Heraklion’s traffic changes spark unrest among taxi drivers, shop owners, and tourists. Decisions by the city’s Traffic Committee, set for implementation next week, include moving tourist buses and cutting taxi stands, all amid the busy tourist season.
- Tourist buses are exiled from their usual station on Demokratias Avenue.
- Two taxi stands vanish: one at the start of Demokratias, the other from 18 Anglon Square.
- Local shop owners threaten legal action over plastic bollards on 62 Martyron Street.
- A public meeting with City Engineering Chief G. Sisamakis is scheduled for Monday.
- Shifts rolled out just as tourist arrivals surge and downtown congestion peaks.
Tourist Buses Take Center Stage
Tourist buses in Heraklion once lined up outside the Venizelos statue, a spot famous for its traffic jams. With city center traffic now bursting at the seams, that fragile balancing act has collapsed under its weight. The Traffic Committee, displaying Olympic-level decision-making skills, has ordered all tourist buses to stop and unload at the Theatrical Station near the port. The port has space—untapped, like a forgotten tourist attraction or a local specialty no one orders.
To sweeten the deal, there’s talk of opening the legendary Gate of Ammos, allowing visitors the rare pleasure of entering the city through Venetian walls. Perhaps a little old-world charm will distract everyone from the extra walking distance with suitcases in tow.
Vanishing Taxi Stands
Just as taxi drivers started adjusting to the latest round of fare increases, two prime taxi stands disappeared overnight—from the entrance of Demokratias Avenue and from 18 Anglon Square. The taxi sector, rarely described as “calm,” is now registering its displeasure at full volume. Apparently, people enjoy being able to hop into a cab at the city’s doorstep.
City officials, never short of creative math, have found comfort in parking statistics. Deputy Mayor Sisamakis assures everyone that four spots on Mitsotaki Street and eighteen on Anemogianni Street will handle the fallout. It’s a bold claim, somewhere between optimism and stand-up comedy.
Plastic Bollards and Crushing Commerce
62 Martyron Street, usually known for its bustling shops, now grapples with its local drama. Newly installed plastic bollards—those cheerful little posts that politely insist you don’t park—have enraged business owners. They argue that deliveries are now Herculean labour and customer numbers are plummeting. Legal action looms as city officials defend the measure as a cost-effective solution that ensures a steady flow of traffic. Apparently, the plan is “pilot,” though merchants seem to think they’re the ones being experimented on.
Traffic Changes Schedule (Because Someone Has to Organize the Chaos)
- Now: Traffic changes announced and implemented in phases;
- Following Monday: Meeting with the engineering chief and the shop owner delegation to review the bollard situation;
- This Tourist Season: Buses shift stops to Theatrical Station, taxi drivers ponder new ways to get noticed, and shoppers dodge plastic posts.
If travel, in the end, is meant to broaden horizons, Heraklion’s streets now offer a master class in creative navigation. The Traffic Committee seems to have mistaken the summer rush for a chance to play chess with public patience. Will these traffic changes solve the gridlock or start new fights in other parts of town? Place your bets, pack your walking shoes, and never assume the shortest route is still there tomorrow.
