Rome airport transportation the strike of Rome s taxis
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Travel Leisure -> subcategory Destinations.
Rome Airport Transportation: The Taxi Strike
Summary:
This article discusses the demands of Rome's taxi drivers amid ongoing strikes.
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In July 2006, taxi drivers in Rome reignited their strike in response to government discussions about deregulating the industry, resulting in significant disruptions across major cities.
The protests involved blocking key squares, intentionally causing traffic jams, restricting airport access, and organizing slow drives, according to local media. In Rome, drivers gathered at Piazza Venezia, a central hub, shortly after midnight following the breakdown of negotiations with taxi unions.
The drivers occupied the square overnight, leading authorities to close it to traffic. Additionally, around 60 taxis participated in a go-slow procession from the city's main airport to the city center and back, exacerbating the chaos.
Similar protests unfolded in Naples, Turin, Genoa, and Milan, where drivers impeded access to the city’s airport. The Italian Economic Development Minister, who had drafted the contested bill, stated, "they [the taxi drivers] do not own the city."
At the center of the dispute is a government decree aimed at liberalizing taxi licensing, breaking the monopoly of local taxi federations. This decree mandates municipal administrations to increase the number of taxi licenses and issue temporary permits during peak periods.
One particularly contentious proposal would allow private companies to enter the market by acquiring licenses and hiring their own drivers. In Rome, taxi licenses are considered private assets, often traded or passed down as inheritance, creating a grey market where a permit can cost up to 200,000 euros (about 240,000 U.S. dollars).
Italy’s taxi fleet, comprising 40,000 vehicles, is the smallest in Europe. Official statistics reveal there are 2.1 taxis per thousand inhabitants in Rome, compared to 8.3 in London and 9.9 in Barcelona. Rome operates 5,820 taxis, whereas London has over 61,000, New York nearly 43,000, and Paris 17,000.
Resident and tourist complaints about the difficulty of finding taxis, particularly during peak hours and at night, have surged. Taxi drivers are often accused of deliberately limiting car availability to maintain their earnings and license values.
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