Naples – The protest by Neapolitan taxi drivers is once again visible and direct. This evening, a banner appeared on the Via Acton tunnel, in the heart of the city, with a message addressed to the city councilor for mobility, Edoardo Cosenza: "Cosenza, free public transport."
A symbolic yet powerful gesture, it captures the growing discontent of a group that has felt neglected by institutions for years.
Behind that banner are the voices of dozens of taxi drivers who, once again, denounce the lack of attention paid to the sector, particularly regarding the regulation of local public transport and the role of taxis within urban mobility. There's talk of preferential lanes and limited traffic zones (ZTL). With the new construction sites opening on Corso Umberto and Via Manzoni in a week's time, the city will be in a tailspin as people return from vacation.
A long history of battles
This isn't the first time Neapolitan taxi drivers have raised the tone of their protests. In recent years, they've waged numerous protests, from protests against Uber and unlicensed taxi companies, accused of unfair competition, to strikes demanding stricter controls on irregular licenses and shift schedules.
They have repeatedly denounced the lack of a serious plan to integrate taxi services into the overall public transport system, especially in a complex city like Naples, where bus and subway shortages end up burdening taxi drivers.
Trade associations have often complained that they are only called upon when emergencies arise, without ever having a structured discussion with the administration. This attitude, they say, is being repeated today with Councilor Cosenza, whom they consider "too busy on multiple fronts" to concretely address the issues that have long weighed on the sector.
The request: respect and solutions
The message is clear: taxi drivers demand listening, involvement, and respect. The banner displayed on Via Acton, a strategic and symbolic point on the city's traffic network, is not only a gesture of protest but also a political warning: discontent risks turning into new demonstrations and roadblocks, as has happened in the past with marches and protests that have paralyzed city traffic.
Tensions remain high, and Neapolitan taxi drivers are preparing to return to the forefront of the city's disputes, determined not to be relegated to a marginal role in the future of urban mobility.
Reading this article, I realized that the situation of taxi drivers in Naples is very complicated. They seem to lack the necessary support from the institutions, and this could lead to more serious problems in the future. It's important that solutions are found.