By Wendy Anders

Publications on social media of a major protest by official taxi drivers throughout the country starting at 5:00am today have public authorities and local residents preparing for the worst.

Many parents will keep children home from school, embassies are suggesting people schedule appointments on other days, and police are planning a major counter-operation.

The official taxi protest centers on the Uber taxi service, a “red taxi” competitor that started operating in Costa Rica last August without authorization from the Public Transportation Council (CTP). The constitutional court has taken up the case.

President Solís in a short public address published this afternoon on the president’s official Facebook page said he has been made aware of taxi groups organizing blockades and threatening acts of violence on Tuesday, August 9, and said he would ensure roads are kept open to the general public and that violence is kept in check. He continued on to say,

“We have met here in the presidential office with taxi leaders on at least six occasions and have reached partial agreements in order to try to resolve some underlying issues. In our last meeting we agreed to wait until the topic of concern, which is Uber, comes to some resolution through the courts…

“I am very concerned that some taxi leaders appear to indicate that violence should be used for the sake of violence. The government will not tolerate violence in our streets…

“The police is very busy dealing with critical problems on both borders, and patrolling neighborhoods to provide safety to residents. I don’t want to see the public security force distracted from their main job which is to protect the populace…

“We will mobilize the police if there are blockades or violence, and will hold those promoting violence responsible. We want to defend the needs of taxi drivers who are operating within the law and are breadwinners for their families, and are open to dialogue. But will not respond to the use of threats. This government will not be intimidated,” said Solís.

On their Facebook site, Taxi Unidos Desamparadeños – Coopetade SL announced as a public service to their users they will not be offering services as of 5:00 a.m. today, Tuesday, August 9, in support of the national strike, and will stay on strike, “Until the government provides a satisfactory response.”

In response, one user posted a meme that was shared almost 500 times questioning official taxis who want to “Break Uber, car hires, and underground taxis,” saying, “Dude, the deal is simple: Charge a fair rate, Don’t deny services, Be courteous, Help with bags, Don’t mess with your meter, and Ensure your fellow drivers do the same.”

Many Uber users share these main complaints of official taxis.

Over 70 percent of people in the greater metropolitan San José area say they are personally affected by taxi strikes, according to a CID-Gallup poll released yesterday. Poll respondents said street demonstrations directly affect their work and that there are alternative ways to present their cases without affecting the general population, according to CID-Gallup.

“Public services should be at the service of the users and not at the service of their sectorial interests,” said one of the 600 CID-Gallup poll respondents.

Earlier this year on May 9, Costa Rican TV Station 7 “Teletica” reported on the possibility of Spanish company Cabify, a service similar to Uber, looking into setting up in Costa Rica. This further outraged official “red” taxis.

If you do need head out in your car today take extra caution: Make sure your tank is full and bring along water and snacks in the case of long delays, and have several alternate routes planned out in advance.