Today, protests by licensed taxi drivers in Latvia against the policies implemented by the "Bolt" platform will take place in Riga, Daugavpils, and Jelgava, organizations representing the taxi transportation industry reported to LETA.
Organizations indicate that the protest is being held because the government has not fulfilled the ultimatum put forth by the industry and has not taken real steps to limit the monopoly of the platform.
The goal of the protest is to oppose the use of the monopolistic position of one platform.
The protest in Riga will begin at Zakusala at 8:00 with a gathering of participants, and from 9:00 to 11:00 there will be a protest car rally through Riga accompanied by police. The route: Zakusala promenade — Island Bridge — Krasta Street — General Radzins’ promenade — Karlis Milenbahs Street — Emilia Benjamini Street (Ministry of Transport) — January 13 Street — Stone Bridge — Mukusalas Street (Bolt Operations administration building) — Mukusalas Circle — Island Bridge — back to Zakusala.
From 11:00 to 14:00, a press conference and rally are scheduled.
To discuss industry issues, the organizers have invited the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Welfare, the Competition Council, the Bureau for Prevention and Combating Corruption, as well as representatives of the company.
In Jelgava, no traffic restrictions due to the protest are planned; however, the Riga City Council reported that during the taxi drivers' protest, significant traffic restrictions will be imposed on several central streets and bridges in Riga.
From 8:00 to 14:00, there will be a gathering of participants and a meeting at the Zakusala promenade, and from 9:00 to 11:00, traffic will be regulated and, if necessary, closed on the route and adjacent streets.
If necessary, public transport movement along the route will also be regulated or temporarily restricted.
Traffic will be restricted on all streets intersecting this route. Therefore, significant traffic difficulties are possible in the center of Riga and Pardaugava on Monday morning and in the early afternoon.
The local government urges drivers to plan their trips in advance, choose alternative routes, and allow significantly more time for travel.
Industry organizations advocate for a fair and predictable taxi transportation sector that would promote healthy competition and the entry of new participants into the market, rather than destroying existing local entrepreneurs. The industry asserts that its priority is also the interests of consumers — the cost of a trip should be transparent and justified, avoiding situations where the same route costs arbitrarily 10 or 20 euros due to randomly applied coefficients. Organizations demand an end to price manipulations that distort the market and mislead residents.
The protest organizers also point out that the promises made by the Ministry of Transport to limit the influence of "Bolt" and set a commission cap at 15% have remained on paper, despite warnings from the industry, which four years ago proposed introducing a unified fare in the country so that consumers would always know how much a taxi ride costs.
The organizers of the action emphasize that the discount provided by the government on the excise tax has not yielded results — fuel prices are higher than before, and there is still no action plan to save the industry.
Industry organizations emphasize that the current situation in passenger transport creates significant market distortions, as digital platform service providers can set prices independently and simultaneously keep records without effective external control, creating opacity and a risk of data manipulation. At the same time, the model of predatory pricing, not based on the fundamental principles of the industry, threatens fair competition and the sustainability of the sector, pushing out local businesses.
The industry calls for equal and transparent competitive conditions for all market participants, as otherwise, "not only the industry will be threatened, but also public trust in a fair and orderly business environment."
The protest is organized by the Taxi Transport Employers' Organization (TPNDDO), the Latvian Passenger Taxi Employers' Organization (LVTNDDO), the Licensed Commercial Passenger Carriers Development Association (LPKAA), and the Latvian Trade Union of Public Services and Transport Workers (LAKRS).
