TEMPO.CO, Bandung – Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil is ordering taxi operators in the West Java’s capital to paint all their fleets yellow—the international color for taxis. “So tourists will not be confused when looking for cabs,” said Emil, his popular name, before taxi businessmen at Hotel Horison on Jl. Laswi, Bandung, on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.

Ridwan said the uniform color of taxis would help tourists in Bandung—many of whom have been lamenting the substandard services of taxis in the city, particularly regarding the cabs’ physical condition.

Besides painted yellow, Emil added, taxis should later be marked with a black line around their bodies, and that operators would be given freedom to choose their own line patterns.

On the occasion, Emil also slammed taxi operators for their poor services. “If I were a tourist, I would lash out at taxi operators,” he said.

Ridwan said there had been four issues plaguing taxi services in Bandung: running without a meter, cars unequipped with air conditioning, random stopping, and an unhealthy competition among taxi operators.

Thus, Ridwan asked taxi operators to give a free ride to customers should a taxi be found operating without a working meter. He said the Bandung administration would give the operators six months’ time to disseminate this information to their drivers.

PERSIANA GALIH