International: Taxi News from Poland

Poland's new transportation laws burden foreign drivers and ride-hailing services

In Poland, a new regulation in the ride-hailing sector is causing a stir: Foreign drivers may only operate with a Polish driver's license and at least 185 days of residence in the country. As a result, thousands of drivers have already been blocked from services such as Bolt, Uber, and FreeNow. Bolt alone reported a 26 percent drop in driver numbers in Warsaw. The providers warn of longer wait times and higher prices. While some platforms grant transitional periods, violations can incur fines of up to 2,000 zlotys (460 EUR). The measure has drawn criticism – but also raises questions about safety and regulation. (September 2025, Source TVP World, tvpworld.com/78425356/thousands-of-foreign-taxi-drivers-disqualified-in-poland-following-new-regulations)

From taxi driver to New York City's Commissioner of Transportation

The article profiles Ydanis Rodriguez, who, from his beginnings as a taxi driver, rose to the position of New York City's Commissioner of Transportation. It reflects on how his earlier experiences in the taxi trade shaped his perspective on mobility and urban planning. Additionally, the question is raised whether New York's approaches for Central and Eastern Europe — such as cities like Kraków, Warsaw or Katowice — could serve as inspiration. (23 September 2025, Source bankier.pl/wiadomosc/Od-taksowkarza-do-komisarza-transportu-Nowego-Jorku-9013579.html)

Danger to small local businesses from autonomous taxis

Spidersweb writes: Autonomous taxis are changing not only the transport market but could also pressure local retail. In Poland, the taxi trade is an important part of urban infrastructure—with locally knowledgeable drivers who often do more than just transporting people. In the United States robotaxis cost 0.50 to 1 dollar per mile, significantly cheaper than classic taxis (1.50–3 dollars). Waymo's ride service increased its weekly trips by 2,400% in just two years, while the number of traditional taxi drivers declined sharply. The technological change could threaten up to 2.3 million transport jobs, particularly in long-haul transport. At the same time, global corporations profit economically—local revenues are increasingly disappearing.

Small businesses are already suffering from declining foot traffic. Autonomous taxis intensify this trend, and the COVID-19 pandemic also accelerated the development: In April 2020, store visits fell by 45%. While cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam rely on micromobility, Poland still lacks a holistic strategy. Individual cities such as Jaworzno are testing autonomous buses – with the chance to anchor new mobility models locally. Three scenarios are emerging: dominance of international platforms, local technological adaptation, or a hybrid model that combines both approaches. Autonomous vehicles are almost unstoppable – but whether they displace small shops or even open up new opportunities for them depends on political decisions, digital adaptation and conscious consumer choices. (08.09.2025, Source Spidersweb, spidersweb.pl/2025/08/czy-autonomiczne-taksowki-zabija-malutkie-sklepy.html)

The state has tolerated legal violations by ride-hailing apps for years

The national labor inspectorate confirmed what taxi drivers have been complaining about for years: The activities of Uber, Bolt, Free Now and other ride-service platforms are a legal fiction, and the entire system of “employment” of drivers is based on circumventing labor law, tax law and safety regulations. (29.09.2025, Source taxinews.pl/news/panstwo-od-lat-toleruje-lamanie-prawa-przez-aplikacje-przewozowe/)

Taxi drivers beaten in broad daylight – perpetrators arrested

Police officers of the police station in Kórnik have detained two men who are suspected of beating a taxi driver in Żerniki near Poznań. The Ukrainian nationals have already been indicted. The prosecutor has imposed preventive measures against them in the form of police supervision, a restraining and contact ban with respect to the injured party, as well as a financial surety and a travel ban. For the crime committed they face up to 5 years' imprisonment. (02.10.2025, Source taxinews.pl/news/taksowkarz-skatowany-w-bialy-dzien-sprawcy-zatrzymani/)

There are fewer taxis than ever: Will driverless cars save the industry?

The article reports that Poland has reached a historic low for taxi operations: the number of commercial taxi companies has fallen below 50,000 for the first time; the Polish taxi market is in a deep crisis. According to data from Dun & Bradstreet, published in the newspaper Rzeczpospolita, only 628 new taxi businesses were registered in the last six months, while over 1,600 were removed from the register, which could mean that around a thousand taxis disappeared from Polish streets in the first half of the year. The statistics are alarming – in the last ten years the market has shrunk by 10 percent, and compared to 2009 by as much as 30 percent. As a potential rescue model for the industry, the article discusses the deployment of autonomously driving vehicles ("robo-taxis"). (19.08.2025, Source bankier.pl/wiadomosc/Taksowek-malo-jak-nigdy-Auta-bez-kierowcow-uratuja-branze-8995307.html)

Safety in taxis: The PiS party wants criminal record certificates for taxi drivers

The news reports that MPs from the PiS party (Law and Justice) have introduced a draft law proposing new safety requirements for taxi and ride-hailing services. According to the draft, individuals who want to provide taxi services — including operators, employed drivers and independent drivers — must present a certificate of good conduct (proof of no prior convictions) from their country of origin. In addition, a mandatory psychological test is to be introduced, which may only be taken in Polish. Moreover, the draft requires that every vehicle of a ride-service provider be equipped with a device that records trips and makes them auditable. Violations of these rules are to be punished with heavy fines according to the draft. (04.08.2025, Source bankier.pl/wiadomosc/Taksowek-malo-jak-nigdy-Auta-bez-kierowcow-uratuja-branze-8995307.html)

First test flight of an air taxi in Poland

On August 15, 2025, Joby Aviation conducted the first test flight of an air taxi. The project aims to introduce innovative transport means that could revolutionize urban travel in the future. (15.09.2025, Source HomoDigital, homodigital.pl/powietrzne-taksowki-air-taxi-latajace-taksowki-aktualne-projekty-prototypy-kiedy-w-polsce/)

100 zloty for a ride means only 30 zloty in the driver's pocket. Taxi drivers using apps protest

In Poland, protests by taxi drivers working on platforms such as Uber and Bolt took place already in the first half of the year. The drivers demand a minimum fare for rides as well as better working conditions. The protests were accompanied by questions about low wages and rising living costs. (April 2025, Source OKO.press, oko.press/100-zlotych-za-kurs-to-tylko-30-zl-w-kieszeni-kierowcy-taksowkarze-na-aplikacjach-protestuja)

Taxi drivers with a pistol to the head: Belarusians detained in Poland for armed threat and fraud

In September, two Belarusians were arrested in Poznań and Gdańsk. One was transporting money for fraudsters, the other threatened a taxi driver with a pistol, according to the police authorities in Poznań and Gdańsk. (20.09.2025, Source en.belsat.eu/89024334/pistol-to-the-head-belarusians-detained-in-poland-for-armed-threat-and-fraud)

Taxi driving in Poland: A price and booking guide

This guide offers insights into taxi tariffs and booking methods for travel across Poland. It covers the major cities and suggests methods for efficient travel for tourists. (05.09.2025, Source Taxi Bambino, taxibambino.com/single-post/taxi-poland-a-price-and-booking-guide)