Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — Hundreds of public transport drivers from the municipality of Solidaridad protested in the rain at the possibility of competition. On Thursday, nearly 300 combi van drivers blocked the area surrounding the Municipal Palace (city hall) in the west.
The Lázaro Cárdenas del Río Taxi Driver’s Union were upset with Leopoldo Cruz Navarro, the Director of Public Transport, after learning that the municipality was seeking public transport alternatives for Playa del Carmen. They also protested his formalization of mototaxi drivers.
In reaction, the public van drivers protested by blocking several streets around city hall for more than two hours, demanding the dismissal the Cruz Navarro and calling the mototaxi drivers illegal.
Luis Herrera, leader of the Taxi Drivers’ Union, said the drivers had gathered to ensure their monopoly on the city service remained in place and that they would paralyze all of their vehicles if not.
However Cruz Navarro stated that the municipal government will prioritize the interests of users when looking for better quality alternatives. City residents have requested that Playa del Carmen offer an adequate transport service that allows people to access more areas.