thanks |
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drydell
Joined: 01 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Malislamusrex wrote: |
| It's amazing what a bride can buy. There is no public interest for having taxis as a public service. If anything there should be more competition. |
just wait til after the wedding - it gets much worse!  |
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T-J
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 12:42 am Post subject: |
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Damn.
I rely on city buses daily to get to work, 20km away. I may be looking at W20000+ taxi rides each way. No subways here. My students suggested I try hitchhiking, hmm.
Hope they resolve this fast! |
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Stan Rogers
Joined: 20 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 12:54 am Post subject: |
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| schwa wrote: |
Damn.
I rely on city buses daily to get to work, 20km away. I may be looking at W20000+ taxi rides each way. No subways here. My students suggested I try hitchhiking, hmm.
Hope they resolve this fast! |
Schwa you've been around for a while, I say try it. I bet it'll be interesting. |
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