Senior citizens found it more difficult to hail a taxi recently after two Internet companies, which are competing for market share in online payment platforms, offered subsidies to taxi drivers and customers who use their products.

Apps make it easier to hire taxis

A senior from Shenyang, Liaoning province, was unable to summon a taxi on the street as drivers scrambled to pick up riders who used one of the taxi-hailing apps, Chinese Business Morning News reported on Friday.

Standing on a roadside, Li Shuwen, 75, waved at taxis to get a ride to see doctor for a sprained ankle. Four taxis passed her by even though there were no riders in the cars.

A fifth driver also refused her and drove off as another customer's appointment came through the app.

Li, who had no smartphone, had to take a bus to the hospital.

China's two leading Internet companies, Alibaba Group and Tencent, launched a price war recently to woo customers to their online payment platforms. They gave bonuses for appointments.

 

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