BizkaiaGipuzkoaArabaVitoria-GasteizLlanada AlavesaRioja AlavesaMontaña AlavesaValles AlavesesCantábrica AlavesaEstribaciones del GorbeaDonostialdeaBidasoaTolosaldeaGoierriUrola KostaDebagoienaDebabarrenaGran BilbaoDurangaldeaLea-ArtibaiBusturialdeaUribe KostaEnkarterriArratia-NerviónMungialdeaBizkaiaGipuzkoaArabaVitoria-GasteizLlanada AlavesaRioja AlavesaMontaña AlavesaValles AlavesesCantábrica AlavesaEstribaciones del GorbeaDonostialdeaBidasoaTolosaldeaGoierriUrola KostaDebagoienaDebabarrenaGran BilbaoDurangaldeaLea-ArtibaiBusturialdeaUribe KostaEnkarterriArratia-NerviónMungialdea
EU|ES|EN

Diario Euskadi

Markina-Xemein Families Without Taxi Service for School Transport

Eight families in the Larruskain neighborhood face difficulties organizing school transport for their children after the taxi service was discontinued.

Generic image of a winding rural road in the Larruskain neighborhood of Markina-Xemein, with scattered farmhouses.
IA

Generic image of a winding rural road in the Larruskain neighborhood of Markina-Xemein, with scattered farmhouses.

Eight families in the Larruskain neighborhood of Markina-Xemein are facing significant challenges in getting their children to school since the taxi service that picked them up was suspended in February, complicating their daily lives.

Living in rural areas can become a challenge, especially when there are children who need to be taken to school. This is the situation being experienced by eight families in the Larruskain neighborhood of Markina-Xemein since the taxi service, which collected children at various points in the neighborhood to take them to the school bus, ended. The complex topography of Markina-Xemein makes the organization of school transport difficult, as acknowledged by municipal officials, who describe it as one of the most challenging areas in Bizkaia.
The taxi service contract, tendered in 2022, concluded in February, with the new service not yet having been put out to tender. The awarded company indicated that it would not continue with the previous prices, as the routes were extended during the contract period without economic improvements, making the service unprofitable. The transport company engaged in several discussions with the Department of Education, reminding them that the service would end on February 12, but received no satisfactory response.
Since March 2, the taxi transport service used by children living in the farmhouses of Larruskain has been suspended, a service deemed essential for children to attend school. School transport in rural and dispersed areas of Euskadi is regulated by the Department of Education of the Basque Government, which aims to guarantee compulsory schooling when the assigned school is a considerable distance from home.
The families have explored various avenues to find a solution, including submitting complaints through the Electronic Headquarters and appealing to the Ararteko, but have not yet received a response. They have also approached the City Council, and the local mayor has confirmed writing twice to the Bizkaia Delegation, explaining the complex situation of families in this rural area and requesting greater financial effort to improve and maintain the service conditions. The new tender was published on April 17, with proposals accepted until May 19, for a price of 2,227,057.2 euros and a contract duration of 2 years.

Related News