Some private car owners in Shenzhen solicit passengers to share a ride to and from work. There are also passengers eager to take advantage of this. It is usually more common where people live close to each other in new neighborhoods where public transport is inadequate or inconvenient and their work places are close to each other.

The practice has given rise to debate whether or not this is legal.

Liu Dezhong

an official with Shenzhen Municipal Transportation Bureau

According to the city's existing regulations regarding paid transport service, this share practice is not permissible. It is okay if you do not charge people for using your car.

There are some plausible elements in the share practice. It is expensive for some people to maintain a car, so they want to make some extra money through this method to help cover their costs. In some communities, there is little or no public transport so the residents there have a real need for this service.

In many cases, sharing a car is plausible. But it is illegal as far as the regulations are concerned. As far as the administration agencies are concerned, something that does not conform to the laws and regulations is illegal and needs to be stopped.

There are also people who provide illegal taxi services while claiming they are just taking people to work. In some communities there are so many illegal cabs operating that the legal taxis are harassed to such an extent that sometimes their illegal counterparts attack them physically.

The government needs to protect legal cabs while cracking down on the illegal ones. Legal cabs operate in accordance to the government administration and pay tax.

Liang Wengang

car owner

I do not think I am wrong to provide a share service to my friends. Because of the service, I have become friends with the people who use my car to go to and from work every day.

As far as I know, there is such a service in the United States called a carpool. A carpool provider there may not charge his or her passengers. But it is a completely different situation in the United States where a car is very cheap and the cost of keeping a car is not as high as it is here (in China).

I started taking people to work because they offered. I did not think of looking for anybody. If they want to pay, it means they can afford it and my charge is reasonable. Most importantly this is a consensual agreement. So how can anyone say I am doing something wrong挂 If you cannot make a clear distinction between people like me and illegal taxi drivers, it is not my fault, and I should not be made a scapegoat.

Li Fang

resident

I use a share-car, even though I have a car. Why It's more cost-effective. I pay about 200 yuan a month for a regular trip between office and home. If I had driven my car, I would have paid much more.

I believe that my use of the service also benefits the environment and our resources. I help decrease pollution and road congestion and because of me (and people like me) less oil is used.

I have never met people who complain about using a share-car. That means they welcome it. Many people have become friends because of this service. And I also believe that the city should thank the share-car providers, as they help the city's public transport so fewer people are complaining about a lack of service.

Shenzhen is an immigrant city as well as a testing ground for many new things. If something can help people get closer to each other and help the government in this way or that, do not jump to the conclusion that it is not permitted.

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