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The fact that rates in Groningen are often on the high side is not always due to deliberate detours by taxi drivers. On the contrary, Groningen taxi drivers chimed in RTVNoord the alarm clock and ask the municipality to enter into a discussion. They are no longer allowed to drive in more and more places and they are no longer allowed to use bus lanes, so they have to make detours more often.

The customer is the victim of this because a ride easily requires 10 to 15 minutes extra travel time, and that distance must ultimately be paid by the customer.

"Each time we have to look for new routes to get to the customer, which often involves detours and therefore more cleaning time, which is quite annoying for the customer because they are sometimes in a hurry. Normally you drive somewhere in 10 minutes, but on and on the deposit you are just 20 to 25 minutes longer on the road."

According to one of the taxi drivers, there was no discussion with the municipality about the refurbishment of the Grote Markt, but it was a fait accompli. Due to the change, the municipality is less accessible, which entails higher costs for the customer. Customers do not always respond positively to the itinerary, so every time taxi drivers have to log out that it was changed within a day without any consultation with the taxi drivers. The only thing they can say to the customer now is 'sorry'.

The spokesman for traffic alderman Philip Broeksma (GroenLink and also a member of the Groningen Bereikbaar steering group), indicates that it has been decided to only allow traffic on the bus lane for collective transport, while the taxi is individual transport. In addition, it would also have to do with road safety that taxis are not allowed to drive on the bus lanes.

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Costs

The detour is not immediately a financial loss for the driver if the customer pays for it, but the rising costs of insurance and the purchase of an exemption do not help drivers in the revenue model. Drivers also complain about the non-transparency of the costs for exemptions. They have risen since last year from EUR 112 to EUR 350 without giving any reason. Nevertheless, according to the municipality, there is a reduction for electric taxis.

conversation

According to the taxi drivers, the municipality should talk to the drivers. The problem is that there is no official discussion body. Taxi drivers do put their hand in their own bosom for this. “We are all small entrepreneurs and not very organized. There is an entrepreneur app in which matters are discussed,” says Bouwman. The municipality itself is stubborn when it comes to solutions. According to Bouwman, even phrases such as “if you don't like the answer, go to the ombudsman.”

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Groningen will look different in the future with more space for green, meeting, cycling, walking and playing. In short, more space for the people who live and work in our municipality. In this way, Groningen remains a vibrant municipality with a lively economy and a rich social and cultural life where it is good to live, work and stay.

The spokesman for the alderman has informed the editors of RTVNoord that they want to talk to the taxi drivers. Only that invitation has not yet reached taxi drivers. The fact that Groningen does not have much to do with taxi drivers can also be found on the municipality's website.

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Unfortunately, a search for the word 'taxi' or 'target group transport' on the municipality's website yielded no results, except for the statement – ​​'if you can't figure it out, please contact us by phone. We like to help you." Within the mobility vision apparently there is no room for taxis or target group transport.

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