HE the conflict between taxi drivers and applications Number of Transport Vehicles with Driver (VTC like Uber or Cabify) It’s not unique to Barcelona. Or if. Call ‘taxi war’ has a unique scenario in each global city Where the war is being waged In New York, an alliance change has transformed the board, in London they share the market with ‘minicabs’, and in Brussels access to the driver profession has been consolidated. In many capitals, such as Paris, You can already request a ride and a taxi or bus will arrive indefinitely. VTC.
Taxi drivers resist in Paris
The Uber platform has benefited from rapid growth in Paris over the past decade. Just before the Covid-19 crisis, its hegemony and the fall of the taxi seemed irreversible. Of the 3 million trips in the Paris region in 2019, 1.8 million were made by VTC and 1.2 million by taxis. After the pandemic, the situation was rebalanced and the taxi industry gained some dynamism. The cost of one of their licenses has increased from 115,000 euros in 2018 to 173,000 euros today. With 260,000 euros for the permit, it’s still far from the record set in 2012.
This resistance by Parisian taxis took advantage of the incipient judicial pressure on the Uber model. Faced with the obligation to view its drivers as salaried rather than self-employed, the multinational recently announced that it has agreed to pay its drivers a minimum of 7.65 euros for each trip. This has made it cheaper to use a taxi for short distance journeys nowadays. In addition, the latter imitated the VTC model, as in the company G7, switching to digital and using high-end cars. And more and more VTC platforms like Uber, Bolt or Free Now offer the possibility to order a taxi.
Victory of the VTC without prestige in Buenos Aires
In April 2022, the last and major protest of taxi drivers against Uber, Cabify and Didi was held in the city of Buenos Aires. The mayor had promised to defend them against the new reality, but his gestures and arguments before the courts proved futile. Travel practices have dramatically changed transportation and urban mobility in the Argentine capital. Last year was, in a sense, a triumph for travel platforms, despite the grumbling of the drivers union. The pandemic supported the changes. When Covid-19 began to circulate, there were 38,000 taxis on the streets. At the moment they do not exceed 15,000. Obtaining one of the traditional black and yellow cars can be a lengthy adventure where apps are counting in their favour. In fact, many ecstaxi drivers have migrated to these platforms.
But victory is far from final. Users of Uber, Cabify, and DiDi frequently complain on social networks about dirty cars, the smell of cigarettes, speeding on streets without traffic lights, drivers’ lack of empathy, changes in itineraries, as well as sudden cancellations of trips. Focus Market and OH! According to a survey conducted by Argentines, 62% of Argentines would prefer not to travel with a mode of transport requested by an app unless there is an alternative. And when they do, many complain of long wait times and high prices.
‘Minicabs’, taxis and VCT in London
In London, ‘taxis’, the traditional black cabs, compete with a growing group of VTCs. For years there have been so-called ‘minicabs’ that, unlike taxis, have to be booked in advance. Transfers to airports are the most popular market thanks to the slightly cheaper pre-fixed tariff. The two major competitors of traditional taxis are Uber and Bolt, both dedicated to food delivery. They operate through an app and are booked from the race starting point.
Uber’s arrival in 2012 sparked protests from London taxi drivers who failed to take the company to court. Uber was on the verge of losing its license but was renewed for a 30-month period in March last year. Prices have risen and, although cheaper than conventional taxis, it has regained ground following the pandemic, which was feared to be nearly extinct. There are around 14,000 conventional taxi licenses in London today, up from 21,000 in the past.
Brussels “sticker”
After a decade of war, both political and judicial, the taxi industry and VTC platforms like Uber seem to have achieved a certain social peace in Brussels, at least temporarily, thanks to the taxi services regulation known as “Plan a taxi”. under the pseudonym “editing tape”. It entered into force on October 21. But its premiere was met with protests from the taxi industry, which found the number of authorized licenses for VTCs excessive. The plan combines access to the driver profession and includes traditional taxi and VTC services in the same industry.
Of course, it offers different services: identifiable class taxis, booked street taxis (formerly VTC), and ceremonial taxis for certain events. The regulation also increases the number of vehicles circulating in the capital from 2,725 to 3,250, distributing 1,425 conventional taxi and 1,825 VTC licenses. The growth benefits VTCs with 1,425 licenses compared to 1,300 taxi licenses. These Clausus numbers will be evaluated every two years.
Rome and the value of licenses
The war between taxis and VTCs in Rome is also an ancient war. Last year, taxi drivers staged several strikes and protests to denounce the use by VTCs of various practices that would allow them to offer more advantageous prices than taxi drivers’ unions and not comply with the regulations to which they are subject. The protest grew especially after the publication of the calls. Uber FilesRevealing the strategies of VTC Uber company to have location in dozens of countries. All this is always based on a complaint referring to the fact that many Roman taxi drivers bought their licenses at very high prices, with a very high initial investment. For this reason, taxi drivers oppose the liberalization of the sector.