Leading international stakeholders discuss taxi service quality and future challenges at kick-off meeting of the Advisory Committee for the International Road Transport Union (IRU) Global Taxi Network.
At its inaugural meeting on 5 March 2015, the Advisory Committee of the IRU Global Taxi Network (GTN) addressed the issue of taxi service quality and current and future challenges facing taxis and hire cars with drivers. It notably expressed its support for the industry initiative to launch the GTN.
Comprised of leading international public and private stakeholders*, the Advisory Committee’s main task will be to guide and advise the GTN on its future development. Ms Mary Crass, Head of Policy and Summit Preparation for the International Transport Forum (ITF), was elected chairperson.
“The ITF is very pleased to chair this independent international Advisory Committee. Taxis are an important component of urban mobility around the world, albeit with significant variations in regulatory frameworks and services offered. New technologies offer a range of opportunities for innovation and better services. This is the time when a transport policy reflection, on what approaches are in the public’s best interest, makes sense. We believe all stakeholders should be involved in this dialogue”, said Ms Crass.
Hubert Andela, President of the IRU Taxi Group, said, “We very much welcome the kick-off meeting of the Advisory Committee. It will add significant benefits to the Global Taxi Network by bringing know-how and key stakeholders around the same table.”
The GTN is a network of taxi industry federations and taxi app providers, who promote and offer legal, reliable, high quality and safe services to customers. GTN partners only use certified smartphone taxi apps, in full respect of the regulatory framework in force. As the largest and fastest growing taxi service quality platform, the GTN covers 160,000 taxis on 3 continents, with new countries and cities being added regularly.
Original source: IRU
