Tacoronte Taxis Plan Free Rides & On-Demand Service for Residents

The taxi drivers of Tacoronte are ready to try new things to better serve their customers. They're talking about options like shared taxis, on-demand rides, and a nighttime service – things that customers have already asked about.

Lázaro Manuel Fernández Expósito, the head of the Tacoronte Taxi Association, told us that they have all the paperwork ready to apply for the necessary permits. They just need to sort out a few small administrative details. They've also had several meetings with Eulalia García, the Tenerife Council's Mobility Councillor.

The shared taxi idea also has the official support of the City Council. Fernández explained that they've done the necessary tests and submitted cost estimates so that the service can be launched using local taxis that pay their taxes in Tacoronte.

These new ideas have been in the works for a while and have been approved by all the taxi drivers. They'll be especially helpful for people living in the higher parts of Tacoronte, like Agua García, Barranco Las Lajas, and La Caridad.

Many elderly people in these areas rely on taxis to get to the health center and social events. A taxi ride from these areas to Tacoronte usually costs around 6 euros. If the new plan is approved, these rides would be free for residents, with the costs covered by public funds.

Fernández explained that the on-demand service would work by calling a call center in advance to request a taxi to specific locations like the health center, bus stops, or the City Council.

For the shared taxi service, they've already planned out the routes and estimated the costs. Both the on-demand and shared taxi services would be free for users, paid for by public funds. The taxi drivers would be paid an hourly rate, which Fernández acknowledges might not seem like much at first, but there's always room to improve. The night service aims to ensure that at least one taxi is available during the night and early morning, providing better coverage for the community.

Lázaro Fernández Expósito emphasized how involved the taxi drivers are in the community. They've always supported local events like the vineyard race and the half marathon, Christmas shopping events, and the special education program at the María Rosa Alonso school. They also stepped up during difficult times like the pandemic, when a few drivers continued working to distribute food, and during the 2023 fire, when they helped evacuate residents, even taking them to Puerto de la Cruz.

This weekend, the taxi drivers are showing their support for the fight against breast cancer by wearing pink shirts with the logo of the Tenerife Breast Cancer Association (Ámate) and decorating their cars with ribbons. They've done this in previous years as well.