El Taxis in public transport
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A special study group of the IRU as well as the European Transport Ministers' conference have given support recently to a trend which is building up into a European campaign to give the taxi a more important role in public transport. While, in general, extensions of reserved bus lanes, etc, has benefited taxi operators there has been little in the way of direct financial aid or positive evidence of better integration of taxi facilities into the existing public transport pattern. A few cities have already turned to taxis as replacement for late-night or all-night bus services to reduce operating costs.
In Berlin, where an average of four passengers was carried on a certain night route, the introduction of a taxi has drastically cut costs while retaining a facility considered essential on social grounds. Passengers pay the standard bus fare to the driver who can radio for a "relief" taxi to meet traffic demands.