Ride-hailing taxis should get a higher fuel allocation, says PickMe

Ride-hailing taxis should receive a higher fuel allocation during period of rationing, argues ride-hailing platform PickMe, discussing the decision on Sunday to re-introduce the fuel quota system due to the West Asian crisis.

In a statement, it said shared mobility platforms such as PickMe use technology to connect passengers and drivers in real time, ensuring vehicles move with purpose rather than circulating the streets searching for customers. This significantly reduces empty mileage and maximises every litre of fuel.

A single shared mobility vehicle can serve dozens of passengers in a day, replacing multiple private vehicle trips. In simple terms, one vehicle can move many people, not just one.

“For this reason, ride-hailing vehicles operating within the app based shared economy should receive a higher fuel allocation during periods of rationing. Prioritising taxis and ride-hailing vehicles ensures scarce fuel moves more people, sustains daily economic activity, and protects the livelihoods of thousands of drivers who depend on these platforms,” the statement said.

The QR-based fuel rationing system introduced during the last crisis proved that digital tools can manage limited resources in a fair and transparent way. But as policymakers consider future allocation systems, one principle deserves attention: not all fuel consumption delivers the same value to the economy.

“At moments like this, policy choices shape how resilient an economy can be. Supporting shared mobility is not about favouring one sector; it is about using limited fuel in the smartest way possible to keep the country moving,” PickMe said.