IATR — IN FOCUS
by Matthew W. Daus, Esq. President, International Association of Transportation Regulators Distinguished Lecturer, University Transportation Research Center, Region 2 Contact: mwdaus@juno.com

DAUS CALLED TO ITALY!
MEETS WITH ROME TAXI REGULATORS; LECTURES ON PARATRANSIT REFORM AT INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT.

IATR and TLPA work together in Rome at annual international leadership conference to conquer regulatory challenges and promote peaceful relations.

It has been a little over ten years since I last visited Rome, Italy, and it was ever as magical as I remembered it to be. However, after visiting the Vatican, I realized that it was truly a miracle to make it across the street in one piece. One thing which did not change over the last decade was the "free wheeling" organized chaos known as Rome traffic. The mélange of Vespas, wandering tourists, oblivious pedestrians, and of course, omnipresent taxicabs, create a transportation symphony that is somewhat atonal and frozen in antiquity.

I returned to Rome for two purposes:

to meet with Rome taxicab regulators; and
to speak at the Taxicab Limousine and Paratransit Association's (TLPA's) annual leadership in transportation conference.

Of course, in between, there was not a single bad meal, glass of wine or bad minute spent in this amazing City. Wim Faber, a European journalist and one of my fellow co-founders of the Taxi Research Network, accompanied me to spend some time with Francesco Gisotti and Umberto d'Agnone. They work directly for the Minister of Transportation who we also met. I was shocked to learn how Rome's taxi regulators live in virtual regulatory isolation with almost no contact with their peers.

Rome's problems are similar to so many others, and they were comforted to know they were not alone in the regulatory universe. The biggest issues appeared to be, with no surprise, the issuance of permits, the refusal of some taxicab operators to use credit cards, illegal taxicabs and the setting of taxicab tariffs or rates of fare. There is also a rivalry between the luxury permit holders and the traditional Roman white taxicabs which I learned about through my use of both services.

The private luxury cars are often used for individualized tours which is not surprising since Rome's primary economic revenue generator is tourism. Also, unlike some U.S. and Canadian cities, most of the taxicab drivers are local Italian citizens who "vote," and whose objections carry some political weight. I am pleased to announce that the government of Rome would like to become involved as a member of the International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR). In addition, the Government of Rome would like to assist in developing a working group of regulators in Europe which we are planning to launch along with the Taxi Network in Amsterdam this coming December.

Visiting the Rome Ministry of Transport are, Left to Right, IATR Consultant Fiona Talbot, IATR President Matthew Daus and Rome Taxi Regulators Francesco Gisotti and Umberto d'Agnone. Photo ©2011 Wim Faber.

At the TLPA conference I was pleased to deliver a speech on paratransit history and reform. This speech included a seminal study authored by Dr. James Cooper of Napier University, Scotland and myself on "Parataxis" in the U.S. and U.K.The presentation will be presented to the Transportation Research Board (TRB) this coming January. It will be presented, as well, as offshoot studies that will be national and international in scope.

The TLPA leadership conference is attended by some of the most successful taxicab operators from around the world who are extremely dedicated to this influential organization. I was very impressed with the tenure and work of my friend, TLPA President Robert McBride, who in one short year has increased membership dramatically and started a new program called TOPS (Transportation on Patrol) designed to bring taxi drivers, their companies and police departments together in order to report, stop and help solve crimes.

In addition to influential CEOs from multinational transportation companies such as Mark Joseph of Veolia Transportation, operator representatives of all fleet sizes attended from Paris, London and cities both large and small from around the U.S.

The trip culminated in a tour of the magnificent offices of 3570 Radio Taxi whose facilities are housed in the former villa of Roger Moore –yes….James Bond…007! The villa was complete with mansion like grounds and a huge swimming pool where taxi drivers mingled side-by-side with office workers in a relaxed setting to munch on salami, buffalo mozzarella, sopressata, and to sip espresso in between shifts. Congratulations to the TLPA for holding yet another successful and informative conference. Bravissimo!

I look forward to welcoming TLPA President McBride, its Executive Director Al LaGasse and other TLPA representatives at our Annual IATR conference in Toronto this coming September 11th through the 14th. For the first time we will be holding a golf outing with both regulators and taxi industry members swinging clubs on September 10th.

Fore!!!! It's going to be great fun, and I am confident the conference, whose theme is training and hospitality, will be just that – one of the most educational conferences where hospitality and unity is contagious. This camaraderie will hopefully bring regulators and industry members together, at a healthy distance, to solve problems, increase safety and improve customer service around the world.

For more information on how to join us at the Toronto conference please visit www.iatr.org.