In addition, the SBK will be abolished, giving the municipality full responsibility for issuing taxi permits.
Den Bosch is taking a pioneering role in the Netherlands by being the first municipality to introduce an online rating system for taxis, comparable to that of rideshare services such as Uber and Bolt. This initiative, supported by the city council, aims to increase the quality of taxi services by giving customers the opportunity to share their experiences. The implementation of this system marks a turning point for the mainstream taxi industry, with an emphasis on transparency, customer satisfaction and continuous improvement.
Councilor Roy Geers emphasizes the potential of the new system to take services in the taxi industry to a higher level. Using customer reviews, travelers can estimate the service quality of drivers in advance, which should provide an incentive for drivers to provide excellent service. High-performing drivers are rewarded with higher customer preference, while those with lower ratings have a motivation to improve their service.
amendment
Sjef van Creij of the simply DREVEN party indicated that they had introduced an amendment too late in response to the images on local television where taxi drivers were very surprised about the development of the proposal. He raised questions about the fact that complaining customers could lead to the revocation of a taxi driver's license. The amendment was rejected by 31 votes against and four votes in favor, after which we quickly moved on to the proposal itself.
"Our aim with this regulation is to promote quality and we have involved the drivers in this"
The taxi industry and the Bossche Quality Taxi Foundation (SBK) have collaborated with the municipality on the development of this system. Harrie Jansen, chairman of SBK, sees this as an important step forward, with the customer, who has had relatively little influence so far, now playing a crucial role in ensuring quality. This is a sign that the taxi industry needs to adapt and improve to meet customer expectations.
Councilor Geers indicated that it is currently not possible to immediately revoke a permit based on a conviction and that the amendment would add little. “It is possible to have a good discussion based on the assessments to improve the quality of taxi transport,” says Geers.
"We have been working on improving the quality of taxis for nine years and that has not been successful. We have been working on greening taxis for nine years and that has not been successful either. And now we are trying with an app for the sake of quality improvement, not ours. task!"
Despite the positive reception, there are concerns among some taxi drivers about the potential consequences of negative reviews, especially in situations beyond their control, such as handling drunk passengers. These concerns highlight the need for a carefully designed system that takes into account the interests of all parties involved.
adopted
The street taxi transport regulation in Den Bosch became adopted with 32 votes in favor and four votes against from De Bossche Groenen, simply DRIVEN and FOR Den Bosch. The new policy includes more than just the assessment system. All taxis in Den Bosch must wear a uniform roof light, and there will be additional taxi stands during major events.
In addition, the SBK will be abolished, giving the municipality full responsibility for issuing taxi permits. This should provide more clarity about the division of roles and tasks between the municipality and the taxi industry. The launch of the assessment system, planned for after the summer, is awaited with great interest, both within Den Bosch and in the rest of the Netherlands. The success of this initiative could inspire other municipalities to implement similar systems, which would benefit the taxi industry as a whole.
