4. Developing the Taxi Transformation Plan - SPAD

It is clear that in the international context taxis fulfil differing roles in each of the cities considered
and the information available regarding provision and the level of usage is inconsistent. This makes
international experience difficult to transfer, though there are key international lessons which can be
applied to the taxi industry in Malaysia and the GKL/KV region.
3.4) The Future Role of Taxis
Taxis have a specific role to play in a fully integrated LPT system. They are able to provide services in
situations where regular LPT (bus, rail) is not available, for example in outlying areas, or outside its
usual hours of operation such as late evenings. It is important that taxis are seen to complement and
reinforce public transport services rather than compete with them. The TTP will seek to ensure that
the role of taxis is part of an integrated transport network and will help achieve the National Vision
2020 and 1 Malaysia.
In GKL/KV taxis do not currently have a clearly defined role within the public transport system. Taxis
are a primary part of the LPT network and ply for hire across the city, undertaking the principal public
transport role in areas that are not served by rail or bus. In this way they are providing a basic public
service ensuring the accessibility of people to jobs, services and facilities.
As LPT improvements are introduced via the GKL/KV LPTMP, the role of taxis will be required to
evolve. Key radial corridors into the city will be increasingly catered for by rail and BRT while bus will
provide services on other minor radial corridors and feeder services to the key transit corridors. Taxis
will need to integrate into this new LPT system and adapt to fill the gaps within the system and to
provide choice of service.
The GKL/KV LPTMP has a target that 80% of the population of the region will be within 400 metres of a
frequent bus service. With a fully functional integrated LPT system in place across KL it is likely the
role of the taxi will evolve to meet the remaining markets. These markets (and the LPTMP objectives
they meet) can be summarised as:
Providing a core public transport service to those in outlying areas outside the catchment of core
and feeder services; (accessibility and integration)
Providing a local service where households have no car available and bus does not meet their
needs (for example offering accessibility for the mobility impaired, the transportation of large
packages or a local destination off the bus route); (accessibility)
Providing a service outside conventional public transport operation hours; (safety)
A high quality door to door service as a mode of choice for city centre trips where cost is not a
deciding factor; (connectivity)
Providing access for other LPT modes (accessibility)
Providing choice for those who cannot use conventional LPT due to physical/mental disability
(equality of opportunity)
It is clear that taxis will be required to provide for distinct markets. There will be a need to retain low
cost local services in order to meet local accessibility and transit needs particularly for low income
groups with no access to a private vehicle. There is also a need to meet the needs of the wider region
as part of the integrated LPTMP.
The TTP aims to meet the needs of all markets and address the identified issues across the industry,
driving up quality in the sector while ensuring public and driver safety, service reliability and
availability, comfort and convenience and accessibility. The process for the development of the plan
is highlighted on Figure 3.6.
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