This is how the country’s taxi driver strike progresses: the turtle plan begins

This Wednesday February 22 from 5:00 a.m. the taxi drivers’ strike began on the main roads of Bogotá and in other main cities of the country.

This is how the day progresses, minute by minute, in the country:

In the vicinity of the CAI of Crespo, an agglomeration of vehicles is reported. There is a diversion of Transcaribe routes in the Crespo – Portal direction. Likewise, route T102 through Canapote and Torices, and resumes its usual route at the Mall Plaza.

At this time there are clashes between taxi drivers and Esmad in Popayán. The drivers concentrated on four points and assure that they will wait for the authorities to answer their requests.

In the La Alpujarra sector, in Medellín, they have a community pot and the Police Esmad also arrived. Until now, a lane enabled for vehicular passage has been maintained.

Members of the Riot Squad (Esmad) of the Police are present in the Juanchito area, Candelaria district and one of the exits from Cali before the announcement of the “Turtle Plan” of taxi drivers in the city.

In the midst of the taxi driver strike that is taking place this Wednesday morning, the President Gustavo Petro assured: “In my government there is no lack of guarantees. The taxi driver is a worker, often a woman, head of the family and the State must help to dignify their work“.

From different sectors of Bogotá, leaders of the taxi drivers announced that they will lift the strike in some points due to “lack of guarantees.” Nevertheless, In other parts of the country, taxi drivers are already beginning to crowd.

(Read: Taxi drivers will lift strike at some points in Bogotá).
This is the case of Cali, Bucaramanga and Santa Marta.

North Freeway: meeting of taxi drivers on the western side of Calle 169, to define the route of the demonstration.

Villavicencio Avenue with Cali Avenue: there is evidence of the tortoise plan and intermittent blockades between the Portal Américas and the Tintal Library.

Tintal Roundabout: Intermittent blockages occur.

Boyacá Avenue, in Carlos Lleras Bay – Salitre Transport Terminal: there is an agglomeration of taxi drivers in a south-north direction. A possible turtle plan is reported.

North Freeway: turtle plan advances along Calle 169 in a north-south direction.

Villavicencio Avenue with Cali Avenue: there is evidence of the tortoise plan and intermittent blockades between the Portal Américas and the Tintal Library.

Tintal Roundabout: Intermittent blockages occur.

Boyacá Avenue, in Carlos Lleras Bay – Salitre Transport Terminal: there is an agglomeration of taxi drivers in a south-north direction. A possible turtle plan is reported.

The authorities are present in all four zones.

Felipe Jiménez Ángel, Secretary of the Government of Bogotá, informed that for the moment the vehicular flow is normal throughout the city and there is no blockade.

In addition, the El Dorado Airport and the transport terminals in Bogotá are working properly.

North Highway with Calle 170: Tortoise plan begins in a north-south direction, with occupation in two lanes.

Tintal Roundabout: 15 taxis occupy the two lanes of the outer ring on the western side. Mobility flows normally.

Boyacá Avenue, in Carlos Lleras Bay – Salitre Transport Terminal: there is an agglomeration of taxi drivers in a south-north direction. The authorities are already present in the area. A possible turtle plan is reported along Avenida Boyacá to the north.

Taxi drivers take the North highway as part of the turtle plan. There are approximately 40 vehicles. There is slow north-south traffic.

(Read: Taxi driver stoppage: meeting points in the country’s cities).

The transit authorities assure that “mobility in the city flows normally. There are no blockades due to demonstrations anywhere in the capital.”

Several taxi drivers gather on 174b street in front of the Homecenter chain of commerce, a few steps from the North Portal.

Starting at 5 am, taxi drivers blocked the roads of Madrid, Cundinamarca, preventing public transport vehicles from leaving for Bogotá and nearby municipalities.

BRIEFCASE