ATU Taxi: A New Contender in Lima's Ride-Hailing Scene

The bustling urban landscape of Lima and Callao is set to welcome a new player in the ride-hailing market. Stepping onto the scene alongside established names like Uber, Cabify, and InDriver, ATU Taxi emerges as a government-backed initiative aiming to provide a secure and reliable transportation option for residents. Announced on Monday, May 22nd, by the Autoridad de Transporte Urbano (ATU), this new application promises to bring a fresh approach to navigating the city.

What is ATU Taxi?

ATU Taxi is a new mobile application developed by the Autoridad de Transporte Urbano (ATU) for Lima and Callao. Its primary goal is to offer a safe, trustworthy, and formalized alternative for citizens seeking taxi services. The app is designed to address concerns about safety and reliability in the existing ride-hailing market.

Key Features and Benefits

ATU Taxi is being touted for several key features that aim to differentiate it from its competitors and enhance the user experience:

• Formalised Drivers: A significant emphasis is placed on ensuring that all drivers operating through the ATU Taxi platform are formalized. This suggests a commitment to drivers who meet regulatory standards and have undergone necessary checks.
• Approved Vehicles: The service will only feature vehicles that are officially habilitated for passenger transport. This measure contributes to the overall safety and legality of the service.
• Biosecurity Measures: In line with ongoing public health concerns, ATU Taxi will adhere to all biosecurity measures related to COVID-19, ensuring a safer environment for both passengers and drivers.
• Enhanced Safety Protocols: Safety is a cornerstone of ATU Taxi. The application will implement comprehensive monitoring of all driver journeys. This means that the location data of vehicles will be collected to track them during trips, even when the app is not actively in use. Users will need to grant GPS permission for this feature to function optimally.
• Emergency Call Functionality: For added peace of mind, ATU Taxi will include an integrated emergency call option, allowing users to directly contact emergency services (105) if needed.
• Cross-Platform Availability: The ATU Taxi application will be accessible on both major mobile operating systems, Android and iOS, ensuring a wide reach among smartphone users.

Launch and Availability

The ATU announced via their social media channels, "The wait is over! Soon you can access a safe and reliable taxi application for Lima and Callao. #ATUTaxi #EstamosATUServicio". While the official launch date had not been confirmed at the time of the announcement, it was anticipated that citizens of Lima Metropolitana and Callao would be able to start using the application in the first week of June. The application will be available for download on Google Play and the App Store.

The Stance on Collective Taxis

The introduction of ATU Taxi also brings to light ongoing discussions about transportation policy in Lima and Callao, particularly concerning collective taxis. The new president of the ATU, José Aguilar, has expressed a firm stance against proposals to formalize collective taxis. He believes that such a move would negatively impact the integrated transport system and hinder broader transport reforms.

Aguilar stated, "In Lima and Callao, collective taxis cannot be formalized because it would affect the integrated transport system. There is a social issue behind it. [Informal transporters] are fathers of the family, they have children, and I believe that spaces like this [the taxi driver fair] that seek to formalize taxi drivers could be a solution to this."

Despite support for formalizing collective taxis from the Mayor of Lima Metropolitana, Rafael López Aliaga, and the Congress of the Republic, Aguilar remains resolute. He has indicated that the ATU and the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) are against these formalization efforts and hopes the Executive branch will help veto any such laws if they progress. Aguilar emphasized the need to work with Congress to explain why this project would be detrimental to the citizens of Lima and Callao.

Conversely, proponents of formalizing collective taxis, such as legislator Segundo Montalvo, argue that the current formal system cannot meet the entire demand. Montalvo believes that formalizing collective taxis is a pragmatic solution in the interim, stating, "If we cannot have more corridors, in the meantime, we have to formalize collective taxis." When questioned about the future of these vehicles once more formal transport options become available, Montalvo admitted, "When the corridor buses arrive, it will be seen at the time."

Formalising Your Taxi Business with ATU

For taxi drivers looking to operate within the formal system, ATU provides a streamlined process for obtaining the necessary habilitating titles. The ATU's Virtual Platform for Procedures makes it easier than ever to get your taxi license. The process is described as taking only minutes, and the Tarjeta Única de Circulación (Single Circulation Card) is provided free of charge. Furthermore, ATU offers support to help drivers improve their vehicles at a reduced cost, encouraging formalisation and better service standards.

Comparison with Existing Services

While specific pricing and service details for ATU Taxi are yet to be fully released, its emphasis on formalization and enhanced safety features positions it as a potentially different offering in the market. Here's a hypothetical comparison:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: When will ATU Taxi be available?
A1: ATU Taxi was expected to be available in the first week of June, though an exact official date had not been confirmed.

Q2: Where will ATU Taxi be available?
A2: The service will be available in Lima Metropolitana and Callao.

Q3: What makes ATU Taxi different from other apps?
A3: ATU Taxi's key differentiators are its government backing, strong emphasis on formalized drivers and vehicles, and enhanced safety features like mandatory journey monitoring and direct emergency call integration.

Q4: Do I need to grant special permissions for ATU Taxi?
A4: Yes, you will need to grant continuous GPS permission ("allow all the time") for the journey monitoring feature to work effectively.

Q5: Is ATU Taxi against collective taxis?
A5: The current ATU president, José Aguilar, is against the formalization of collective taxis, believing it would harm the integrated transport system.

Conclusion

The introduction of ATU Taxi marks a significant development in Lima and Callao's urban transportation. With its focus on safety, formalization, and user well-being, it aims to provide a reliable alternative for daily commutes. As the service rolls out, its impact on the existing market and its ability to truly enhance the transport experience for both passengers and drivers will be keenly observed. Whether it can navigate the complexities of public transport policy and user adoption remains to be seen, but its intention to offer a more secure and regulated service is a promising step forward.