More taxi strikes planned across Alicante, Valencia and Castellón in ongoing row with ride-hailing apps
Taxis in Alicante claim the expansion of ride-hailing services like Uber and Cabify has got “out of control” in recent years
Taxi drivers across the Valencian Community are preparing to take to the streets again, with new protests planned for Tuesday April 29, Wednesday May 7 and Thursday May 15 in Alicante, Castellón and Valencia.
The demonstrations are being organised by seven of the main taxi associations in the community, who say the situation has reached breaking point due to what they describe as a “regulatory vacuum” and a lack of action from the regional government.
At the centre of the dispute is the rapid growth of ride-hailing services, often referred to as VTCs, which include app-based platforms similar to Uber and Cabify. Taxi representatives argue that these services are expanding too quickly and without the same restrictions that apply to traditional taxis.
According to the sector, more than 800 new VTC licences have been granted in the Valencian Community over the past year alone, with more than 5,000 additional applications still pending. Taxi groups say this surge is putting serious pressure on their livelihoods and changing the balance of the transport market.
They also claim that the regional government has failed to follow through on promises to introduce new rules to regulate the sector. A decree law had been expected to clarify how VTC services can operate, including limits on where and how they pick up passengers, but taxi organisations say progress has stalled for more than a year.
Tensions between taxis and ride-hailing platforms have been building across Spain for years, with major strikes and protests seen in cities like Madrid and Barcelona in the past. At the heart of the issue is the difference in how each sector is regulated, with taxis subject to stricter controls on fares, numbers and operating areas.
In the Valencian Community, drivers say the situation has worsened in recent months, with reports of unlicensed activity and increasing competition in busy urban areas. Some groups have also raised concerns about safety after what they describe as “violent altercations” between taxi and VTC drivers in several locations.
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