The Yaiza City Council has approved this Friday the update of urban rates and supplements for the taxi service in the southern municipality. In this way, the cost of this transport service during the day will increase from the current 0.63 cents to 0.75 per kilometer traveled, an increase of 19.05%. In contrast, the night rate will increase to 0.80 cents per kilometer, 27% more. It should be noted that this rate had not suffered an increase since 2016.
The flag-down rate during the day also undergoes variations in its price. From 06:00 to 22:00, the amount will be 2.70 euros, while lowering the flag at night and on holidays will be 3.40 euros.
On the other hand, the waiting hour increases from the current 14 euros to 15.40 euros, while this same fact during the night will go up to 17 euros. The Price Commission has communicated to the Southern Consistory the need to eliminate the concept of "radio taxi service", which was 0.50 cents, since the call that the user makes to demand the service does not imply any cost for the taxi driver and the distance of passenger pick-up from the moment of the call will always be estimated to the equivalent from the nearest stop.
Óscar Noda, mayor of Yaiza, explained in the Plenary session that "the technical study commissioned by the City Council determined an increase of 38 percent, but the resolution of the Canary Islands Price Commission is mandatory and binding, so the most reasonable decision to avoid legal conflicts and update the rate now is to accept the proposal, approving the rates to the maximum possible that the Commission proposes".
The southern leader also stressed that "the municipal government has been in permanent contact with the lawyer designated by the sector and both the Councilor for Transportation, Fátima Viñoly, and I have held meetings with taxi drivers to listen to their concerns and worries".
The City Council also approved modifications to the Municipal Taxi Service Ordinance, specifically, Yaiza eliminates the obligation to incorporate a ramp in those new vehicles that enter service that have a number greater than five seats, yes, reserving a quota of licenses in an amount never less than 5 percent of the total licenses of adapted vehicles.
The mayor appreciates "the diligence of the municipal technicians in the preparation of the study and the work of the councilor Fátima Viñoly who gave speed to the file to comply with the update of rates".
Currently, 67 taxi licenses operate in Yaiza, of which 55 correspond to ordinary licenses and 12 to adapted taxi licenses, these vehicles having mechanisms for people with reduced mobility. The holder of the license is not always the person in charge of driving the vehicle, as the taxi can be operated by other people, either an employee or a self-employed person, and as established by the municipal ordinance, employees must be hired full time.