Taxi drivers stop: these are the possible meeting points in Bogotá

File image of taxi drivers strike in Bogota. The taxi union announced a new national strike in Colombia due to the “contempt” of the national government. Photo: Colprensa

It is highly probable that on Monday, January 23, there will be a cessation of activities by the taxi drivers’ union in Bogotá, which may be accompanied by a series of blockades in various parts of the city starting at dawn. Knowing these points can help you prepare an alternative route to reach your work or study destinations. In any case, the main recommendation is that, as far as possible, any personal or work trip in the city for this Monday be canceled or postponed.

Strike of taxi drivers in Bogotá is suspended, a dialogue table was agreed with the Ministry of Transportation

According to the announcement, the blockades scheduled for Monday, January 23, 2023 are suspended

According to the information that the transit authority provided to the newspaper El Tiempo, there may be blockades on Avenida Ciudad de Cali with 26th street, near El Dorado Airport, in front of the Bogotá Mobility Secretariat (13th street with 37th street), on 80th street under the guadua bridge, on 13th street in front of the El Playón parking lot, on the north highway with 170th street, in front of the Mayor of Bogotá, in the Banderas sector, on south 40th street, in the kilometer 4 via La Calera and at the portals of Transmilenio Norte, Tunal and 20 de Julio.

At the moment, the Bogotá Mayor’s Office is trying to get closer to the union leaders to reach an agreement that prevents the eventual collapse of the roads. In any case, the authorities recommend that citizens favor working at home, suspend logistics operations and avoid trips that are not strictly necessary.

The taxi drivers’ union began to protest on Friday, January 20, after Wilson Rodríguez Vargas —one of these drivers, recently reconnected from a colostomy—, was reprimanded for leaving his vehicle improperly parked in front of a shopping center, in his desire to make use of one of its bathrooms.

Taxi drivers announced a strike in Bogotá for January 23

The leader of the union, Hugo Ospina, stated that they will “paralyze” the city in protest of the abuses that the authorities have committed against them.

Upon returning, the transit authorities had imposed a subpoena on him and were ready to take the car, but Rodríguez locked himself in it to try to prevent his transfer. The taxi drivers decided to block the roads until the wee hours of the morning as a gesture of solidarity with his partner. One of the most affected was Ciudad de Cali avenue with 26th street, which caused passenger arrivals at El Dorado International Airport to be affected.

In dialogue with Blu Radio, union leader Hugo Ospina warned that the roads of the Colombian capital will be “paralyzed” due to the “irresponsibility of Mayor Claudia López” not only because of the slow progress in the city works, but also because of her lack of posture in the face of the abuses that the union claims the authorities have committed against them.

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“On the 23rd of this month we took over the city again because the abuses continue and the Ministry of Mobility does not face us. This Monday there will be a great takeover of the city, not the few that we stopped,” Ospina told the Bogotá radio station.

The leader of the taxi drivers made the announcement just hours after the blockades carried out by public service providers on several roads in Bogotá around 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 19, as a protest against the immobilization of the vehicle of one of the drivers who, due to a disability, had to leave his taxi parked in a prohibited area.

“Since last night there has been an unjustified blockade of some taxi drivers. An abandoned taxi near the Prosecutor’s Office was taken to patios. The same taxi driver admits that he committed a mistake. If he has extenuating reasons, they can be resolved in the administrative process. Blocking is not admissible or a solution,” tweeted the mayoress of Bogotá, Claudia López, who later accused Ospina of irresponsibly agitating the blockade.

Keep reading:

Bogotá Transit Police agent slapped a taxi driver

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