The delegate councilor for Transport, Dámaso Arteaga, met yesterday with the different taxi buses with the purpose of analyzing the study commissioned last February by which, after the appropriate assessments, the appropriate ratio of taxi licenses in the municipality of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was determined, and which, according to the first assessments, sets between 100 and 150 licenses that are currently left over in the capital. Arteaga pointed out that the objective of this study is “to guarantee the economic balance of the activity, which can be specified, in turn, in the limitation of the number of authorizations and licenses of the activity and in the establishment of mandatory rates”, clarifies Arteaga .
“From the work delivered and the analysis carried out -progresses the delegate councilor- it is possible to draw some conclusions that are proposed for discussion, such as the average ratio, which is situated in a range between 3.03 licenses per thousand inhabitants (632 licenses) and 2.16 licenses per thousand inhabitants (582 licenses)” and added that “this figure represents between 100 and 150 fewer licenses than those currently in force in the municipality”.
In the conclusions of the report it is argued that “the alternative of rescuing licenses for this City hall it is proposed as the fastest measure to reach an optimal license ratio between 632 and 582″, says Arteaga, who insists that “the study also points out that the rescue would be insufficient or ineffective for the economic balance of the sector if it is not implement other measures that allow the sector to gain in competitiveness in the face of the development of urban mobility that has been taking place in recent years and that is expected to spread more quickly”.
For all these reasons, among the conclusions of the study, the key axes to improve the sector are cited, which would include increasing income, fundamentally through greater employment, improving the competitiveness of the sector; optimize the cost structure; integrated and professional management; boost to quality; and image enhancement.
To carry out these lines, the City Council could intervene in the development of a communication plan and improvement of the image of the sector that raises issues, among others, such as changing the exterior image of the taxi for a more modern and innovative one; communication aimed at publicizing the advantages of the taxi and promoting its use; review the uniformity, interior cleanliness and services offered inside the taxi; promote the renewal of the current fleet for sustainable vehicles (hybrid/electric), with measures such as subsidizing the renewal of older vehicles.
“And the sector -advances the councilor-, could collaborate with the introduction of technology in the management of service demand, with the use of platforms available in the market; commitment to quality, image and good professional work, building customer loyalty with on-board services and personalized attention”.
