Taxi mobilisation in Barcelona: Demand Fair Regulation and Insurance

Movilización del Taxi en Barcelona

The taxi sector in Barcelona is once again taking to the streets. Over the last few days, the guild has intensified its pressure on the authorities with new demonstrations, demanding a reduction in the cost of insurance and stricter regulation of VTCs.

The most recent protest took place on 29 January, when hundreds of taxi drivers blocked the ring roads of Barcelona, affecting mobility at several key points in the city. The drivers united under the slogan ‘If the taxi doesn’t eat here, nobody eats’, in a clear message of protest against the precariousness of the sector.

What are Barcelona Taxi Drivers Demanding?

The main demands of the taxi sector in Barcelona in this mobilisation are:

1. Cheaper and fairer insurance

One of the biggest problems faced by taxi drivers is the high cost of insurance. Many taxi drivers complain that in recent years they have suffered disproportionate increases in their policies, making their activity more expensive and reducing the profitability of their work.

The sector is calling for measures to be established to regulate the price of insurance and avoid abuses by insurers. They also demand that taxi drivers have access to insurance with coverage adapted to their work situation, without unjustified cost overruns.

2. Stricter regulation for VTCs

The presence of chauffeur-driven transport vehicles (VTC), associated with platforms such as Uber and Cabify, continues to be a point of conflict. The taxi union considers that these services operate under more favourable conditions and without the same legal and fiscal obligations as traditional taxis.

Taxi drivers demand that authorities tighten control over VTCs, ensuring that they comply with established regulations, such as pre-employment times and restrictions on soliciting customers on public roads.

Impact of the Mobilisation in the City

The protests have had a major impact on mobility in Barcelona. For several hours, traffic was jammed at key points such as the Ronda Litoral and the Ronda de Dalt, making it difficult for thousands of citizens to get around.

Despite the inconvenience caused, the taxi drivers say that these actions are necessary to make their demands heard. They argue that they have been trying for months to talk to the authorities, but without getting concrete answers.

How Does This Affect Taxi Users?

For regular taxi users in Barcelona, these mobilisations may mean possible delays or difficulties in finding service at certain times of the day. However, it is important to remember that the aim of the protests is to improve conditions in the sector and guarantee a fair and regulated service for all.

At Taxi Ride Barcelona, we remain attentive to the evolution of this situation and remain committed to offering a reliable and transparent service to our customers, even in times of protest.

What Happens Now?

The taxi sector has warned that if they do not receive a satisfactory response from the authorities, mobilisations will continue in the coming weeks. It is expected that in the next few days there will be meetings between representatives of the trade and the administrations to seek solutions to these demands.

Taxi Ride Barcelona will continue to inform our customers about any new developments that may affect the service.