I spent a whole afternoon once trying to get some money and/or post a letter in Southern Italy but eventually gave up and went to bed like everybody else seemed to have done. I’m amazed anything ever changes but of course, that’s part of the charm.
Arkadian Arkadian
1 month ago
Thank you for the exposé. I didn’t know anything about it, and I should know…
You could now talk about beaches and the way they are licensed.
A new commentator who ‘arrived’ yesterday in a highly emotional state.
Adam P
1 month ago
Just back from Rome last week, using the Uber app to get an itTaxi was fine, did that twice from hotel in south of the city. Also picked up a taxi randomly in the street around 11pm. Paid for all taxis with a credit card. Maybe just Rome and time of year but not that bad and prices were good value. The drivers were all nice too as they let me practice my pathetic attempts at speaking Italian with them. Maybe i was lucky.
Doesnt mean the arguments in the article are not true, Rome’s tourist economy may make it a bit different.
Think you were very lucky! (See my post about having the exact opposite experience/ impression).
Billy Bob
1 month ago
Perhaps the Italians have seen the destruction that neoliberal globalism has bestowed on the working classes in other European countries and decided instead to protect their livelihoods and quality of life. Good on them
Ah, yes, the poor downtrodden taxi drivers, rather like the closed shop of train drivers in the UK. You have to hand it to these people in the public or heavily regulated sectors, how they like to posture as the victims rather than significant beneficiaries of the economic system, which doesn’t actually come close to a free market anywhere in Europe
Perhaps it’s a good job we don’t apply this principle to the provision of gas engineers and electricians, not to mention the food supply…..
Why not? The smashing of the unions all those years ago was supposed to lead to a utopia where we were all free to negotiate higher wages and salaries would soar as a result. What actually happened was pay stagnated and we now have full time workers needing government assistance to pay the bills
mike otter
1 month ago
Isn’t this just the same as the estatutos de trabajadores in Spain? I am sure France has its version. Whilst the positive thinking here is make sure all willing workers can get a living wage for self and family the negative impulse is based on preventing the workers electing a nutter if the state betrays them? or will the Military step in for the sake of civil and commercial order? or worse yet – will the workers takeover directly and bring out the guillotine? Its always struck me that the UK/US system of supifying and mystification of the tax payer creates a more stable society albeit much less equal. Since its swerve to fake socialism the Anglosphere model has had unfortunate side effects – rampant racism against the native population, massive real wage decreases and huge increases in crime. Eventually the remaining engaged or productive population in UK/US will need to decide – adapt to the South European model or become extinct.
Dick Barrett
1 month ago
There was situation very like this in Ireland until about 20 years ago when the government removed the licence restrictions at a single stroke. However, the taxi situation must not be used as a pretext for neoliberal attacks on secure unionised jobs in other sectors.
I’ve been doing business in Italy for over twenty years and much of what is written here about the taxi industry is true about the wider economy.
Although it’s only briefly alluded to, councils selling these taxi licences are also greatly invested in resisting change, hence the hostility to Uber, Lyft etc .
To some it might appear as admirable resistance to globalisation or something, but educated young Italians are voting with their feet and getting out to wherever they can find opportunities, be it London, America, Australia or prosperous areas within Schengen such as Germany and Norway.
Bruce Cartland
1 month ago
Surprised by this article. Clearly an undercurrent I didn’t pick up on.
My wife and I spent 4 weeks in Rome last October. Loved it.
We used taxis on several occasions without any problems. There were plenty of them and the prices were reasonable. Drivers were courteous and friendly.
Perhaps peak season might have been a different experience. Then again, we never go to places at peak times. Don’t like the crowds.
edmond van ammers
1 month ago
In Italy last year. Always a queue of available taxis. Or they use WhatsApp to locate you at your pick up point, arriving ‘pronto’. Finished a hike at the roadside between two towns, phoned for a taxi, which was there in 10 minutes. Drivers personable. Always used a credit card.
Ed Paice
1 month ago
Having just returned from three days in Rome I would advise anyone simply to use Uber. The fares may be 20% or so higher than taxis but the black minivans were all immaculate; the drivers charming (every single one got out to open the door for us); and the contracted fair was what you paid. On two occasions when the price differential with taxis was much higher and we opted to hail a taxi on the Uber price, the drivers were surly, the vehicles stank and were very cramped. As taxis are seemingly not bound to charging the indicative price range shown on the Uber app, the incentive to rip off the customer is high. Which is exactly what happened to us on both occasions – following the route taken on an app showing traffic snarl-ups clearly showed that and we ended up paying way more than the higher price offered by Uber. Having used Uber in many cities, its service in Rome was the best experienced anywhere. If you don’t like Uber, fine. But you use taxis at your peril and displeasure. This article has helpfully explained why this is so. Fascinating.
Philip Stott
1 month ago
To a lesser extent, the same thing happens in the UK.
A black cabbie I know told me that when he retires in a few years he should be able to get about £20K for his license.
Ernesto Candelabra
1 month ago
I suspect this is a regional problem in Italy and if so the article is misleading. I made two work trips to Pisa recently; taxis were plentiful, affordable and quickly available.
Simon Phillips
21 days ago
Strangely I never had issues getting a cab on my two visits to Italy (I was in Milan, Rome, Naples and Parma). Must have been very lucky.
Italy is hopeless. If you can’t figure out taxis, how the hell can you figure out even slightly complex problems.
I spent a whole afternoon once trying to get some money and/or post a letter in Southern Italy but eventually gave up and went to bed like everybody else seemed to have done. I’m amazed anything ever changes but of course, that’s part of the charm.
Thank you for the exposé. I didn’t know anything about it, and I should know…
You could now talk about beaches and the way they are licensed.
As in the article linked to (by the same author) in the piece above, you mean?
This certainly reflects my own experience. Don’t take taxis in Italy.
Reflects my experience also.
Perhaps FABIO PAOLO BARBIERI would care to comment?
Who would he be?
A new commentator who ‘arrived’ yesterday in a highly emotional state.
Just back from Rome last week, using the Uber app to get an itTaxi was fine, did that twice from hotel in south of the city. Also picked up a taxi randomly in the street around 11pm. Paid for all taxis with a credit card. Maybe just Rome and time of year but not that bad and prices were good value. The drivers were all nice too as they let me practice my pathetic attempts at speaking Italian with them. Maybe i was lucky.
Doesnt mean the arguments in the article are not true, Rome’s tourist economy may make it a bit different.
Think you were very lucky! (See my post about having the exact opposite experience/ impression).
Perhaps the Italians have seen the destruction that neoliberal globalism has bestowed on the working classes in other European countries and decided instead to protect their livelihoods and quality of life. Good on them
It’s not working, though, is it.
(That’s not a question, btw).
Ah, yes, the poor downtrodden taxi drivers, rather like the closed shop of train drivers in the UK. You have to hand it to these people in the public or heavily regulated sectors, how they like to posture as the victims rather than significant beneficiaries of the economic system, which doesn’t actually come close to a free market anywhere in Europe
Perhaps it’s a good job we don’t apply this principle to the provision of gas engineers and electricians, not to mention the food supply…..
Why not? The smashing of the unions all those years ago was supposed to lead to a utopia where we were all free to negotiate higher wages and salaries would soar as a result. What actually happened was pay stagnated and we now have full time workers needing government assistance to pay the bills
Isn’t this just the same as the estatutos de trabajadores in Spain? I am sure France has its version. Whilst the positive thinking here is make sure all willing workers can get a living wage for self and family the negative impulse is based on preventing the workers electing a nutter if the state betrays them? or will the Military step in for the sake of civil and commercial order? or worse yet – will the workers takeover directly and bring out the guillotine? Its always struck me that the UK/US system of supifying and mystification of the tax payer creates a more stable society albeit much less equal. Since its swerve to fake socialism the Anglosphere model has had unfortunate side effects – rampant racism against the native population, massive real wage decreases and huge increases in crime. Eventually the remaining engaged or productive population in UK/US will need to decide – adapt to the South European model or become extinct.
There was situation very like this in Ireland until about 20 years ago when the government removed the licence restrictions at a single stroke. However, the taxi situation must not be used as a pretext for neoliberal attacks on secure unionised jobs in other sectors.
“Neoliberal”
I’ve been doing business in Italy for over twenty years and much of what is written here about the taxi industry is true about the wider economy.
Although it’s only briefly alluded to, councils selling these taxi licences are also greatly invested in resisting change, hence the hostility to Uber, Lyft etc .
To some it might appear as admirable resistance to globalisation or something, but educated young Italians are voting with their feet and getting out to wherever they can find opportunities, be it London, America, Australia or prosperous areas within Schengen such as Germany and Norway.
Surprised by this article. Clearly an undercurrent I didn’t pick up on.
My wife and I spent 4 weeks in Rome last October. Loved it.
We used taxis on several occasions without any problems. There were plenty of them and the prices were reasonable. Drivers were courteous and friendly.
Perhaps peak season might have been a different experience. Then again, we never go to places at peak times. Don’t like the crowds.
In Italy last year. Always a queue of available taxis. Or they use WhatsApp to locate you at your pick up point, arriving ‘pronto’. Finished a hike at the roadside between two towns, phoned for a taxi, which was there in 10 minutes. Drivers personable. Always used a credit card.
Having just returned from three days in Rome I would advise anyone simply to use Uber. The fares may be 20% or so higher than taxis but the black minivans were all immaculate; the drivers charming (every single one got out to open the door for us); and the contracted fair was what you paid. On two occasions when the price differential with taxis was much higher and we opted to hail a taxi on the Uber price, the drivers were surly, the vehicles stank and were very cramped. As taxis are seemingly not bound to charging the indicative price range shown on the Uber app, the incentive to rip off the customer is high. Which is exactly what happened to us on both occasions – following the route taken on an app showing traffic snarl-ups clearly showed that and we ended up paying way more than the higher price offered by Uber. Having used Uber in many cities, its service in Rome was the best experienced anywhere. If you don’t like Uber, fine. But you use taxis at your peril and displeasure. This article has helpfully explained why this is so. Fascinating.
To a lesser extent, the same thing happens in the UK.
A black cabbie I know told me that when he retires in a few years he should be able to get about £20K for his license.
I suspect this is a regional problem in Italy and if so the article is misleading. I made two work trips to Pisa recently; taxis were plentiful, affordable and quickly available.
Strangely I never had issues getting a cab on my two visits to Italy (I was in Milan, Rome, Naples and Parma). Must have been very lucky.