Naples – A tense atmosphere reigns among Neapolitan taxi drivers, who on July 31st attended another meeting at the Prefecture to denounce the collapse of urban mobility and the serious repercussions on working conditions.
At the heart of the discussion—forcefully requested by SITAN/ATN Unimpresa—are the chronic problems plaguing the taxi industry: uncontrolled traffic, chaotic management of port traffic, daily abuse, and widespread illegality.
The most striking political development was the absence of the city councilor for mobility, Edoardo Cosenza, who not only failed to show up for the institutional meeting, but also failed to delegate a substitute. This gesture, industry representatives see as yet another display of disrespect, not only toward the workers, but also toward the Prefecture itself.
"The councilor has been absent from our issues for years. He has never done anything for the community and continues to ignore the traffic crisis that is choking the city," harshly criticized Pasquale Ottaviano and Raffaele Serpico, spokespersons for the unions present.
Despite some initial responses from the institutions – such as the removal of kiosks and "illegal umbrellas" near the port – the real emergency, according to the taxi drivers, the unmanageable traffic congestion that paralyzes Naples remains, especially in key tourist hubs.
The consequences are serious: significant economic losses, exasperated customers who abandon rides, extremely high pollution levels, and risks to the health and safety of operators and citizens.
"Our work has become impossible. The city is at a standstill. No one is concerned about the environmental and health impact of this chaos. At a time when we should be cashing in, we're losing money," the representatives complain.
The category also laments the abandonment of strategic planning, with the Urban Traffic Plan now a "dead letter" and the structure dedicated to Sustainable Mobility, effectively dismantled.
The request: "The Prefect commissions Mobility"
Faced with the Municipality's persistent failure to comply, taxi drivers are now demanding a strong gesture: the Prefecture appointing commissioners to oversee urban mobility and non-scheduled public transport.
"We're not demanding that the construction work stop," Ottaviano and Serpico clarify, "but we need concrete solutions to accommodate the roadworks and guarantee our service. We've submitted proposals, but the City hasn't responded."
The trade union says it's ready to take the protest "to the streets and yards of the city" until structural measures are implemented to address the traffic and urban mobility problem. This mobilization risks further inflaming the Neapolitan summer.
Reading the article, it seems to me that the situation for taxi drivers in Naples is truly critical. Traffic and management problems have been present for some time, and no one seems to be taking responsibility. It's important that there are concrete solutions, otherwise the situation will only get worse.