Is Red Dead?

Is the age of the Red Minibus fading?

Hong Kong has two types of minibuses, also known as Maxicabs: Red and Green. The colours refer to the paint on the roofs.

The difference isn't the buses; they're identical, holding a maximum of 16 passengers. The prime difference is how they operate.

Green minibuses are operated by large companies and travel along fixed routes with fixed pricing. Red minibuses are owned by smaller companies or individuals; the drivers are allowed to select their own routes.

When taking a Green minibus, one pays the fare upon entering. When taking a Red minibus, one pays upon leaving, based on the distance travelled. Passengers have one distinct advantage when using a Red minibus: they can be picked up and dropped off anywhere they choose. Green minibuses set down passengers at fixed points.

Red minibuses may be phased out because the transport department wants to convert all 1,800 Red minibuses into Green, to service the rail lines with feeder routes.

If that happens, part of the flavour of Hong Kong would disappear.

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