Taxis in Thuringia: Halving the number and impending supply bottlenecks!

Taxis in Thuringia: Halving the number and impending supply bottlenecks!

The taxi situation in Thuringia worries many residents. The number of taxis has more than halved in the last 30 years. There are currently only around 800 taxis in use in Thuringia, compared to around 1,600 in 1992. The decline is particularly serious in rural areas, where taking taxis is essential for many people. Even in cities, longer waiting times are no longer uncommon MDR reported.

Why are there fewer and fewer taxi drivers? A key reason for the decline is the lack of drivers, which leads to fewer trips. The result is higher prices and a significant decline in available mobility. The Thuringia regional association of the transport industry (LTV) alarmingly suggests that serious supply problems could arise, especially when traveling to hospital visits.

Securing mobility in rural areas

To meet this challenge, LTV has thrown a new concept into the ring. Taxis should take over the rarely used public transport routes where large buses are simply uneconomical. The goal is to bundle trips through a digital system, perhaps via an app, and thus optimize utilization. This innovative idea could represent a decisive step towards strengthening taxis as part of the public service in rural areas. Loud Federal Taxi Association This is a central aspect for the quality of life in many areas.

The 2021 amendment to the Passenger Transport Act (PbefG) offers new potential. It leads to updated forms of transport, such as shared taxis and regular scheduled transport, which could replace uneconomical bus routes. A study by the Association of German Transport Companies estimates the nationwide demand at around 50,000 vehicles needed for such forms of transport. Herwig Kollar, President of the Federal Association of Taxi and Rental Cars, encouraged taxi and rental car companies to actively monitor these developments and create appropriate offers. This is because bundled on-demand transport could offer more favorable conditions than traditional public services, which in turn could represent good business.

Requests for funding

The constant problematization of the inadequate taxi supply in rural regions requires urgent political measures. The Federal Taxi Association is of the opinion that a cheap and comprehensive supply of mobility offers is not only a question of quality of life, but also a fundamental right for citizens. However, it should be noted that rental cars with drivers do not meet the same requirements as taxis.

As part of this reform, sharing journeys in rural regions could be a key to improving mobility. To date, however, the concept of sharing has been inadequately reflected in the PbefG. There is a need for action here. To meet local needs, municipalities should define how many vehicles are needed and what tariffs apply.

Finally, it remains to be hoped that the necessary steps will be taken to comprehensively secure people's mobility not only in cities but also in rural areas.