Why Rome’s Taxi Shortage Keeps Making Headlines
When it comes to getting a taxi in Rome, the struggle is real, especially with the recent influx of tourists flocking to the Italian capital.
A recent report by Corriere della Sera revealed that a whopping 1.3 million phone calls for taxis in Rome go unanswered each month.
Despite efforts by the government and city administration to tackle the chronic taxi shortage, they face resistance from the powerful taxi lobby.
Last August, a new regulation was approved to increase the number of taxi licenses by 20% in larger cities like Rome to meet the growing demand. However, Italy’s antitrust regulator has repeatedly urged the introduction of more taxis in cities like Rome and Milan, which currently have 7,692 and 4,885 taxis, respectively.
The last time Rome increased its taxi licenses was in 2005, while Milan did so in 2003.
Recently, Italian Tourism Minister Daniela Santanché shared a video on social media showing a long line at the taxi rank outside Termini train station in Rome, sarcastically calling it “a nice business card for tourists arriving in the capital!!”
In a bid to address the taxi shortage, Milan announced a tender for 450 new taxi licenses, while Rome’s mayor Roberto Gualtieri pledged to issue 1,000 new permanent taxi licenses before Jubilee Year 2025, expecting a surge of pilgrims and tourists.
Amidst taxi strikes and protests, the lack of taxis in Rome remains a persistent issue. Rome-based Reuters correspondent Crispian Balmer recently took to Twitter to express his frustration after waiting 50 minutes for a taxi, remarking that “Rome doesn’t deserve any tourists” due to its failure to address the problem.
Balmer also highlighted that Rome taxi drivers claimed to make an average of €12,700 gross last year, sparking further outcry on social media.
Italian actress Nancy Brilli also shared her struggle of finding a taxi in Rome, missing an event at the British embassy as a result.
