Skyrocketing fuel expenses have forced some Shanghai cabbies to stop driving home in their own taxis and have resorted to car-pooling to save money.

Cabbies, especially those who live far away from downtown, have been leaving their cabs at secure spots.

The tight supply of gasoline and increased prices have led to the practice.

In Shanghai, taxis are mostly serviced by two partners who each works nearly a whole day every two days.

"Ideally the partners should live near to each other so it's easier for them to hand over the taxi at the end of their shift," a Blue Alliance taxi driver said.

The Yuqiao Area at Beicai Town, in Pudong New Area, is one area where many cabbies leave their cars rather than drive them home.

Several hundred taxis line the street outside a residential complex.

Some cabbies meet their partners at these spots to hand over the taxis and others park the vehicles there overnight.

At these spots, it's also easier for cabbies to find others sharing the same routes home by paying mini-buses.

Some cabbies who live nearly 50 kilometers away from Yuqiao said driving the taxis home meant an increase of 50 yuan in gas expenses since the latest price rise.

Some taxi companies said they had not heard of such practices but would support it as long as the drivers could ensure the safety of the vehicles.

(Shanghai Daily August 25, 2008)