洪灾暴露北京出租车行业乱象

北京最近发生的洪灾暴露出该市的很多问题，从公众对高官的不满到百姓对救灾工作缺乏信心，不一而足。

Now add one more: Long-simmering frustration with taxi drivers.

现在又多了一条：公众对出租车司机积蓄已久的不满。

The state-run China Daily reported earlier this week that Beijing city transportation officials have launched an investigation into taxi drivers' overcharging and refusing to take passengers. The issue has steamed locals in recent days during and after the flood, as rain made getting around a slog. The city has set up hotlines for consumers to call in and complain.

《中国日报》本周早些时候报道说，北京市交通管理部门发起了对出租车司机多收费和拒载行为的调查。由于暴雨给出行带来了不便，在洪灾期间及过后的这些天，这个问题令北京市民极为不满。北京市为此设立了热线电话受理消费者投诉。

News of the investigation prompted many Weibo users to vent their personal tales of displeasure.

北京市有关部门发起调查的消息一经传出，引发了很多微博用户大吐苦水，纷纷诉说自己不愉快的经历：

'As a resident of Beijing, I am ashamed of the service quality of Beijing's taxi drivers. I hope the government can adopt reasonable policies improving the management of taxis while ensuring they can make enough money,' wrote one.

一位微博用户写道：“作为北京人，我为部分北京出租汽车司机的素质感到羞愧。希望出台合理政策，在保证出租车赚取利润的同时加强管理。”

But some wondered if the Beijing government will follow up on their promises. One user wrote, 'Will anyone be answering (this hotline)? And when they do pick up, will they do anything with our complaints?'

但也有一些人质疑北京市是否会信守承诺。一位用户写道：“问题是那边会有人接吗？接了会处理吗？”

In a city with so much else to gripe about--pollution, anybody?--taxis seem to inspire a special sort of ire among Beijingren. The stereotype goes something like this: They are invisible in the rain. They are driven by new immigrants from rural provinces with little knowledge of the city's roads and even less of driving laws. They refuse to pick up locals/foreigners/people with children/people with pets/anyone at all. One Weibo user asked, 'Are we only allowed to complain on rainy days? What about (these practices on) sunny days?'.

在一个其他很多方面都让人禁不住要发发牢骚的城市（比如污染），出租车似乎引发了北京人一种特别的不满。他们有一种这样的感觉：下雨时出租车不见踪影；出租车司机是来自农村地区的新移民，他们不熟悉北京市的道路，对交规更是知之甚少。他们拒绝搭载中国人、外国人、带小孩的人、带宠物的人，甚至可以说是任何人。一位微博用户问道：“投诉雨后拒载啊？那光天化日下拒载可以打这个电话吗？呵呵。”

Like most stereotypes, this one is mostly unfair. Beijing cabbies endure low wages and have been buffeted by high fuel costs. The typical driver earns around 3,000 yuan ($471) per month and the cost for repair if water impairs the engine is around equal to their monthly wage, according to an article published by state-run Beijing Youth Daily. You'd be grumpy too.

与大部分固定成见一样，对北京出租车司机的成见也欠公平。北京出租车司机工资低，又受到高油价的打击。据《北京青年报》的一篇报道说，普通出租车司机每月能挣大约人民币3,000元（合471美元），而如果汽车引擎进水受损，维修成本和他们一个月的工资差不多。如果是你，你也会牢骚满腹的。

Since taxi companies didn't return our calls, China Real Time was forced to engage in the hoariest of reporter clich钼s: interviewing taxi drivers. Fortunately for us, Mr. Muo, of Beijing's Shouqi Car Rental, proved to be a voice of moderation as well as an adequate chauffeur as he schlepped us home last night. 'These drivers should be investigated--they give all of us a bad image,' he said.

由于出租车公司没有回复记者的电话，“中国实时报”栏目不得不采用了做记者的古老方法：采访出租车司机。幸运的是，周四晚上把我们送回家的首汽租赁公司的莫先生不仅是一个不错的司机，立场也较温和。他说，这样的司机应该受到调查，他们把我们大家的形像都抹黑了。