March 5, 2007

Beijing, China - Beijing taxi drivers should stop eating and sleeping in their cabs because the smells could tarnish the city's image during the 2008 Olympics.

Well, that's the view of a political adviser quoted on Sunday by the Xinhua News Agency.

Shi Xiangpeng, a Hong Kong representative at the annual session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, claimed about a third of Beijing taxis "were smelly".

"Sometimes I could smell an unbearable stink once I got into a cab but was afraid of being so rude as to get out immediately," Shi said "I had to roll down the windows, regardless of how cold it was outside."

He told the agency the odours were a result of the bad habits of drivers from the suburbs of Beijing who, because they lived far from the city centre, slept and ate in their car.

Many also smoked in their cars, he added.

Shi said the matter was not trivial because it would reflect on China's image during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Xinhua said Beijing had 2.9-million registered motor vehicles, 67 000 of them taxis. - Sapa

Go back 

Useful TOOLS

Email this article       Print this article       Search Prices       Repayment Calculator       Set as homepage

Free NEWSLETTER

The latest motoring news - 3 times a week. Preview Sign up