the essential
Toulouse taxis say they are “abandoned” by Toulouse town hall, to which they nevertheless pay a compulsory parking fee. Prohibited parking is increasing in reserved spaces.
The community of 500 taxi artisans from Toulouse and Toulouse Blagnac airport has been going through turbulence in recent years. Competition from VTC drivers, reform of medical transport… Demonstrations and snail operations on the ring road have been returning at regular intervals for around ten years.
Relations with Toulouse town hall, which have been good for several years with active collaboration between the unions and the elected officials in charge of the file, seem to be entering a more complicated phase.
“It’s simple, we feel totally sidelined by the Toulouse town hall. Working as a taxi in this city today has become a priesthood. Traffic, parking, works, it’s real hell” , explains Philippe Duran, president of the majority union UNT 31.
“The relationship with the previous deputy Mr. Bolzan was going well, with the new elected official it is more complicated,” adds Stéphane Abeilhou, spokesperson for UNT Occitanie.
Several places crystallize the discontent of taxis: firstly the Matabiau station, where the spaces reserved for taxis are “very often” occupied by private vehicles, or by VTC drivers. “Yet there is a large prohibition sign at the entrance. We ask for access control with a barrier, but we are told that this is not possible. And we are often insulted when we ask for respect of our locations”, says Philippe Duran.
DDM
Many vehicles also park in double lines in front of the bus station, making access difficult for taxis. “It’s simple, as soon as there is a Toulouse Paris arriving or leaving, it’s the same hassle. We were promised video-verbalization, or the materialization of a bus lane – fairly well respected by motorists – but we don’t see anything coming.
DDM
Another complaint from taxis against the town hall is the non-reporting of vehicles that park at a taxi rank. “There are many examples: Place Wilson, where we even see municipal vehicles parking on taxi stands, but also in Esquirol, Jeanne d’Arc or Compans-Caffarelli. It’s every day. We pay 210 euros per year to be able to work and use these reserved spaces.”
DDM
More rare, but also penalizing for taxis, is the “zeal” of certain municipal agents. “A taxi dropped off a customer in front of the Crowne Plaza, he was fined by a municipal agent.” Or even the abusive verbalization of the automatic parking control system, “Lapi”. “I parked in a side alley to wait for a customer. I was fined 30 euros,” says Philippe Duran.
DDM
Toulouse town hall responds: “4083 verbalizations since 2023”
Contacted by La Dépêche, the Toulouse town hall responded, through Emilion Esnault, deputy in charge of Security.
“On our side, there is no abandonment or exclusion from taxis. The municipal police carry out fine-tuning missions regularly. In 2023, officers sanctioned 2,793 motorists for parking in a taxi space. For the year 2024, we are at 1290 fines. The places most fined are Place Wilson (1259), rue Paul Vidal (906) and rue Ozenne (355).”
“As for the Matabiau station and its surroundings, we verbalize in video and in “physics” all along Boulevard Pierre Sémard, in front of the bus station and in front of the Matabiau station itself,” concludes Emilion Esnault.
If you stop or park in a space reserved for taxis, you may be fined a fixed fine of €35 (€75 if the payment deadline has been exceeded). Your vehicle may be immobilized and impounded if you are absent or if you refuse to move your vehicle.
