In the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona there are 10,500 taxi licenses, a number that has not changed in 30 years despite the increase in population and the demand for tourist mobility. Uber warns that if VTCs are removed, waiting times will increase to 45 minutes. Cabify considers that there are already double or triple the number of licenses missing and the situation will get even worse.
Elite Taxi, the majority union in Barcelona, admits that there is a shortage of taxis “at certain hours”, but defends carrying out all services and driving double shifts rather than adding more vehicles, which in their opinion collapse the city every day.
The lack of supply worsens in weekends and nights. To prevent time slots from being left without coverage, the bill plans to establish mandatory shifts in the specific moments or areas that lack sufficient fleet.
VTC atmosphere at the Arts Barcelona hotel during the Mobile celebration. MANU MITRU
VTC atmosphere at the Arts Barcelona hotel during the Mobile celebration. MANU MITRU
In the case of large events such as the Mobile World Congress or the ISE fair in Barcelona, VTCs and highly available vehicles will be allowed can come and offer a service like taxi on those specific days.
In cases of serious lack of supply, while new taxi licenses are being processed, VTC authorizations may be rehabilitated
If the taxi cannot cover all the demand, the municipalities will have the option of calling for seasonal licenses to cover concrete and temporary needs. Whether the councils will have the capacity to mobilize drivers with such agility and intermittency is an unknown to be clarified.
The legislative proposal also contemplates emergency measures: in cases of serious lack of supply while new taxi licenses are processedyou can rehabilitate old VTC authorizations by periods of up to four years to normalize the situation.