– This is a classic barrier to establishment that is introduced to protect someone who has an interest in it being introduced. That’s what Nils-Ola Widme, director of business policy at the NHO association Abelia, says. They have, among others, the new players Uber, Yango and Bolt as members. PREVENTS ESTABLISHMENT: Abelia and business policy director Nils-Ola Widme are critical of the austerity measures. Photo: Ilja C. Hendel In a harsh consultation statement, they react strongly to the fact that the government will tighten again less than two years after the release. – Nobody has investigated what has happened after the taxi reform. It appears to be a defense measure for the established industry, says Widme. Strong increase The speech of the numbers is nevertheless clear. On 1 November 2020, among other things, the needs test of the number of permits disappeared. This means that the authorities can no longer decide how many taxis there should be in the market. In Oslo, the number of licenses has increased from 1,780 to 4,697 at the last count on the official website Transportloyve.no. It is not far from a triple. Throughout the country, the number of licenses – or permits – has increased from around 8,000 to 14,400. This is the case The taxi market was liberalized on 1 November 2020. The biggest changes were that the need-testing of the number of taxi licenses disappeared together with the requirement that all taxis must be connected to a central office. After that, the number of licenses has increased sharply, especially in Oslo. The government has set up a committee to look at the entire taxi industry. Reintroducing a cap on the number of licenses and the obligation to report to the taxi center will be considered. The work is to be completed in 2023. Regardless of this, the government will stop the release by making several adjustments already now. Several proposals were up for consultation before the summer: Requirement that license holders have sufficient professional competence. Requirement that the licensee provide a financial guarantee as proof of satisfactory financial ability. The taxi must be registered in the vehicle register and have a taximeter that meets the requirements of the taximeter regulations. All taxis must have a ceiling light. The proposals are currently being considered by the Ministry of Transport. Source: Ministry of Transport – Untidy – There are far too many in the market, says Glenn Tuxen. He is a taxi owner in Oslo Taxi and heads the Oslo branch of the Norwegian Taxi Association. – I would claim that the industry has become more disorderly. WILL TIGHTEN UP: Head of the Norwegian Taxi Association, Oslo, Glenn Tuxen. Photo: Olav Juven / news – There are so many actors in the picture now that we can’t keep control. And society has no control over the industry either, says Tuxen. The taxi association wholeheartedly supports the government’s desire to stop the exemption. – Secures serious players Several proposals have been consulted. One of them is to reintroduce competence requirements. This means that the person applying for a taxi license must document that he or she knows which laws and regulations apply in working life. – The requirements placed on license holders are of decisive importance to ensure that we have serious players in the industry, said Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård (Ap) when the restrictions were announced. – This government wants a taxi industry with orderly conditions, where the customers are safe, and the drivers have a job they can make a living from, said Nygård. – Safe transport – This ensures that the public receives a good service. If you don’t have expertise, it’s hard to give your audience what they’re looking for. It is safe transport at a reasonable price, says Glenn Tuxen of the Taxi Association. The municipality of Oslo also supports the requirement in its consultation statement: “It is absolutely crucial for the taxi industry to appear serious, that the license holders have a good understanding of what is required of self-employed people, employers, and otherwise about which rules apply.” Reacting to labels The Abelia employers’ association reacts strongly to the fact that some players in the industry are labeled as frivolous. – I am reacting to the use of such labels on traders in Norway. Everyone is interested in having a serious industry. – But in order to use that as justification, you must first find out if you have a non-serious industry and if the non-seriousness is so serious that you have to come up with new requirements. – No one has done that, says Nils-Ola Widme. The Ministry of Transport responds to the criticism as follows: – The overriding aim of the proposal is to contribute to seriousness in the taxi industry. This is not a claim that the industry as such is frivolous. WANT MINIMUM STANDARD: State Secretary Mette Gundersen (Ap) in the Ministry of Transport. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB – The purpose of the proposal is to ensure a certain minimum standard in the industry, in the same way as for other professional transport, writes State Secretary Mette Gundersen (Ap) in an e-mail to news. What about the prices? What about the prices? Has the exemption made it more expensive or cheaper to take a taxi? It is difficult to get a clear answer to that. The “veterans” Oslo Taxi and Cabonline (formerly Norgestaxi) have increased their prices somewhat due to price increases in society and increased fuel prices. As for the new players, there are stories on social media about short trips that cost many hundreds of kroner. At the same time, customers say that it has become cheaper than before. Precisely the lack of factual basis is Abelia’s main point when they oppose changes. – Price development, actual capacity in the market outside the consumer; these are matters the authorities currently know nothing about, says Nils-Ola Widme. Have to work more But for many, it has become more difficult to make a living driving a taxi. – When there are more people involved, there will be less for each individual, says Anne Karlsen Hove, who heads the Taxi Association’s Oslo Taxi branch. MORE DIFFICULT: Many customers say that it has become more difficult to find their way around the taxi market, says Anne Karlsen Hove, taxi owner in Oslo Taxi. Photo: Olav Juven / news – There are probably many people who have to add several hours to their working day to get by, she says. news clarifies that the number of licenses does not accurately reflect the number of taxis. Some licenses have been taken out without being in use.
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Enormous increase in the number of taxi licenses after release – news Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
