Naples is in a traffic jam for the America's Cup, with taxi drivers sounding the alarm: "We're in the pre-race phase, and it's already paralyzed."

Naples – It doesn't take much to upset the delicate balance of Neapolitan traffic. The kickoff of the first construction sites and logistics for the America's Cup was enough to plunge Naples into a complex web of traffic jams that weaves from Piazza Garibaldi along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Via Acton, and the central Municipalities.

A taste of what could happen in the coming months, arrived as promptly as the reactions of those who work on the city streets every day.

Giving voice to the category's exasperation is the Basic Taxi Drivers Committee, which released a vitriolic statement denouncing the lack of effective planning by Palazzo San Giacomo.

"We've been saying it for some time: with the start of America's Cup activities, Naples would face an abnormally high traffic situation. And today we saw the first demonstration of this." — Comitato Tassisti di Base

The cost issue and the Piazza Vittoria hoax

The critical issues reported by taxi drivers affect both the city's overall livability and the sector's economy. With traffic at a standstill, journey times are dramatically extended, skyrocketing fuel consumption and reducing the number of trips made during the shift.

Weighing heavily on the protests is the decision to eliminate several historic parking areas. This is the case with the Piazza Vittoria parking area, which was removed to make way for road changes related to the sailing event. This decision, according to the grassroots organization, has had one result: turning the taxi parking area into an illegal and unauthorized parking lot.

“There is no extraordinary plan”

The Committee is targeting the Mayor's call for residents to use public transport, a measure deemed insufficient unless accompanied by a structured traffic plan.

Taxi drivers complain about the lack of concrete measures to limit access to private vehicles and protect preferential lanes for non-scheduled public transport. The widespread feeling among operators is that the institutions have left the city to fend for itself in the face of the logistical impact of a global event.

The press release concludes with a bitter remark reminiscent of the famous Totò film: "If this is how mobility is managed during an international event, then let us say one thing: 'Manage yourselves!'" But amidst the gridlocked streets of downtown, there's little to laugh about for Neapolitan mobility workers.