Easy on the purse

Lahiru Sanjeeva FERNANDO

Most people hesitate to step into a tuk tuk today because at the end of the journey the price is unimaginable. Some three wheel drivers charge unfair rates for a short distance which is most likely a couple of bus halt away. Considering the daily income of the common man today, these rates burn a large hole in the customer’s pocket.

Even though there has some rules and regulation for buses but there are no fixed rates for three wheelers. This is the main weak point in focus because people who are already stressed and battling with time need to think twice about taking a quick ride in a tuk tuk.

The soon presented itself in the form of the budget taxi. The budget three wheelers contain a specific meter that counts each mile that the three wheeler travels. The amount is generated according to kilometers traveled while the customer is on board. This wins the peoples’ trust and motivates them to lay their trust in the budget three wheeler.

Masses say that the charges are fair and affordable. That is the one of the secrets to the widespread of the budget taxis. Several three wheel drivers too expressed that this method is a worthwhile move. They earn more money because more people tend to travel via their tuk tuks. Membership is attained by investing money in a company which owns these taxis. Their first rule is to put a board up on the roof of the tuk tuk. The meter needs to be visible in the front compartment.

The head office keeps track of their members’ movements. They direct the closest budget taxi to a customer in the area via phone. At the end of the month the tuk tuk drivers pay a fixed amount to the company. This is a portion out of their earnings but they say it is a just sum. Other three wheeler drivers are losing customers to the budget taxi trend. With budget taxis ascending in popularity the normal three wheeler drivers have become aggressive mainly due to the fact that they have less hires.

There is a saying that the fittest survives. If the normal three wheel drivers want to overcome this issue it is time they took up a humane point of view. Look towards the customer’s needs, understand his or her background and ask for a just price.

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