Posted on 06/30/2022 8:29:14 AM PDT by Ebenezer
(Translation)
The number of taxicab drivers on the island is decreasing, which is felt by the tourist who needs a transportation service and passengers who arrive in Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport early in the morning.
It is estimated that, in the last years, there has been a 40% decrease in the number of these workers, according to Juan de León, President of the Taxi Drivers Federation, who understands is due to factors that affect the economy in general.
According to data collected among cab drivers, it is estimated that there were over 5,000 taxis in Puerto Rico one decade ago.
Currently, the Bureau of Transport and Other Public Services has close to 1,300 registered. In the case of the Muñoz Marín Airport, the number of cab drivers working in shifts decreased from 500 to 50.
"There are less drivers, although there has not been an increase in passengers needing more units to provide them service. I understand that many colleagues have moved to other jobs and others have left Puerto Rico. The increase in expenses - such as gasoline - has had a big effect," de León stated.
According to Damaris Martínez with Public Relations at Aerostar Airport Holdings, some passengers have had to wait longer than usual to catch a cab and travel to their destinations on the island.
"When there are full flights arriving in the early morning, passengers have to wait occasionally because there are less taxicabs. In general, they have decreased, and I know of people who prefer leaving their car in the airport parking," Martínez added.
To Otoniel Adorno, former President of the Taxi Drivers General Union, the decrease has been caused by Uber and the government of Puerto Rico.
"Uber has destroyed the market and that is the state's negligence. The government has caused this debacle because it deceived the people [by] saying that this company is cheaper. But they never said that they charge three times as much when there is heavy traffic or poor weather," Adorno stated.
The taxi driver added that another problem is that the government has issued licenses to new cab drivers in a disproportionate manner - when there is no demand that warrants it - which has had a negative effect on those who make their living offering transportation services.
"They have saturated the market; this has done us terrible damage. The government has been negligent [by] issuing licenses to so many people," he pointed out.
Adorno was referring to the result of having too many taxis in a small market being that cab drivers moved to other industries, also affected by the cost of gasoline which is essential for transportation in Puerto Rico.
EL VOCERO attempted to reach Uber for a reaction to the taxi drivers' claims but was unable to at the time this edition closed.
Puerto Rico ping
I was there a few years back helping some distribution centers with med device stuff - got around just fine using Uber. I’m guessing that’s why there are fewer “taxi drivers” because they didn’t count the Uber/Lyft/etc drivers
“”Uber has destroyed the market and that is the state’s negligence. The government has caused this debacle because it deceived the people [by] saying that this company is cheaper. But they never said that they charge three times as much when there is heavy traffic or poor weather,” Adorno stated..”
***
Plus, they are pro-abortion and anti Trump. I take cabs now..
Took Uber several times when I was there in April - didn’t see any regular cabs during my stay in San Juan.
I forget. Which movie is this from?
Total Recall
Wash! The government protected taxi cartel is insufficiently protected by the government and demands fewer cab licences and Uber be eliminated.
Okay. I was under the impression that it was some Schwarzenegger film.
The original Total Recall was an Ahnold film.
Released in 1990. Starred....
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Rachel Ticotin
Sharon Stone
Michael Ironside
Ronny Cox
Car rental not mentioned.
Do rental cars exist, or are they prohibitively expensive to rent?
The main car-rental companies such as Avis, Hertz, and Enterprise are in business in Puerto Rico along with local outfits, but I don’t know about their prices.
When in P.R. I prefer Uber/Lyft to the cabs. At the airport the cabs are usually full size vans or minivans which they pack up with folks. Cabs are shared. If you’re lucky, you are first they drop off. If you are last, it’s an extra hour or more tour of places on the island that you really have no interest in seeing.
Unless you make some informal agreement with the cab driver to ride alone by paying whatever additional passengers would pay, but that could involve an arm and a leg.
Thats funny
I wonder how many Uber drivers formally drove a cab?
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