The first day of the new winter calendar has left Ibiza with empty cab ranks and long waits for users, while the lack of service gives free field to platforms like Uber to capture passengers who need an alternative. Despite the expectation of having two thirds of the fleet operational, barely 20% of cabs have taken to the streets, generating a situation that has affected both residents and tourists looking for reliable transport on the island. Just a few days ago, the Agrupación de Autotaxis de Vila had demanded urgent improvements in the management of the service in the winter from the Ibiza Town Hall. Although the rotating system established by the Ibiza Town Hall suggested that 66% of the fleet should be operational from November 1st, the reality has left many users without service, with cab ranks without cabs and a visible fleet of less than 30% of the required vehicles.
Only 20% of the fleet in operation
This Friday has shown a drastically reduced operability in the streets of the municipality of Ibiza. In real-time monitoring data accessed by La Voz de Ibiza, only about 30 cabs were in service during the early hours of November 1, well below the expected 66%. This represents barely 20% of the total fleet, which has generated long waits at taxi ranks and widespread discontent. And in images captured at key stops in the center of Ibiza, users can be seen forming long queues and only a few cabs in circulation, leaving many without transport on a day of high demand.
The window for Uber
In a context in which cabs barely cover the demand, transportation platforms such as Uber have taken advantage of the situation to capture users seeking immediate alternatives. While some cab drivers express their discontent with the expansion of these services and the cab vs. Uber war grows year by year, the failure to provide daily coverage only strengthens the presence of these competitors. The situation suggests that, without an effective response from the sector, dependence on options such as Uber will only grow.
A consensual calendar with high expectations
The Ibiza Town Hall, through a decree and in consensus with the sector, had approved a winter calendar for the cab service that came into force this November 1 and will run until April 30, 2025. This agreement, according to the councilman of Public Transport, Ruben Sousa, seeks to ensure the availability of cabs, especially at night, when it has been established the mandatory minimum of six cabs, one of them adapted for people with reduced mobility, which must be operational from 0 to 6 hours. The measure seeks to improve the quality of the service and to offer a better attention to the users of public transport. In addition Sousa had stressed that this schedule was agreed with associations such as the city’s self-employed cab drivers, allowing the sector to submit proposals and modifications. The commitment of the sector, stressed the councilman, is key to ensure that “66% of the fleet of the municipality remain active during the winter season,” a calculation based on the rotating shift system of the three groups in which the cab fleet is divided.
Consequences and possible sanctions
Failure to comply with the schedule not only affects users, but could result in serious penalties for cab drivers who do not respect their shift. Article 43 of the municipal regulations establishes that failure to comply with assigned shifts and work days constitutes a very serious infraction. These infractions are punishable with fines ranging from 1,001 to 6,000 euros, and the amount is adjusted according to factors such as social repercussion and recidivism. In cases of recidivism of a very serious infringement within a period of twenty-four months, the sanction may include temporary suspension of the license for six months to one year.
