affiliated 復習

東京都では、タクシーの初乗り運賃が410円に値下げされました。少しの距離を移動する際に気軽に利用できることを狙いとしているようです。しかし、タクシー運転手の方の中には、利用客が増えても自分たちの収入は増えないだろうと感じる方もいらっしゃるようです。

Minimum fare proposal draws mixed reactions

A major Tokyo-based taxi company applied early this month to the transport ministry to reduce its minimum taxi fare to \410, aiming to attract passengers even for short distances.

Elderly and young people mostly welcome this move, but some taxi drivers were puzzled, saying that even if the number of passengers who use taxis for minimum fare distances rises, it will not increase their income.

Elderly welcome \410 fare

The fare structure that Nihon Kotsu Co. in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward suggested to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry on April 5 would lower the current minimum fare of \730 for the first two kilometers to \410 for the first 1.059 kilometers.

It also plans to charge an additional \80 per 237 meters after the minimum fare distance. The current charge after the minimum fare distance is \90 per 280 meters.

中略

An official in charge of the Greater Tokyo Privately Owned Taxi Co-operative Society, with about 8,200 affiliated owners, drivers and taxi companies, said: “Our response to the move is under consideration. But it is necessary for the co-op society to have an integrated fare structure in order to prevent confusion among customers.”

A male taxi driver in his early 60s, who was taking a break in the business district of Chiyoda Ward, said with a glum face, “I’m dubious about the new fares because I might lose long-distance passengers while driving many passengers for only the minimum fare of \400 level.”

Taxi drivers’ income is commission-based, so even if they pick up many passengers, they get few financial benefits for journeys of a short distance. Speech

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002854354

今回取り上げる表現は affiliateです。『ライトハウス英和辞典』（第5版　研究社）で調べてみますと、他動詞で「（普通は受身で）（団体など）を（より大きな組織に）加入させる、入会させる、合併する」とありました。自動詞ではwithを伴って「加入する、提携する」という意味が載っていました。

ここは動詞が過去分詞の形で後ろからかかっていますので、「系列の、提携している」の意味だととれます。LDOCEで調べてみますと、”to join or become connected with a larger group or organization”と同じような意味が見つかりました。

東京都以外の他県では今後どのような方針をとっていくのか気になります。（aqua）