- Mayor Alejandro Eder pledged to implement greater controls and use technological tools to combat illegal transportation.
- An additional 72 taxi lanes will be enabled, adding to the 32 already existing, to improve organization and punish those who use these spaces without authorization.
- The mayor highlighted the importance of upcoming international events such as the U-20 Women’s Soccer World Cup, the Petronio Álvarez Festival and COP 16, which will boost the transportation sector in Cali.
Santiago de Cali, June 22, 2024
The Mayor’s Office of Cali and the Ministry of Mobility held a key meeting with more than 50 representatives of the city’s taxi drivers union. This important meeting was attended by the Mayor, Alejandro Eder, the councilor, Felipe Murgueitio, the Undersecretary of Mobility Juan Manuel Guzmán and the citizen participation team of the Mobility Secretariat.
During the meeting, Mayor Eder stressed the importance of listening to Cali taxi drivers and working together to find effective solutions. “Our goal is to build consensus and advance in improving mobility in Cali. We are here to listen to your concerns and propose solutions that benefit everyone,” said Eder.
At the meeting, the achievements made by the Mobility Secretariat in the last six months were presented. The elimination of illegal stops at the Santiago University, the Meléndez neighborhood and the Imbanaco sector was highlighted. In addition, controls against pirate transport have been intensified, achieving a notable reduction in this practice and improving road safety in the city, which was recognized by taxi drivers.
The Undersecretary of Mobility, Juan Manuel Guzmán, highlighted the work carried out: “We have worked hard to eliminate illegal stops and strengthen controls against pirate transportation. This is just the beginning; our goal is to continue improving mobility and security in our streets.”
Mayor Eder reaffirmed his commitment to taxi drivers and emphasized the need to intensify controls against illegal transportation: “We are going to implement greater controls and use technological tools to combat illegal transportation. It is a priority to ensure that only authorized taxis operate in our roads”.
Additionally, Undersecretary Guzmán announced that 72 taxi lanes will be enabled, complementing the existing 32: “These measures will allow greater organization and we will sanction those who use these spaces without authorization.”
One of the leaders of the taxi drivers present, Gustavo Blandón, asked the local government to study the possibility of promoting soft loans for the acquisition of better vehicles or their conversion to electric or alternative energy models. “We want to modernize our fleet and contribute to a more sustainable Cali. We need the government’s support to make this possible,” said Blandón.
Mayor Eder also highlighted the relevance of upcoming international events that will boost the transportation sector, such as the U-20 Women’s Soccer World Cup, the Petronio Álvarez Festival and COP 16. “These events are an opportunity to demonstrate the quality and efficiency of our legal public transportation. We are going to work so that everything goes perfect and the city benefits from these activities,” he concluded.
Finally, the Ministry of Mobility reaffirms its commitment to intensifying controls against illegality in transportation. These actions seek not only to guarantee safety and legality on Cali’s roads, but also to support taxi drivers in their daily work, promoting an environment of trust and collaboration.
Communications District Mobility Secretariat
