Anti-Uber Protests Shut Down Euro Cities

Daily Beast ^ | 06/13/2014 | Nico Hines

[SeekAndFind]

Taxi-cab drivers from London to Berlin staged blockades and shut down traffic today in a coordinated strike against the ride-sharing app.

A solid blockade of iconic black cabs stretching from Big Ben to Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace froze the traffic in Central London today as European taxi drivers said “No” to the rise of the ride-sharing app Uber.

Undeterred by coordinated protests in Paris, Madrid, Berlin and beyond, the San Francisco start-up taunted its opponents with claims that the demonstrations had boosted membership numbers and suggested the traditional drivers hailed from the “Dark Ages.”

In London, where licensed “hackney carriages” have been operating for 300 years, cab drivers said they were proud of their history and that the arrival of Uber was putting the public at risk. Officially licensed drivers, who buy their own vehicles for more than $60,000, undergo criminal record checks and between three and seven years of training.

Drivers are furious that Transport for London is relaxing its own rules, which ensure that taxi meters can only be used in official black cabs. The demonstration strangled the flow of traffic in London from 2 p.m. onward, with some commuters complaining of hour-long traffic jams.

"This protest is about the ripping up of established regulations in the name of greed and private profit and the decimation of London’s black cabs," said Mick Cash, the acting general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union.

Since Uber was founded in 2009, there have been a series of allegations about the behavior of their drivers, one of whom was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a woman in Los Angeles last month. Serious concerns have also been raised over the amount of personal information that is shared with the driver.

[KarlInOhio]

and between three and seven years of training.

Back in the days of when the driver had to memorize the streets of London that made sense, but now with GPS and radio dispatch does it even take three to seven weeks to learn how to be a cabbie?

[Gay State Conservative]

I very seldom take cabs...anywhere...but I have some experience with London cabs and some with NYC cabs.Night and day! My London drivers have all spoken flawless English,were very polite and helpful and seemed to be very knowledgeable.In fact I think it takes much training and the passing of a rigorous exam before you're allowed to drive a cab in London.

NYC? Don't get me started.

[from occupied ga]

The latest generation of luddites.

[Vigilanteman]

NYC? Don't get me started.

An acquaintance of mine from a previous life had been transferred by his law firm from the NYC to the Tokyo office. Substitute "understandable English" for "flawless English" and his observation was exactly the same as yours.

[SampleMan]

Slightly different issue, but Florida and other vacation states have passed industry protection laws that limit the ability to make a short term lease without paying hotel fees/taxes.

So if I want to rent my home in FL to someone from Michigan for a few weeks in January, I must legally do so under the laws that govern hotels, not the laws that govern home leases. Its real BS.

[Procyon]

So I take it the only cabs available during the cab protest were from Über. Now they have added hundreds more satisfied customers.

[RockyTx]

what is the complaint?
please be specific and complete if possible.

victims are trying to double-up but pay only once
victims are trying to negotiate rates sorta
like a reverse auction

something else?

[SamAdams76]

Slightly different issue, but Florida and other vacation states have passed industry protection laws that limit the ability to make a short term lease without paying hotel fees/taxes.

The gub'mint tried protecting us against AirBnB as well as Uber/Lyft.

Aren't you glad they failed?

Congratulations to the entrepreneurs who have taken on the status quo and provided alternatives to consumers.