Tallinn clamping down on taxi parking

Tallinn's municipal government is working on new regulations to prohibit taxis from waiting in metered parking areas. Photo by Christian Córdova/CC

TALLINN — As part of an ongoing campaign to reform the city’s taxi market, Tallinn’s municipal government is working on new regulations to prohibit taxis from waiting in metered parking areas.

Tallinn Transport Authority placed a few traffic signs forbidding taxis to stand or park in certain areas or face a small fine but that has not stopped taxi drivers from idling in all the most popular areas in Tallinn without putting anything to the meter. Now the regulation will be changed to allow taxis stand only in [private_supervisor]taxi stands. The regulation will reach Tallinn’s city council meeting next week.

Ruth Pärn, the manager of city transport department in Tallinn Transport Authority told Postimees that the metered parking areas are too often being occupied by taxis, leaving little parking space in those locations.

“That is why the taxis cannot wait for their clients there,” Pärn said. “Because the taxis are not standing there for nothing, they are waiting for clients.”

Pärn explained that at least two-thirds of all the taxis in the city try to stand on Viru Street but of course there’s no space for that many. She said the pile-up of vehicles is disturbing pedestrians who have to find a way through the cars to get into Old Town from the east.

This is not the only measure city hall is looking to take in reforming the city’s taxi market.

Tallinn’s municipal government is considering a number of options to drive out criminal taxi operators, and everything from increased police monitoring to painting all registered cabs green is on the table.

City hall is on the offensive against taxi companies practicing tourism scams and involved with criminal groups, something Tallinn cabbies have in common with some of their counterparts in Riga and Vilnius. The municipal plan has not been decided yet, but could include additional police monitoring of the conduct of taxi companies, more stringent business regulations and painting all the taxis one color.

However, the initiative appears to have stalled since January. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]taxi stands. The regulation will reach Tallinn’s city council meeting next week.

Ruth Pärn, the manager of city transport department in Tallinn Transport Authority told Postimees that the metered parking areas are too often being occupied by taxis, leaving little parking space in those locations.

“That is why the taxis cannot wait for their clients there,” Pärn said. “Because the taxis are not standing there for nothing, they are waiting for clients.”

Pärn explained that at least two-thirds of all the taxis in the city try to stand on Viru Street but of course there’s no space for that many. She said the pile-up of vehicles is disturbing pedestrians who have to find a way through the cars to get into Old Town from the east.

This is not the only measure city hall is looking to take in reforming the city’s taxi market.

Tallinn’s municipal government is considering a number of options to drive out criminal taxi operators, and everything from increased police monitoring to painting all registered cabs green is on the table.

City hall is on the offensive against taxi companies practicing tourism scams and involved with criminal groups, something Tallinn cabbies have in common with some of their counterparts in Riga and Vilnius. The municipal plan has not been decided yet, but could include additional police monitoring of the conduct of taxi companies, more stringent business regulations and painting all the taxis one color.

However, the initiative appears to have stalled since January.[/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]taxi stands. The regulation will reach Tallinn’s city council meeting next week.

Ruth Pärn, the manager of city transport department in Tallinn Transport Authority told Postimees that the metered parking areas are too often being occupied by taxis, leaving little parking space in those locations.

“That is why the taxis cannot wait for their clients there,” Pärn said. “Because the taxis are not standing there for nothing, they are waiting for clients.”

Pärn explained that at least two-thirds of all the taxis in the city try to stand on Viru Street but of course there’s no space for that many. She said the pile-up of vehicles is disturbing pedestrians who have to find a way through the cars to get into Old Town from the east.

This is not the only measure city hall is looking to take in reforming the city’s taxi market.

Tallinn’s municipal government is considering a number of options to drive out criminal taxi operators, and everything from increased police monitoring to painting all registered cabs green is on the table.

City hall is on the offensive against taxi companies practicing tourism scams and involved with criminal groups, something Tallinn cabbies have in common with some of their counterparts in Riga and Vilnius. The municipal plan has not been decided yet, but could include additional police monitoring of the conduct of taxi companies, more stringent business regulations and painting all the taxis one color.

However, the initiative appears to have stalled since January. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]taxi stands. The regulation will reach Tallinn’s city council meeting next week.

Ruth Pärn, the manager of city transport department in Tallinn Transport Authority told Postimees that the metered parking areas are too often being occupied by taxis, leaving little parking space in those locations.

“That is why the taxis cannot wait for their clients there,” Pärn said. “Because the taxis are not standing there for nothing, they are waiting for clients.”

Pärn explained that at least two-thirds of all the taxis in the city try to stand on Viru Street but of course there’s no space for that many. She said the pile-up of vehicles is disturbing pedestrians who have to find a way through the cars to get into Old Town from the east.

This is not the only measure city hall is looking to take in reforming the city’s taxi market.

Tallinn’s municipal government is considering a number of options to drive out criminal taxi operators, and everything from increased police monitoring to painting all registered cabs green is on the table.

City hall is on the offensive against taxi companies practicing tourism scams and involved with criminal groups, something Tallinn cabbies have in common with some of their counterparts in Riga and Vilnius. The municipal plan has not been decided yet, but could include additional police monitoring of the conduct of taxi companies, more stringent business regulations and painting all the taxis one color.

However, the initiative appears to have stalled since January. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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