Alicante City Council is getting ready to set rules for tuk-tuks, the little tourist cars that have been driving about the city for more than a year without any rules. Mayor Luis Barcala made the announcement on Monday, October 6th. He said that this business “operates by taking advantage of legal loopholes,” which is “a comparative injustice” compared to other tourism sectors that have clear rules.
The Mayor said that the decision was made in response to complaints from citizens, especially those that were made recently in areas like Old Town and Santa Cruz. He also said that it was necessary to “ensure safety and order” in these kinds of tourism services.
“We can’t let economic activities grow without the same rules as other regulated areas. “It’s a matter of fairness and respect for living together,” Barcala said.
People who live nearby and groups want control
There have been more protests in the neighbourhood in the last several weeks. People who live in the Santa Cruz neighbourhood are upset about the noise, traffic jams on tiny streets, and too many cars, which they believe “disturb the tranquilly of the historic surroundings.” Neighbourhood groups have asked the municipal council to step in right away to control this behaviour.
The City Council wants to make a particular city law that will include rules about safety, where traffic can go, when it may go, and how much noise it can make. They are also thinking about a licensing system like the one used for other tourist businesses, such ride-hailing vehicles (VTC) or tourist trains.
Using “legal loopholes” to get ahead
Right now, tuk-tuks can run without a specific licence because the rules for them are not very clear. According to city officials, this condition “makes control difficult” for the local police and leaves both operators and users unsure of their legal rights.
Barcala has said that the City Council’s goal is to ratify the rule by the end of the year, after talking to the people and groups that will be affected and the city’s legal services.
Author: Derek Appleton
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