Cordoba to Revise Taxi Permits Following Academic Review
In the historic city of Cordoba, Spain, the local government is taking steps to evaluate and potentially reform the taxi service sector. The City Council of Cordoba has announced plans to commission a study aimed at analysing various aspects of the service, including the number of licenses, breaks, service hours, and locations of stops.
The study will also delve into the current license coefficient in Cordoba, which stands at 1.55 licenses per thousand inhabitants. This figure is significant, as it could indicate whether the city needs more taxi licenses to meet the growing demand from its nearly 325,000 inhabitants.
One of the key points of debate within the study will be the regulation of taxi drivers' rest periods. There are concerns that such regulations might interfere with adequate service provision.
It's interesting to note that the average price of a ride in Cordoba is 6.20 euros. This figure could potentially be affected by any decisions made as a result of the study.
Currently, in 80% of cases, it's the taxi driver who waits for the passenger. However, the arrival of VTCs (private vehicle transportation companies) in Cordoba is not seen as necessary by the President of the taxi drivers, José Antonio Coca, to improve the service to users. According to Coca, VTCs do not have regulations like the regulated fares that taxis operate under.
The President of the taxi drivers, Coca, also states that the taxi service in the city is good but acknowledges the need for progress. He further notes that the arrival of VTCs in Cordoba would mean an increase in price for users.
The Mobility Delegate of the City Council of Cordoba, Bernardo Jordano, believes that public services, including the taxi sector, need to adapt to the changes the city is experiencing. Jordano's sentiments are echoed by the fact that Cordoba has seen an expansion of its territory with the appearance of new neighborhoods.
It's worth mentioning that some private VTCs are already operating in Cordoba, but multinational companies like Uber, Cabify, or Bolt are not present. In a city of similar size like Bilbao, there are 2.10 licenses per thousand inhabitants.
However, as of now, there are no officially confirmed reports or news confirming that a specific commission or formal study has been launched to analyse the status of taxi services in Cordoba. Any future developments would likely depend on municipal or regional government announcements.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
The study commissioned by the City Council of Cordoba will also consider the potential impact of the taxi industry on other sectors, such as finance and transportation, given the city's growing population and expansion. The Mobility Delegate, Bernardo Jordano, advocates for public services, including the taxi sector, to adapt to changes and maintain competitiveness with other industries, like private vehicle transportation (VTC), which are gaining significance in Spain.
