Taxi Strike?

[amoses]

That was it as far as I know or can tell - no other protests and everything is business as usual. The law was passed to allow UBER (and others in) but no one has taken advantage of the new freedom yet.

Has this new law impacted the transportation from the airport? I know that you used to have to take the shuttle vans, there was no other choice. No one else was allowed in there. Still the case?

 

[ggunn]

Has this new law impacted the transportation from the airport? I know that you used to have to take the shuttle vans, there was no other choice. No one else was allowed in there. Still the case?

That will be interesting to watch. I believe the rule about the shuttles is/was a taxi union rule, not a law.

 

[Christi]

Has this new law impacted the transportation from the airport? I know that you used to have to take the shuttle vans, there was no other choice. No one else was allowed in there. Still the case?

Don’t expect that to change. Shuttles and taxis are one in the same - all part of the same union and that’s what they’ve agreed on.

Aside from that, our airport is not big enough to have taxis lined up outside and locals don’t WANT that either. If taxis were in the airport, locals could say goodbye to picking up Friends and family.

All of you with your aversion to the shuttle vans - it’s a small tiny piece of your vacation - and acceptance is the answer to all of your little vacation woes haha

 

[Dogbowl]

I had an opportunity to catch a “taxi” in Belize City from the airport and all I can say is that Cozumel’s shared vans are much better! It is what it is and I’m ok with it.

 

[mstevens]

I've never understood the aversion to the shuttle vans. Sure, I do prefer walking directly out to the car where my wife usually has an ice-cold bottle of water waiting (and maybe an empanada from El Paste or some such), and driving right to the house and leaping in the pool. It saves, like, 10 minutes over when I use the vans, maybe 15. The vans usually drop off at Scuba Club and Hotel Cozumel before driving to my house. The cost is trivial. It takes a minimum of 12 hours of travel to get from my house in the US to my house in Cozumel and I can never start later than 0300, so I'm in no condition to drive when I arrive anyway. If my wife's too busy to come to the airport, I'm happy to use the shuttle.

And good luck finding parking at the airport most days lately. There are lot more cars on the island and locals are traveling more.

 

[El Graduado]

Have you noticed the new gates and fence running around the front of the airport? That fence is to make it easier control traffic into the airport parking lot, because the parking lot is being privatized. Will be interesting to see how that works with drop-offs and pick-ups. Ticket to enter, pay to leave I suppose. The gates are at the entrance on airport boulevard.

 

[Christi]

Have you noticed the new gates and fence running around the front of the airport? That fence is to make it easier control traffic into the airport parking lot, because the parking lot is being privatized. Will be interesting to see how that works with drop-offs and pick-ups. Ticket to enter, pay to leave I suppose. The gates are at the entrance on airport boulevard.

No, I haven't! Haven't been to the airport in a few weeks. Interesting!

 

[Carlos Danger]

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Serious? Just posting what I saw and backed up by pics. I'm a firm believer in "don't believe everything you see on the internet" so was looking for some better information from our local sources here.

My guess is it was more of a short protest rather than an American style strike that would last for days or weeks.

I seem to remember a story about some motorized tricycle type vehicles that would have competed for the taxi business. Something like three came to the island and the next morning they were all three submerged in the sea.

I can't say I care one way or another. We make it to Coz 2-3 times a year and while I'm sure I have paid the gringo tax on some cab rides, it's never been enough to bitch about. When I'm in my happy place, $2 is not going to raise my blood pressure.

Safe travels all,
Jay

I was there during the protest, but didn't really notice much of it...

I found out around 4:00p from some friends who own Kristals right on Melgar, which turned out to be good timing. Think the stoppage was originally scheduled between 6p and 11p from calle 7 sur up to around the ferry pier, so warned some other friends that were headed into town around 6:00p. From my vantage point it did not seem too disruptive. We made it up to Guido's for dinner, but after that it seemed to have fizzled.

Most of the locals I spoke with shared Christi's sentiments. It's understandable that the taxi establishment are upset; that seems to happen in every part of the world where old-school taxis suddenly have to compete. As a consumer though, having these types of peer-to-peer ride-sharing options can be a very handy convenience. One thing seems pretty certain; it will keep expanding into any market it can for the simple reason that people want it.

What really upsets me the most about the whole "Uber" phenomenon is that I didn't think of it first!

 

[Brodydog]

Looks like the taxi drivers have nothing to worry about....or do they?

 

[The Chairman]

So who's picking me up a week from Saturday at the Airport?