taxis protesting against new licenses in Bologna

The heart of Bologna, under the two Towers, paralyzed by a line of cars and smoke bombs. It is the taxi drivers’ protest against the Municipality’s announcement which will increase 72 new licenses

BOLOGNA – Horns and even some smoke bombs in the protest procession of Bolognese taxi drivers, parading through the historic center against the ban for72 new licenses issued, published in recent days by the Municipality (the price for the new licenses is too low, depending on the category). Long lines of white cars pass through the central streets today, Friday 14 June Independence Street And Rizzoli blocking the passage of buses.

“You wait for the taxi, because taxi drivers have to wait for the Municipality of Bologna”, reads the flyer distributed among passers-by and tourists, which lists the requests to the administration: alternative routes in case of construction sites, preferential lanes, review of shifts, tariff adjustment, more safety at night.

The protest sparked the day after Mayor Matteo Lepore announced the publication of a tender to increase the number of taxi licenses in the city. The mayor defined the initiative as “necessary and long-awaited” on his Facebook profile, with the aim of add another 75 cars to those already present in the city. Not only that: Lepore also launched a online survey: “Do you agree?”, to ask citizens what they think. But right under the mayor’s post, Letizia Iorio of Uritaxi announces the category’s intention to present appeal. “No one has ever told you no to new licenses. You managed to do everything to get them contested – writes the Uritax spokeswoman – Congratulations”.