Taxi entrepreneurs on construction site madness: "We lose trips every day"

Created: 08/13/2022, 10:00 am

By: Sebastian Grauvogl

Suffers from the construction sites: Dietmar Spitz, taxi entrepreneur from Bad Wiessee.

© THOMAS PLETTENBERG

Whether construction sites or fuel prices: Taxi drivers are currently having a hard time in the Miesbach district.

In an interview, entrepreneur Dietmar Spitz from Bad Wiessee explains what that means.

District

– detour here, traffic light there, bottleneck there: Anyone driving a car in the Miesbach district during these weeks feels like a construction site slalom.

It hits those who are also hit economically hard: the taxi companies.

We asked the owner of the Taxi Company Bad Wiessee, Dietmar Spitz, how he is dealing with the current situation and what he now wants from politics.

Mr. Spitz, how annoyed are you and your drivers by the current construction site madness in the Miesbach district?

Dietmar Spitz:

Let's put it this way: It doesn't exactly make our work easier.

We have to plan our appointments even earlier and with enough buffer so that we don't come too late.

Of course, that also means that every day we lose trips that we would have accommodated otherwise.

What is worse from a taxi driver's point of view: a complete closure with extensive detours or a single lane with traffic lights?

Dietmar Spitz:

At first glance, the diversion is better, because we bill by the kilometer (2 euros during the day, editor's note) and so at least here we don't have to bear the costs.

However, we are on the road longer, which we then lack again in terms of time.

But waiting at traffic lights or in a traffic jam is even less attractive.

We only get the equivalent of 50 cents per minute (30 euros per hour).

Also read: Part-off for call collection taxi (AST) in the district of Miesbach

However, at least here you don't have to deduct any fuel prices...

Dietmar Spitz:

That is cold consolation at best.

In fact, fuel costs are increasing the economic risk.

Apart from trying to avoid empty runs as far as possible, there isn't much else we can do here with our four diesel vehicles.

I don't even want to imagine what prices we'll have to pay when the state fuel discount expires at the end of August.

Our appeal to the district to introduce new tariffs as early as October 1st is all the more urgent.

The last application was made on March 1st of this year - only then did the prices really go up.

We haven't talked about the minimum wage, which has risen to twelve euros.

We will also feel that massively.

also read

Foreclosure of ski lifts in Sudelfeld: the result is certain

Bauhof Miesbach is at a disadvantage: paid-off tractor must remain in use - no new leasing

Speaking of the minimum wage: how do you deal with staff shortages?

Dietmar Spitz:

Of course we are always looking for drivers.

However, we are currently fortunate that an entrepreneur in the vicinity has resigned and we were able to take on two of his employees.

Apart from that, it is already an alarm signal that shows the increasing pressure on our industry.

And we also had to react to it.

Also interesting: This is how public transport in the district of Miesbach should become more attractive

In what way?

Dietmar Spitz:

By limiting our travel times.

Unlike before, we are only on the road from 5.30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday to Thursday and only until 4 a.m. from Friday to Sunday.

The basic problem is simply that although we are functionally part of public transport, unlike buses and trains, we do not receive any state subsidies.

so called