Arnhem is tightening the reins to tackle the chaos in the local taxi industry.
The city council is introducing a reporting centre where customers can file complaints about misconduct by taxi drivers and is promising more monitoring of compliance with the rules. The reason for this is the many complaints about excessive prices and unacceptable behaviour by some taxi drivers, particularly during events in the city. noted The Gelderlander. The problems are piling up, with numerous examples of exorbitant rates and abuse of the situation.
During King's Day 2023, partygoers were faced with taxi drivers charging 150 euros for a ride from Arnhem to Zevenaar, a route that normally costs a fraction of that amount. A short ride to Arnhem-Zuid was easily charged 40 euros, more than double the usual price of 18 euros. The lowest point was when war veterans who had attended the commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem had to pay 40 euros for a ride to their hotel, while the regular price is only 15 euros.
free taxi market
The problem is deeply rooted in the free market that characterizes the taxi industry. Drivers are not bound to fixed rates and can ask whatever they want with excursions outside the meter. This leads to situations where customers, with few other options, are forced to pay the exorbitant prices. Although there are many well-meaning taxi drivers who abide by the rules, the image of the industry is overshadowed by the so-called 'cowboys'.
The Arnhem council faction of Arnhem Centraal sounded the alarm and urged alderman Nermina Kundic to take measures. Kundic calls the behavior of the malicious drivers "unacceptable" and has promised to take firm action. The new reporting center should offer customers an accessible way to report abuses, which will provide better insight into who is not adhering to the rules.
In addition, the alderman wants more supervision and enforcement. Although the national Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) is responsible for checking taxis, Kundic believes that this happens far too little. She therefore wants intensive consultation with the ILT to organize extra supervision, especially around busy events in locations such as the Gelredome.
"The fraudulent practices in the taxi world must come to an end," noted De Gelderlander.
Another solution on the table is the introduction of a local taxi regulation. Such regulations, which already exist in other cities, impose specific requirements on drivers, such as the mandatory wearing of a quality mark. Drivers who do not comply run the risk of losing their quality mark and thus their right to exist in the city.
To accommodate the well-intentioned drivers, the municipality wants to give them priority in using stands, such as the planned taxi zone on Willemsplein. They are also allowed to use the bus lane. With this, Arnhem hopes to make a clear distinction between professional drivers and the malicious ones.
national approach
Although the measures at local level are a step in the right direction, Kundic emphasizes that national legislation is needed to tackle the problem structurally. The revision of the Passenger Transport Act 2000, which several cities are pushing for, should make the rules for the street taxi market clearer. Only then can municipalities take effective action against drivers who ignore the rules.
The measures in Arnhem are receiving a lot of support from residents, but also from well-meaning drivers. "It is good that the municipality is now taking action," says an Arnhem taxi driver who wants to remain anonymous. "We work hard and honestly, and it is frustrating that a few bad apples are ruining our image."
Arnhem hopes to put an end to cowboy practices in the taxi industry with this mix of local and national measures. The coming months will show whether the new approach has sufficient effect to restore the confidence of customers.
