Traffic Jams in Can Valero: Taxi Drivers Queue for Mandatory Taximeter Update

Why the taxis in Can Valero are queuing

In the morning, the smell of diesel and hot rubber fills the Can Valero industrial area. Not because of an accident, but because taxis have been piling up here for days, waiting for an appointment to reprogram their taximeters. Background: A uniform tariff has been introduced, and the devices in the vehicles now need to be adjusted to the new values.

Appointment chaos and long waiting times

According to industry sources, about 160 drivers are assigned a time window each day. That sounds scheduled, but it often ends in long lines on the access roads and waiting times that stretch for hours. Many drivers park on the shoulder, lean on the car hoods, and drink strong coffee while technicians reconfigure one machine after another.

The new tariffs: price per kilometer €1.20; base charge €2.50; surcharge for harbor/airport €4.65.

For passengers, that means delays in pickup, especially during peak times. Some travelers reported that they had to wait longer for a taxi or were redirected several times until a correctly programmed vehicle became available.

Voices from the street

"I have an 8:00 a.m. appointment, but I often end up stuck in traffic until midday," says Manuel, a driver from Palma, and forces a smile. "We understand the change, but the organization could be better." Another driver wishes for mobile technicians who can come to jobs, instead of sending everyone to one hall.

City and municipal administrations had announced the change, but practical implementation hits logistical limits. Appointments were allocated centrally, without always enough staff on site — this leads to bottlenecks and frustrated drivers.

What would help now

Practical proposals are on the table: longer service hours, additional technicians, and small, mobile units that perform the programming on site. Also a transparent online booking with real-time wait times would save many nerves.

In the short term: anyone calling a taxi in the coming days should plan for a bit more time. And for taxi drivers, there is hope that the system will soon run through and the queue in front of Can Valero will thin out.