Riga taxi drivers prepare for 24-hour strike against Bolt — plan to not sit in cars and not drive
500 licensed taxi drivers plan not to connect to the Bolt app for 24 hours in mid-April, demonstrating their dissatisfaction with having to drive for money.
Latvian taxi drivers have announced a revolutionary protest — they plan not to work for 24 hours. Yes, you read that correctly. Professionals who daily drive around the city for money have decided to stop this activity for a whole day to show their dissatisfaction with Bolt's aggressive policy.
500 drivers are ready for this heroic step, and they have even applied for a demonstration in Zaķusala. Riga City Council is now deciding whether to allow this unprecedented event — people not sitting in their cars. While Riga plans such complex logistics, taxi drivers in Liepāja would have long ago met at Rose Square, decided everything in five minutes and gone for coffee.
Taxi associations complain that Bolt dictates discriminatory algorithms and reduced tariffs. They also point out that commission fees go to Estonian company accounts, not Latvia's economy. So the problem is that money drives to Estonia, not to Riga. In Liepāja such a problem doesn't exist — here money usually drives to the store or gas station.
Protest organizers will demand immediate solutions for tax fairness and reducing the burden of fuel costs. As one of the drivers said: "We want to work honestly, but not for free." There is hope that after this action the situation will improve, because nothing changes the system as effectively as 24 hours of doing nothing.
⚠️ Satirical article. Facts are preserved, but the presentation is humorous. For accurate information, please refer to the original source.