The taxi picks up the pressure in Madrid and Barcelona against the VTC

After a couple of months in expectation, the taxi sector returns to the load. Although the convalidó Congress on 25 October the decree-law that empowers the autonomous communities and municipalities to start regulating the sector of rental vehicles with driver (VTC), those of Uber or Cabify, little has moved. And that paralysis is what taxi drivers want to flip, especially in Madrid and Barcelona, ​​the two cities that most activity of this type of vehicle support. In the capital, taxi drivers will demonstrate tomorrow to demand both the regional government and the local to guarantee the ratio of one VTC license per 30 taxi, now much exceeded - the ratio is one Uber or Cabify for every two taxis. Although, in his opinion, the City has shown willingness to regulate the sector, "we believe that there is a lack of political will in this regard from the Ministry of Transport of the regional government," said in a note Julio Sanz, president of the Federation Professional of the Taxi of Madrid, organization that, next to the Association Autotaxi Gremial (Agatam) and the Madrilenian Association of the Taxi (AMT), have summoned the protest.

Implementing the ratio 1/30 is one of the great workhorses of the taxi, although it is not easy at all. The barrage of VTC authorizations that justice is granting has overflowed the proportion. To channel it, the decree-law establishes that within four years, communities that wish to do so, or city councils by delegation, may impose a second urban-type license for VTCs. Those who do not obtain it will be able to continue doing intercity journeys. Until then, if the decree is not modified in Congress, because it is pending amendments to be processed as a bill, the vehicles of Uber or Cabify may continue to operate as before. The taxi, however, understands that steps can already be taken to guarantee the ratio because, in their opinion, the municipalities have tools that allow them to regulate issues such as days off or schedules that, de facto, could adjust the operation of the VTC to 1/30

In Barcelona, ​​Elite Taxi, the Taxi of Catalonia Trade Union (Stac) and the Taxi Business Association have given the Generalitat de Catalunya until Friday to accept your claim that the VTC services are hired with an advance notice of minus twelve hours They also claim that, once their service is completed, these vehicles have to return to their bases and can not wander around the city, something that, in their opinion, increases the risk of illegal customer acquisition. In case the Generalitat does not accede to their requests, the unions will convene an assembly at the Barcelona airport to specify a calendar of indefinite mobilizations that would affect the Mobile World Congress that takes place in Barcelona in February.