The Addis Abeba Transport Bureau's recent decision to restrict the number of minibus taxi drivers who can transport school children to five per cent per association has sparked outrage among taxi owners.

The decision, penned by respective district heads of transport bureaus in July, was reportedly motivated by a mismatch between demand and supply in public transportation. However, taxi owners argue that the cap is unfair and will have a significant negative impact on their livelihoods and the quality of transportation services available to school children.

The notice urging drivers to prepare alternatives in the upcoming school year, circulating among the 13 taxi associations in the capital had drivers attempt to adapt to the new modality by drawing lotteries to determine which members would offer the service.  This method backfired when unlucky members disagreed.

The ripple effects became evident two weeks ago when service providers continued regardless.

According to private minibus owners, they have been penalised up to 1,500 Br for deviating from their assigned routes by the Transport Bureau. Despite their pleas to appeal the cases, it fell on deaf ears and the process kept on being postponed.

While acknowledging the restrictions, officials from the Trasport Bureau declined to publicly comment on the issue. However, the transporters were offered a lifeline to raise their concerns during a meeting hosted at the Mayor's Office, which saw the attendance of officials from various sectors, including Dawit Zeleke, deputy head of the Transport Bureau.

Attendees who voiced their concern about the narrow profit margin noted a sentiment suggesting that recipients of fuel subsidies should prioritise public service.

Nuredin Ditamo is enraged with the new stipulations, which he sees as inconsiderate of the skyrocketing prices of vehicle spare parts and garage maintenance costs.

"We started providing student transport services due to the diminutive profit margins," he told Fortune in a desperate tone.

He manages the 330-member-strong Blen Taxi Association in Bole District and serves as secretary to the Taxi Owners Association. The Association, which used to have 100 of its vehicles providing student transport services, will now have to settle for 24 despite the protests of members.

"Students will be piling on the roads," he told Fortune in a cautionary tone.

Academics within urban transportation circles argue against the imposition of directions on individual property by the Bureau.

"Students are part of the public too," Birhanu Zeleke (PhD) told Fortune rhetorically. The lecturer from Kotobe Metropolitan University suggests that disruptions to the transport sector upset the whole social apparatus.

Birhanu recommends the broader adoption of railways and the strict implementation of regulations that restrict certain roads to public transporters.

"Improving infrastructure is the only solution," he told Fortune, criticising the recent move by the Bureau.

Legal experts have a different outlook.

Yohannes WoldeGerbiel who specialises in commercial law indicates that it is a matter of choosing the lesser evil.

He suggests taxi owners opt out of the subsidy and keep profits or return to providing public transportation which has its own set of rules including tariffs.