By Story and photo by LIM CHIA YING | Jan 21, 2010
Thumbs up for metered cabs
THE stretch of taxis hogging the Jalan Bukit Bintang roadside in front of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is not only a traffic nuisance but also poses a risk to public safety.
Pavilion retail chief executive officer (CEO) Joyce Yap said the yellow line drawn along the busy main road indicates that taxis cannot park and stop to pick up passengers.
Yap said however, many could be seen blatantly breaking the law even without a taxi stand being erected along this stretch.
These drivers, meanwhile, have blamed the closure of the slip road between the shopping mall and Grand Millennium Hotel as the reason why they had to park by the main road. They also claimed that prior to the closure, there was a taxi stand where they pick up passengers.
It is learnt that the closure of the slip road, said to be a short-cut to Jalan Raja Chulan, is under the jurisdiction of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
Meanwhile, Yap said Pavilion has constructed a taxi stand called Taxi@ Connexion, where many bistros and pubs are located.
“We constructed this taxi stand because we had received so many complaints from visitors about the errant taxi drivers outside the main road who do not use meters.
“We’ve been facing this problem with taxi drivers from day one. Customers have been constantly complaining to us and asking what are we doing to address the issue of taxi drivers not using meters.
“If one flouts the law, then the traffic police is only being fair in issuing the summonses.
“As a private sector and responsible shopping mall, it is only right for us to have a proper taxi stand that does not create further chaotic traffic situation, and we welcome all taxis using meters only to be at this stand,” said Yap.
Yap, who is also the Malaysian Association for Shopping and Highrise Complex Management president, said on behalf of the association, she calls for all shopping centres to be supportive of metered taxis only.
The taxi stand was built in October last year and Yap said many of Pavilion’s visitors were happy to be able to hop onto taxis using meters.
“The complaints have gone down to just 10% since the stand is up. We have put up signboards to point to where our taxi stand is while our security is trained to show customers the location.
“We even provide buggy service to transport our visitors to the stand if it is raining. The stand is located at the most active part of our mall and the taxi drivers we have collaborated with have no problems getting passengers.
Amran Mohd Isa, who supervises and coordinates at the taxi stand, said there were customers who expressed their delight to find taxi drivers willing to use meters.
“All my drivers here are decent people and provide good service. I have a logbook that records all the trips they make and particulars of the taxi and driver, so I tell my drivers that if any customers complain about them, then action will be taken.
“And we have four women drivers as our members, which is all the better for women passengers,” said Amran.
“We have 100 regular taxis serving customers daily so during peak hours, the waiting time is just a minute and an average four minutes throughout the day.
“We welcome all taxis using meters to also be here and registration is free,” he said.
Driver Zahrul Azwan Yahya, 28, who works from 7am to 10pm, said he could pick some 20 passengers a day and has no problem earning sufficiently.
“We don’t see why the taxi drivers at the main road complained of not being able to earn enough if they don’t park themselves there. It’s just an excuse for them so they need not use the meter.”
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