Global Taxi Schemes and Their Integration in Sustainable Urban Transport Systems

Taxis play an important role as a transportation alternative in many cities. In developed countries, taxis tend to be used as a substitute for private vehicles by passengers who use the service for convenience reasons or because they do not want to own a car. In developing countries, taxis are often used to supplement inadequate public transport systems based on buses or trains. But the role played by taxis can be as diverse as one can think. This study intends to provide a comprehensive and systematic analytical overview of exis ting global taxi schemes and their respective policies and regulations. A review of the literature regarding energy and sustainability issues is also presented. The importance of taxi operations in delivering good services in developing country cities is focused in the final part of the study. The current conditions found in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were discussed due to projects under way to improve public transport services. These projects are under development in order to respond to a specific demand during the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. The difficulty of developing strategic planning policies together with the complexity and specificity of designing an adequate regulation scheme is further developed.