An important resolution discussed on Wednesday in the council commission. There was talk of significant changes to a now dated taxi regulation (2003), long overdue in a Ravenna with a purely tourist vocation and characterized by a progressively increasing elderly population. And it is the elderly who are among the main users of an ‘essential’ service such as taxis. Not to mention that according to the 1931 and ’35 censuses the city had less than half of its current inhabitants. The concertation operation carried out and carried out by councilor Annagiulia Randi and her staff was positive, followed with interest and participated by the trade associations and the taxi drivers themselves, several of whom were present in the chamber yesterday. Among the various significant changes is the increase in the number of licenses, with a maximum limit of 42, now there are 24, to be achieved gradually through public tenders. Ravenna has changed profoundly in the last twenty years, also due to the effect of over 300,000 cruise passengers, the entire tourist sector is experiencing a phase of strong expansion, cars, once few in number, have increased dramatically (today the city has a density car per capita which exceeds the national average) and therefore a more adequate taxi service appears more necessary from both a quantitative and qualitative point of view.
Furthermore, the possibility of a taxi offer also in the evening time slot is certainly not negligible, the introduction of the ‘forklift’ is also appropriate to prevent the taxi driver from being forced to remain without work in the event of problems with the vehicle. It is essential, then, that the taxi cooperative adapts some cars for the transport of severely disabled people, in an overall perspective that sees the recognition of additional rights for our fragile fellow citizens. We are in the presence of excellent work which must not make us forget the critical issues of the local public service with which Ravenna is still called upon to deal: considering the buses, we thus see the city still in a disadvantageous position compared to Rimini and Forlì, with vehicles too bulky, dated and heavy (and consequent damage, see via Mariani, in the center), and few electric buses. Start must have an eye for our reality, and this certainly does not constitute an argument linked to either the right or the left. The taxi regulation, with its amendments, appropriately presents itself as a piece of significant value for tourism and, in particular, for fellow citizens in difficulty.
Daniele Perini
Leader of the Lista de Pascale Mayor
