More than 300 private car owners from a central Chinese city volunteered to offer free rides to citizens to relieve crowded public transportation, but many local people didn't accept the offer for fear of being cheated.

Mistrust mars Zhengzhou ride-share effort.[ Photo/ People's Daily ]

The ride-share program was begun in October in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province, when Ye Zhantong, a private car driver, started to gather volunteers to offer the free service.

The drivers tied a green silk ribbon on the rear-view window to differentiate themselves from unlicensed taxi drivers.

But the free rides haven't been popular among the public as increasing reports of fraud have dried up many local citizens' trust towards strangers, People's Daily reported yesterday.

Ye said some of the volunteers have dropped out after they felt their motives were being questioned. Passersby walking in heavy rainfall or passengers who missed a bus would remain silent and walk away when the volunteers would stop and offer a ride, the report said.

"It's so common that people give us the cold shoulder, and sometimes, take our kindness as malice," said one of Ye's volunteers, identified as Binge. "Many would even say: 'Let's get out of here quickly to avoid being cheated by him.'"

Some commenters on Weibo explained their reluctance to participate in a ride-share program.

"Trusting a stranger might bring huge risks. I can't take the risk," one Internet user wrote.

Some said Ye's group wasn't authorized, and some said swindlers disguised as decent drivers might volunteer. They suggested traffic authorities issue rules to regulate, protect and promote ride-share programs.

In a related report, China Youth Daily has surveyed 7,804 people about being a good Samaritan.

Nearly 71 percent people said their generosity would be abused if they offered a hand to strangers, and 80 percent agreed with the statement that, "It was costly to be a good Samaritan in today's society."

A Beijing security guard, Zhou Wei, told China Youth Daily he once caught a thief grabbing a woman's bag. Two other thieves severely beat him, but not one passerby helped or even called police. "I was so upset and I am considering whether I should perform brave deeds any more," Zhou said.

Also, 68 percent of those surveyed thought doing good deeds would be laughed at. A university student, Wu Chen, said he was mocked when yielding his seat to an old man on a train. "I felt so confused!" he wrote.

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