The taxi drivers of Oviedo, neither straps nor flips _
G. D.-R. / R. A.OVIEDO.
No suspenders or flip-flops in the line of duty. The Council of citizen Security, led by socialist Ricardo Fernández, is preparing a reform of the regulations governing the taxi sector that will establish the standards of decorum, clothing and cleanliness to be applied by drivers in Oviedo. The sector is in favour for the time being, since it is not possible to go to work "as if it were going to the beach", although it rejects the imposition of the uniform: "Let them pay for it," claims some taxi drivers.
Oviedo will not be the first Spanish city with a specific regulation. In Barcelona, the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan taxi Institute last month banned the use of straps T-shirts and drivers' shorts. In Granada they cannot go in Bermudas, and in Almería the use of sports clothing has been prohibited. However, in Tenerife you can wear panties during the season that tightens the heat.
Ramón Vicente, one of the Ovetian drivers, points out that taxi drivers should be dressed in a "formal" manner and not in any clothing they wear to walk around the house or to go to the beach. Among the clothes he sees with good eyes for men are long pants, shirts and jackets, which they will wear during the cold months. Regarding the imposition of a suit, as some members of the sector claim to compete with the Spanish company Cabify, he says that he will only wear it if "provided by the City Hall".
A similar opinion has Javier García de Cuerva. It is' delighted 'that a compulsory suit is put in place, as long as it is' paid'by the local government. If not, he called for a set of dress standards stating which garments could be worn and which ones could not be worn.
Lucas early believes that this measure will eliminate "the bad reputation we have that we smell bad". He recalls that in Spain in the fifties and sixties, taxi drivers were dressed in uniform, consisting of a shirt in blue tones and also wearing a cap. Although this dress was worn for several decades, it now reminds him of the past: "there is no need to set up a suit, it is enough that there are no sandals or flip-flops."
Severino Menéndez is committed to freedom of choice: «May everyone see what they want, even if they always have to respect canons ». He claims that it is wrong for the driver to wear suspenders or a sports garment, and adds that "well dressed" is compatible with being comfortable.
Evaristo Fernández agrees with the intentions of Alderman Ricardo Fernández, but stresses that "it is enough" to be presentable: "there is no need for a uniform".
Turbulent waters
The drafting of this regulation comes when the waters between the two sides are in turmoil. The system of breaks introduced in February, which requires 20 or 21 cars (depending on shift) to stop every day from Monday to Friday and the rest on weekends (103 or 104 on Saturdays and so on Sundays), did not like part of the sector. So much criticism has garnered that even though most professionals voted in favour of this system, the Association of Auto taxi Entrepreneurs of the Principality of Asturias (Asotaxi) has brought the issue to court. The trial will be held shortly.
Oviedo,TaxiTendencias