Taxi drivers complain, Istanbul mayor listens
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Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 10, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Taxis are a part of everyday life in Istanbul. Mayor Kadir Topbaş, is making overtures to taxi driver as local elections near and new regulations concerning taxi permits and plates are due. He explains the changes to the regulations
Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş met with members of the Airport Taxi Drivers Cooperative yesterday to put the drivers at ease about the new regulations concerning taxis.
Taxi drivers have been in a state of worry over the last four months about new regulations that the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality will put in place concerning the operation of taxis, and taxi permits and license plates. Topbaş's meeting with one of the prominent taxi organizations was a move to allay those fears before the election and get a better feel for the problems taxi drivers face in Istanbul.
The new regulations have raised fear among taxi drivers that their taxi license plates will be canceled. This is not the case, said Topbaş.
Taxi drivers pay their taxes regularly, said Topbaş, adding that the request made by many taxi drivers that the private consumption taxes be lowered has been forwarded to Finance Minister Kemal Unakıtan. The other problem many taxi drivers complain about is the yearly licensing fee. "Cafes, restaurants, markets and delis only pay the licensing fee once. But the fact that taxi drivers are asked to pay a licensing fee every year is unfair. In reality, this is not that much money for municipalities. In Istanbul the fee is 330 Turkish Liras, in Bursa it is 500 liras and in İzmir it is 250 liras. We are working on a new regulation for licensing fees. If we are successful, then residents in other municipalities will push for a similar regulation," he said.
Topbaş also said the biggest reason for many of the problems taxi drivers face in Istanbul today is a result of unplanned urban development. "I know that taxi drivers work really hard to put bread on the table and that is why the municipality has been active in trying to alleviate traffic problems," he said. Since he has been in office, the municipality has revamped and rebuilt 189 roads and on ramps, as well as constructed over 300 kilometers of new roads, Topbaş said. The "seven hills, seven tunnels" project is at the forefront of the current municipalities’ efforts to ease traffic in the city.
Obstacles
"I know that one of the biggest threats taxi drivers face is unregistered taxis. Every citizen has the right to make a living of course, but legally ... The number of taxis we have in Istanbul now is sufficient to serve the needs of city. There is no need for more," he said.
"In large cities like Istanbul, we always recommend that people choose to commute by taxis as opposed to private vehicles, except on the weekends. But the service quality and education of taxi drivers plays an important role," he said. "The metropolitan municipality will continue its education programs for taxi drivers," he said, adding that taxis needed to make efforts to provide quality services so that people choose them over their own vehicles.
"You know better than anyone else what our efforts in Istanbul have been. You know this city inside and out. It the duty of the metropolitan municipality to protect and serve its taxi drivers," Topbaş said.
Taxi drivers have been in a state of worry over the last four months about new regulations that the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality will put in place concerning the operation of taxis, and taxi permits and license plates. Topbaş's meeting with one of the prominent taxi organizations was a move to allay those fears before the election and get a better feel for the problems taxi drivers face in Istanbul.
The new regulations have raised fear among taxi drivers that their taxi license plates will be canceled. This is not the case, said Topbaş.
Taxi drivers pay their taxes regularly, said Topbaş, adding that the request made by many taxi drivers that the private consumption taxes be lowered has been forwarded to Finance Minister Kemal Unakıtan. The other problem many taxi drivers complain about is the yearly licensing fee. "Cafes, restaurants, markets and delis only pay the licensing fee once. But the fact that taxi drivers are asked to pay a licensing fee every year is unfair. In reality, this is not that much money for municipalities. In Istanbul the fee is 330 Turkish Liras, in Bursa it is 500 liras and in İzmir it is 250 liras. We are working on a new regulation for licensing fees. If we are successful, then residents in other municipalities will push for a similar regulation," he said.
Topbaş also said the biggest reason for many of the problems taxi drivers face in Istanbul today is a result of unplanned urban development. "I know that taxi drivers work really hard to put bread on the table and that is why the municipality has been active in trying to alleviate traffic problems," he said. Since he has been in office, the municipality has revamped and rebuilt 189 roads and on ramps, as well as constructed over 300 kilometers of new roads, Topbaş said. The "seven hills, seven tunnels" project is at the forefront of the current municipalities’ efforts to ease traffic in the city.
Obstacles
"I know that one of the biggest threats taxi drivers face is unregistered taxis. Every citizen has the right to make a living of course, but legally ... The number of taxis we have in Istanbul now is sufficient to serve the needs of city. There is no need for more," he said.
"In large cities like Istanbul, we always recommend that people choose to commute by taxis as opposed to private vehicles, except on the weekends. But the service quality and education of taxi drivers plays an important role," he said. "The metropolitan municipality will continue its education programs for taxi drivers," he said, adding that taxis needed to make efforts to provide quality services so that people choose them over their own vehicles.
"You know better than anyone else what our efforts in Istanbul have been. You know this city inside and out. It the duty of the metropolitan municipality to protect and serve its taxi drivers," Topbaş said.