Taxi drivers in Goiânia are requesting more rotating taxi stands.
A model already adopted in several capital cities is more efficient and lowers fares; Goiânia currently has around 400 fixed taxi stands and 50 rotating ones, which forces taxi drivers to return to their base after dropping off passengers at their destination, without the right to what they call a 'return passenger'; in the rotating system, the reduction in travel expenses could reach 50%; professionals are requesting intervention from the Public Prosecutor's Office to curb the sale and rental of taxi stand permits; "It is necessary to know what is really happening," says councilman Elias Vaz, who is participating in the meeting and has a project to increase the taxi fleet in the capital.
Goiás247_ Taxi drivers in Goiânia will meet next Sunday, the 19th, to discuss the rotation of taxi stands, a model already adopted in several Brazilian municipalities, such as Rio de Janeiro, where fares are cheaper. Currently, according to SindiTáxi, there are approximately 400 fixed stands and around 50 rotating ones in the capital. In practice, most taxi drivers must return to their base after dropping off a passenger at their destination, without the right to what they call a 'return passenger'.
With the rotation system, a driver who takes a passenger, for example, from Jardim Goiás to the Bus Terminal could use the taxi stand at the destination until making another trip, saving fuel. "The reduction in travel expenses could reach 50%," estimates Docival Carlos da Rocha, a taxi driver in Goiânia for eight years. "And this would also result in savings for the passenger; we could reduce the fare," he adds.
He points out another advantage for the passenger: shorter waiting times. “With the expansion of the rotating taxi stands, the taxi driver won't waste time traveling from one stand to another. There will be more drivers available to meet the needs of the population,” explains Docival.
The president of SindiTáxi, Silone Antônio dos Santos, says that the inequalities in the service need to be corrected. “Those who have a fixed fare can work at the rotating fare point, but those who have a rotating fare cannot work at a fixed fare point. That's wrong.”
But, according to him, the government also needs to resolve other irregularities in the sector. Taxi drivers have already filed complaints with the Public Prosecutor's Office regarding a series of problems. The most serious are the sale and rental of permits to use taxi stands.
“When someone gets a permit, they know they can't pass it on. But there are reports of fees ranging from 60,000 to 300,000 reais to sell a spot. And from 1,000 to 3,000 reais for rent. That's what we call investors. People enter the system, buy the concession, and then rent it out. All of this increases the tariff value,” says Silone Antônio dos Santos. The allegations are being investigated by the Public Prosecutor's Office for the Defense of Public Assets.
Councilman Elias Vaz (independent), who will also participate in the meeting, argues that the entire situation should be properly investigated. "It's necessary to know what is really happening. The main objective is to adopt measures to correct any irregularities and improve the quality of service provided to the public."
Also to be discussed during the meeting is a project authored by Elias Vaz, which is already being processed in the City Council, to increase the taxi fleet in Goiânia.
Service
Meeting date: 19/05/2013
Location: Carlos Eurico Auditorium - Goiânia City Hall
Time: 9 hours