Taxi Dispute

[Chris18648]

  Thanks Felicity.!!

[kevsimo]

Hi again,

Cosetta made some excellent points which reflect the information that I had also been given about the local situation.

Obviously sensible long term solutions lie within the local political & business community. The taxi drivers clearly need greater regulation in terms of how many operate, the prices that they try to charge and their threatening behaviour towards  local businesses and tourists.

Clearly avoiding using them whenever possible and staying more local to town etc may start to hurt them financially. But as I mentioned in my original post my concerns lie with my friends at Paradise (and other villa owners) who are a little further out of town and risk losing business because greedy taxi drivers are dictating how they operate their business. I also resent the fact that the actions and attitudes of the drivers should start to dictate where myself and others can book our holidays.

I am encouraged that so many people are obviously in broad agreement, but also a little frustrated that nobody in the local community can apparently see the bigger, longer term picture. I will stop as I am obviously preaching to the converted, but once again appeal to everyone and anyone on the forum who can exert any local pressure to try to do so.

Many thanks KS

[rat2]

Hi,

Being new to this forum, I have just spent about an hour reading through all the posts on this thread. As a non-drinking, car-owning Kalkan resident, I have never had occasion to use local taxis, but I sympathise with those who have. I am, however, affected by the situation – it is often impossible to park close to the local supermarkets because of the number of taxis parked immediately outside – their drivers then have the gall to accost me and mutter insults when I refuse their services.

I agree that boycotting will hurt the taxi drivers, but I don’t believe this is an effective solution to the problem. The number of cars in Kalkan has risen dramatically in the last year or so, partly perhaps because of boycotting, and Kalkan has only exacerbated the problem by increasing the No Parking zones. The parking problem can only get worse, particularly when the new development on the hill above Akbel, similar future projects and existing empty properties become populated.

It’s probably a good thing the Mayor doesn’t read this forum – as Cosetta has told us, criticising him is maybe not good for one’s health. To have the power they obviously have, taxi drivers are probably protected by a ‘higher authority’ – with a reputation for being a similar health hazard. ‘Kalkan Taxi ‘ is clearly not a ‘family business’ but a cartel of owner drivers.  I would guess that the company is in a no-lose position, taking a percentage of takings but not having to compensate individual owners when they ‘go bust’. The Mayor is clearly responsible for issuing too many licences – I wonder why?

I think my ‘solution’ to the problem would be on the lines of:

• Cut taxi licences by 50%
• Provide a low-cost ‘park and ride’ service with 3 or more car parks. The new grossly under-utilised bus terminal car park could be one and others could be located at KiÅŸla and Kalamar. DolmuÅŸ should run at, say, half hour intervals (with a published schedule) and stop at strategically placed intermediate, clearly marked fare stages. This service could provide employment for drivers displaced by 1 above – if they’re not too greedy. A maximum of, say, 3 taxis should be allowed to wait at the car parks to take overflow passengers who don’t want to wait for the next bus.
• Taxi fares should be strictly regulated with appropriate fines for over-charging.
• Full-time Kalkan residents should have permits to use the limited parking space in the centrum.

I think our influential Turkish friends should be asked to put such suggestions to candidates for the next local elections and ask for the problem to be addressed in their manifestos. If not addressed, the problem will escalate and just be another nail in the coffin for Kalkan’s future as a tourist resort.

r2

[jane on hols]

Is this dispute still going on? we arrive in 2 weeks, and usually we walk to the Kalamar beach club, but rely on a "free" taxi to take us back. Will this still be the case, or would we have to walk back up that hill?
Thanks, Jane

[felicity]

Hi jane - unless anything has changed in the last few weeks - no free taxi to and from the Kalamar beach club....   Sorry

[jane on hols]

Oh dear, they must really be suffering then, as I for one will not use the club if i have to walk back up that hill!

[kalkanbelle]

Are they still running free water taxis to any of the beach clubs? 

[Blue Lizard]

Jane..if you ask them to call you a taxi, the man behind the bar will do so..... or he might say"madam!you are a taxi!!"

[Brooksie]

John
Do you know what they are like uphill with about 3 litres of Efes onboard?

[Cosetta]

Last night I learned some new information from an influential member of the Turkish community here regarding the taxi situation.  Apparently some -- perhaps most -- of the shuttle buses and boats being operated by various hotels, pansyons, beach clubs and supermarkets did not have a license to offer these shuttle services legally. A general meeting of taxi drivers and businesses and hotels took place. The taxi drivers complained about the illegal shuttle services being operated.

Since then, some of these same establishments have applied for a legal license to operate shuttle services, and that should be forthcoming ... eventually.  At least one hotel has gotten a licence and is operating a shuttle service.

It was suggested that anyone taking a taxi request and require that the taxi meter be operated throughout the journey, however short.  If the driver will not oblige or says it is broken, don''t take that taxi.

The other suggestion, mentioned here already, is find a specific driver you feel is honest and reliable, take his phone number, negotiate a price with him but don''t broadcast it to others (or here online).  And, very important, do not call your friendly taxi to pick you up at any supermarket.  The supermarkets have assigned taxi drivers and an outsider coming to pick you up there will cause a fight, verbal or otherwise.  Meet your driver a short distance away.

[alantj]

I think the licence issue may be just a red herring used to try to justify stopping the shuttle bus services. When I was at the Samira Deluxe recently I was told the service was fuly licenced but this made no difference to the taxi drivers opposition to the service.



   

[kalkanbelle]

Cosetta - are you saying that all the taxi boats operated by the beach clubs and hotels have also stopped now?  I have asked this question a few times but noone has replied?  Would be interested to know so that I can inform my villa guests.

[Cosetta]

My understanding is that the beach clubs shuttles have stopped but as i don''t use them myself, hopefully someone else can confirm if any are operating or not.

[Blue Lizard]

maybe the taxi cartell are going to run a yellow submarine from the harbour?

[Cuddles]

At last - the perfect solution to this problem.  I will rent these out at £10 a week.  Any takers?

http://arthousedesign.co.uk/powerblades/products.html

John 

No good for my mother in law then, weight limit 300lbs, she''d need 2 sets.

[kevsimo]

Thanks again to Cosetta and r2 for a more informed opinion & some good suggestions. I do hope that there are genuinely moves afoot behind the scenes to resolve this issue.

With respect to the beach club water taxis, these were all running as normal two weeks ago. Particularly enjoyed the Palm Beach Club.

Regards KS

[kalcamp]

beach club water taxis are running.