In a single line, adorned with banners on their car windows and accompanied by whistles and honks, around one hundred taxi drivers from the capital, as estimated by the National Police, and approximately 500 – out of the 697 licensed taxis – according to the Elite Taxi employers’ association, participated yesterday in the first of six days of protests called by the group to advocate for their rights and express their dissatisfaction with the current administration of the capital city council regarding the retrieval of licenses and the establishment of the bike lane, which they assert has been disregarded by the authorities.
These issues serve as the rationale for the workers of the municipal public transport service, leading them to take to the Ramblas in a lengthy procession, starting at midday and continuing until 2:30 p.m., culminating at La Marina street.
The demonstration, permitted by the Government Subdelegation with a cap of 150 taxis, faced negative feedback from the Local Police due to concerns over potential traffic “congestions” during peak hours coinciding with the departure of students from nearby schools; nevertheless, it was conducted peacefully, garnering the occasional applause from onlookers.
The local government (CC-PP) made a statement yesterday urging “dialogue among the collective in order to redirect a situation in which the citizen is most adversely affected,” according to the Mobility Councillor, Evelyn Alonso (CC).
In this context, the councillor highlighted that “the council has allocated 1,237 million euros over the past two years aimed at enhancing the taxi economy in this capital, a commitment from the mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, in which the Cabildo of Tenerife is involved, contributing 45% of the total license recoveries that have been initiated.”
Alonso further noted that “this strategy aims to gradually remove 151 taxi licenses from circulation by 2026, with the local administration’s contribution amounting to 2,718 million euros over the four years of the inter-administrative agreement.”
With this information, the councillor emphasised that “the most effective strategy for the taxi industry is dialogue and reaching agreements similar to those that support the recovery of licenses” and invited all associations to take part in the upcoming Taxi Roundtable scheduled for December 3, where matters concerning workers will be discussed.
Concerning the retrieval of licenses, the councillor indicated that “the paperwork for the payment of these files processed during 2024 is already in Intervention, meaning they will be compensated before the year’s end.”
“The retrieval of these licenses will enable taxi drivers to align more closely with the recommended ratio in the suggestions chapter of the study commissioned by this council. “This initiative will foster economic stability in a sector that has endured significant hardships during the pandemic and will allow it to anticipate the future with increased optimism, reconciling the number of licenses with the level of mobility provided to citizens as a public service,” he stressed.
Additionally, the councillor highlighted that “there are currently 12 taxi licenses equipped for People with Reduced Mobility (PRM), comprising five 7-seater vehicles, two 8-seaters, and five 9-seaters. Furthermore, he added that “in this specific case,” it is important to note that “in 2024, there are eight beneficiaries for the subsidy aimed at promoting this activity; one individual holds two licenses, with an investment for nine licenses amounting to 3,000 euros each, alongside two beneficiaries for the adaptation subsidy for taxis, with two permits each receiving 15,000 euros, totalling 30,000 euros.” “The disbursement of these subsidies for adapted vehicles will also occur soon,” the councillor announced.
These details “will be elaborated upon in the Taxi Board, where we will address the requests of taxi drivers, such as the reassignment of stops due to the establishment of the cycle network, which is currently being resolved,” he stated.
In anticipation of the next Taxi Board meeting, Elite has maintained active new calls for demonstrations and protests, planned for December 3, 10, and 17, from 12:00 to 2:30 p.m., between the Ramblas and La Marina street; and on December 23 and 30, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., on Tres de Mayo Avenue in the capital.