Dozens of taxi drivers took action at Brussels-South station on Thursday afternoon to draw attention to the disappearance of their taxi ranks and the lack of recognition by the authorities.
The protest action, organised by the Belgian Taxi Federation (FeBet), was marked by a striking example of civil disobedience: drivers themselves painted the word “taxi” and parking spaces on the road surface of the Frankrijkstraat, where their official stands were removed a few months ago. According to Khalid Ed-Denguir, chairman of FeBet, the action comes as a result of growing frustration in the sector.
“The taxi drivers are simply not being heard,” he declared during the action. He pointed out that the removal of the stands at the Rue de la France not only has a negative impact on the sector, but also on travellers. “In all major cities worldwide, whether it is an airport or a station, taxis are parked at the exit. In Brussels, while the South station is an international hub, our places are being removed under the pretext of works.”
The parking spaces in the Frankrijkstraat were removed earlier this year by Brussels Mobility due to work by the NMBS. According to the authorities, alternative parking spaces are provided, but according to FeBet, these are located too far from the station and therefore impractical for both drivers and passengers.
access to bus lanes
In addition to the restoration of the cancelled stands, FeBet is also asking for access to certain bus lanes. Specifically, the drivers want the designation “taxis” to be added to the bus lanes on Havenlaan, so that they become accessible to taxi traffic. This demand was reinforced on Thursday afternoon by a procession of taxis that moved from Brussels-South to the town hall of Sint-Gillis and the offices of Brussels Minister-President Rudi Vervoort and Brussels Minister of Mobility Elke Van den Brandt.
FeBet emphasizes that these actions are not a luxury, but a necessity. “The Brussels taxi sector has been struggling for years with a decreasing number of parking spaces, while the demand for clear and accessible taxi infrastructure is actually increasing,” says Ed-Denguir. Data shows that the number of parking spaces for taxis in Brussels has decreased by 20 percent in recent years.
With the promise of more actions in the near future, the conflict does not seem to be resolved any time soon.
The tensions between the taxi sector and the Brussels authorities are not new. In addition to the dispute over taxi ranks, taxi drivers are also confronted with the rise of alternative forms of mobility, such as electric scooters, which often unofficially use parking spaces originally intended for taxis. The sector has long called for stricter regulation and enforcement to prevent such situations.
Brussels Mobility emphasises that the decisions on taxi infrastructure were taken in consultation with the sector, but FeBet calls this consultation insufficient. The federation has stated that, if their demands are not met, further actions are not excluded.
crucial link in mobility
Thursday afternoon's action has once again fueled the debate on the position of taxis in the Brussels mobility landscape. While the city government is emphasizing sustainable mobility and shared transport, the taxi sector warns that taxis remain an essential part of public transport, especially for international travelers and people with reduced mobility. With the promise of more actions in the near future, the conflict does not seem to be resolved for the time being. FeBet emphasizes that they are willing to negotiate, but that the interests of their sector and customers can no longer be ignored.
