Istanbul gears up for taxi revolution, but will traffic woes hold it back?

In a decisive move to alleviate Istanbul’s notorious taxi shortages, the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has announced its backing for a new App-Based Taxi Transportation System. However, stakeholders warn that without resolving Istanbul’s severe traffic congestion, the impact may be limited.

Will the app solve taxi shortages in Istanbul?

• Ministry’s support: Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, confirmed via his X social media account that the ministry will support the implementation of the new taxi system, which will initially involve 2,500 vehicles.
• Public endorsement: The minister expressed his hope that this initiative will effectively address the widespread taxi shortages in Istanbul, wishing the project success for the benefit of the city’s residents.
• UKOME meeting: The proposal will be a key agenda item at tomorrow’s UKOME (Transportation Coordination Center) meeting. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, along with its affiliated institutions, plans to cast favorable votes to ensure the initiative’s approval.

Taxi union points out traffic congestion as a route cause

• Taxi Union’s stance: Eyup Aksu, President of the Istanbul Taxi Drivers and Tradesmen’s Union, acknowledged the union’s involvement as a key stakeholder and expressed a tentative agreement to the increase in taxi numbers. However, Aksu emphasized that the solution to Istanbul’s taxi problem cannot be fully achieved without addressing the city’s severe traffic congestion.
• Traffic jam: Aksu pointed out that increasing the number of taxis without resolving the underlying traffic issues may not lead to a substantial improvement. He highlighted that during peak hours, traffic can surge by 94%, making it challenging for taxis to serve customers efficiently, even with the proposed increase in taxi numbers.