AZE.US
Taxi drivers in Baku say one practical problem is making their work increasingly difficult: on many busy avenues, there is almost nowhere left to briefly stop and pick up or drop off passengers without risking a penalty.
According to drivers, both the right and left sides of many roads are occupied by parking spaces, while stopping in the second lane can quickly lead to an 80-manat fine and two penalty points. As a result, drivers say they are often forced to choose between following a customer request and avoiding punishment.
They say the issue is especially noticeable on major city roads and near popular destinations. Among the areas mentioned are the Metropark area, Khatai Avenue and other busy stretches where parking is arranged along the road, but no dedicated space exists for short passenger pickup and drop-off.
Drivers argue that this leaves them with few good options. In some cases, they say, they have to turn away a customer. In others, they take the risk and stop anyway. Some note that the problem affects not only taxi work, but also ordinary daily life when someone simply needs to pick up or drop off a family member.
Transport experts say the situation could be improved through targeted changes in road planning. One proposal is to create dedicated pickup and drop-off areas at the beginning or end of parking zones, with space equal to at least two parking spots – roughly 15 meters.
Another suggestion involves bus lanes. Experts say they should be separated from other lanes in a way that allows passengers to be picked up and dropped off without interfering with buses.
They also argue that legal changes could help. For example, in limited cases, a short stop in the second lane for passenger pickup or drop-off could be allowed. In their view, that would reduce unnecessary fines and make the rules more workable for real urban traffic conditions.
A request for comment was sent to Azerbaijan’s land transport agency, but no response had been received by the time of publication.
AZE.US