Yesterday, all members of the Santa Cruz City Council unanimously endorsed the weekly schedule for taxis that hold a municipal licence. The approved schedule will remain valid until December 31, 2024. However, it may be subject to modifications if circumstances such as cancellations, changes, or special events leading to a predictable surge in demand arise.
This regulation sets out the free days for the sector. Despite receiving approval from the Taxi Board, the Taxi Guild Association has filed a legal appeal against it.
The taxi schedule allocates leave days for different licence categories, such as A, B, C, D, and E (48 days annually) for even and odd licences, and 34 days for free operation.
The unanimously approved agreement, which adheres to a previous ruling favoured by the association, excludes licences with vehicles adapted for people with reduced mobility (PMR) from the timetable. These PMR licence holders can provide services uninterrupted every day of the week to all users. Furthermore, the Mobility department is instructed to commence the necessary procedures to amend the existing municipal ordinance regulating the taxi service in compliance with any relevant judicial decisions within its jurisdiction.
Criticism was voiced by La Gremial, who voiced concern over the approval of what they deemed to be a detrimental timetable by the politicians. They stated, “It will ultimately be the courts that protect the interests of both users and professionals.”
