WORLDWIDE TAXI FOCUS from Spain


NEW CATALAN LAW PAVES WAY FOR END OF RIDE-HAILING IN BARCELONA


Barcelona is preparing to phase out app-based ride- hailing services following a new transport law introduced by the Catalan government. The legislation will gradually eliminate around 600 urban VTC (PHV) licences in the metropolitan area, with the remaining 300 allowed to operate until their permits expire. The measure, set to take full effect by the end of 2026, is expected to reshape how visitors move around the city. The initiative seeks to resolve years of tension between taxis and VTC companies while ensuring that taxis remain Barcelona’s primary regulated service. A new model will apply to VTC operations requiring bookings at least two hours in advance, and for vehicles to remain available to the customer for one hour. The rules effectively end the on-demand convenience that made ride-hailing popular. Taxis will remain widely available and under the legislation, taxi drivers will face stricter rules prohibiting them from rejecting lower-fare trips in favour of longer, more profitable ones. The government says this will create a fairer system for passengers, ensuring tourists are not turned away or overcharged for short rides. Authorities also plan to create a geolocation platform to track taxis and VTCs in real time. Vehicles will be fitted with monitoring devices, allowing regulators to detect unmet demand and, if necessary,


issue


additional taxi licences. This system could help improve service reliability for visitors during peak travel seasons and special events.


from Australia


BUSINESSMAN SLAMS “OUT OF CONTROL” SYDNEY CAB DRIVERS


A Sydney businessman, Scott Kuru, has sparked a heated debate online after an “extraordinary tirade” against taxi drivers, whom he accused of being “out of control” and operating like a “mafia.” In a video posted to TikTok, Kuru claimed that he was


PHTM OCTOBER 2025


repeatedly refused a short trip home from Sydney Airport by multiple drivers. He said he was “begging and pleading” for a driver to accept his fare. Kuru’s frustrations were fuelled by what he called “Sydney’s Taxi Crisis,” where drivers allegedly refuse short trips, overcharge, and make up “fixed fares” on the spot. His sentiment was echoed by many social media users who shared their own negative experiences. One wrote: “Airport to Vaucluse they slugged me $120 for a 25-minute trip. Rip-off.” Another user from Melbourne said a driver refused to use the meter for a short, three-minute trip and tried to charge them $85, while an Uber ride for the same journey was only $11. In an effort to combat this issue, the NSW Minns Labour Government is set to introduce a trial of a $60 flat-rate fare from the airport to the Central Business District, beginning on November 3. This initiative comes after the NSW Point to Point Commission received frequent complaints of travellers being charged more than $150 for the 13- kilometre journey. Since November 2022, a taxi fare hotline has resulted in over 1,100 fines being issued to taxi drivers.


from India


PASSENGERS SURVIVE AS BOULDER CRUSHES TAXI IN INDIA


A major accident was narrowly avoided on the Nainital- Haldwani road in India when a large boulder fell onto a moving taxi. The vehicle, which was carrying two health department officials en route to the Nainital High Court from Haridwar, was significantly damaged. Despite the impact, both passengers miraculously escaped with no serious injuries, according to reports.


The incident temporarily disrupted traffic on the road. Following the event, Vivek Rai, the ADM of Nainital, issued a public warning: “appealed to the people to be cautious while driving on hilly roads during the rainy season and avoid unnecessary travel.”


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