Brussels taxi drivers plan traffic chaos

About 500 taxis are expected to take part in a demonstration in central Brussels today after gathering outside North station, according to the police. Major traffic delays are expected on the Brussels ring until 15.00 and several main tunnels are expected to be closed. The drivers are threatening a mass parking operation on Rue de la Loi and police advise motorists to use the metro wherever possible. The taxi drivers’ demands include the creation of designated parking spaces for taxis, the scrapping of the regional tax for taxi operators and the creation of a security service for drivers. They also want to raise the issue of unfair competition from suburban drivers, mainly in Zaventem, who generate most of their income from assignments in Brussels but pay no regional tax.