The Santa Eulària des Riu City Council’s Action Plan for public passenger transport in passenger vehicles, which regulates the granting of 76 seasonal cab licenses, has been published in the Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands (BOIB) after its approval in a municipal plenary session on January 30.
With this measure, the council seeks to reinforce the cab service in high season for the next three years and curb the proliferation of unregulated transport, a growing problem on the island. These authorizations may be extended until 2028.
The document establishes that the licenses will be granted in two annual shifts to ensure greater coverage. The first one will run from April 12 to September 12, while the second one will be in force from May 20 to October 20. In the event that at least 70% of the planned licenses (54 cabs) are not covered, a single shift will be activated and will operate from April to October.
Why are temporary licenses being extended?
According to the City Council, the plan responds to the need to adjust the supply of cabs to the high seasonal demand, especially in the summer months, when the massive arrival of visitors saturates the public transport service.
A mobility study conducted by the consulting firm Tema Ingeniería concluded that the current number of cabs is insufficient during high season, which has favored the growth of unregulated transportation.
The analysis also found that waiting times in peak months exceed the recommended standards, which affects the experience of both residents and tourists. An increase in temporary licenses would optimize coverage and prevent the proliferation of unauthorized services.
How many licenses will be granted and how will they be distributed?
The plan provides for a total of 76 temporary licenses, which will be distributed among ordinary license holders and salaried drivers. Seventy percent of the permits (53) will be assigned to cab drivers with municipal licenses, while the remaining 30% (23) will be for salaried drivers.
Access to these licenses shall be determined on the basis of seniority and experience of the applicants. In the event of a tie, a public lottery will be held.
To qualify for these temporary authorizations, applicants must comply with a series of administrative and technical requirements. All vehicles must be white, with a capacity of up to nine seats, have ECO or ZERO label (for five-seater cars) and be equipped with taximeter, GPS and light signal. In addition, the successful bidders must make a deposit of 1,000 euros, which will be reimbursed at the end of the contract if they comply with the established conditions.
Start of the application process
Interested parties may submit their applications from the day following the official publication of the plan, having ten calendar days to register at the City Council of Santa Eulària des Riu.
The provisional list of those admitted will be published once the selection process has been completed. Subsequently, a period for allegations and correction of errors will be opened, after which the definitive list of successful candidates will be approved.
Service control and inspection reinforcement
The City Council has announced that it will reinforce inspections and controls to ensure that cabs comply with the regulations and avoid the activity of unauthorized vehicles. In coordination with the Local Police and the Consell Insular de Ibiza, operations will be intensified in areas of high tourist influx to detect possible irregularities in the provision of the service.
The plan also establishes that the new cabs must be connected to a geolocation system, in order to improve service management and user safety.
A measure to organize transport in Santa Eulària
The implementation of this temporary licensing system is part of the City Council’s strategy to adapt the supply of cabs to tourist demand, improving mobility in the municipality and reducing the impact of unregulated transport.
The consistory defends that this model will guarantee a more efficient and safe service, in a context where the growth of tourism demands reinforcement measures in public transport.
In the coming months, the impact of this measure and its possible application in other municipalities of the island will be evaluated, at a key moment for the regulation of the cab sector in Ibiza.
