No taxis will be operating in Athens on Tuesday, April 15, as taxi drivers participate in a 24-hour strike called by the Attica Taxi Drivers’ Union (SATA). The strike will run from 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday until 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
The protest centers on new traffic regulations that prevent taxis carrying passengers from using bus lanes. According to SATA, if the unrestricted use of bus lanes by occupied taxis is not permitted under the newly revised Highway Code (ΚΟΚ), drivers violating the rule will face a €200 fine, a one-month suspension of their driver’s license, and five penalty points on the SESO (Driver Behavior Monitoring System). The violation will be verified using cameras installed on buses. If a driver accumulates 25 penalty points within two years, they risk permanent license suspension.
In its official announcement, SATA stated that the strike follows public comments made by Deputy Minister of Transport Konstantinos Kyranakis during a radio interview, in which he ruled out allowing taxis with passengers to use bus lanes. In response, the union’s leadership called an emergency board meeting. However, two opposition factions—Enotiki Kinisi Taxi and Anexartiti Kinisi Radiotaxi—refused to participate, and board member Mr. Dimos was absent due to illness.
The union is demanding that the final provisions of the revised Highway Code—previously promised publicly by former Deputy Minister of Transport Vasilis Oikonomou—be honored. SATA also criticized the opposition factions for failing to support the mobilization, leaving their stance “to the judgment of our colleagues.”
In its statement, SATA emphasized that “this strike is a last resort for our sector” and that their patience has run out. The union warned that if the government fails to resolve the issue decisively, they risk permanently excluding taxi drivers from vital traffic access.
As part of the mobilization, taxi drivers are expected to gather with their vehicles at 9:30 a.m. in downtown Athens at the intersection of Spyrou Patsi Street and Athinon Avenue.
