[sustran] Taxi modes better regulation? (question prompted by Delhi Auto-Rickshaw strike)

[Paul Barter]

Delhi's auto-rickshaws have been out on strike this week and there has been some very informative coverage. 
    http://thecityfix.com/a-day-without-auto-rickshaws-inconvenience-intimidation-and-corruption/
    http://kafila.org/2010/04/02/the-truth-behind-the-strike/
    http://www.indianexpress.com/news/autometers-for-the-people/594330/4

These items highlight the fact that the auto-rickshaw industry in Delhi is dominated by a 'financier mafia', while drivers remain extremely poor and powerless. The unions are also dominated by the financiers.  The call to ban auto-rickshaws by Delhi's Chief Minister is not helpful perhaps. But something clearly needs to change. These insights have been highlighted by work by Simon Harding, who is interning with Delhi’s AMAN Trust.

QUESTION: Does anyone know how Delhi could do better? What reformed regulatory framework for auto-rickshaws in Delhi could do better for drivers, for customers and for the city as a whole? 

This relates to the wider question of how to regulate/organise taxi-like modes (including conventional taxis) to make them more part of the solution.  Here on sustran-discuss a few weeks back there was discussion of their potential and role as 'shared cars' that offer mobility without locking people into vehicle ownership (under the theme 'they are called taxis'). But taxi-like modes will not be viewed positively in many places until they actually work better. 

Paul