Paris taxi drivers blocked traffic and set tires on fire while protesting Uber, ride hailing.
Taxi drivers from France and other European countries protested against Uber, ride hailing in Paris on Tuesday. (Photo by Greg Sandoval)

PARIS — Taxi drivers in this city again took to the streets Tuesday to protest Uber and electronic ride hailing in general. The cabbies also allege the French government has failed to enforce laws designed to protect them from companies like Uber, which they claim compete unfairly.

Similar to last summer’s protest against Uber, the drivers of traditional taxis burned tires, blocked traffic across Paris’ and hurled bottles at police. At Port Maillot, a train and metro station in the western part of the city, a police cordon was set up and drivers shouted: “Here come Uber’s gendamerie. The Uber police have arrived.”

Something else that hasn’t changed from a half-a-year ago is traditional cab drivers here continue to see their income plummet, say the unions representing the drivers.

Those protesting Uber in Paris built fires in the streets (Photo by Greg Sandoval)
Those protesting Uber in Paris built fires in the streets (Photo by Greg Sandoval)

What is different this time around is that there seems to be less violence, at least early on. Missing this time are the upended cars and the harassed Uber customers (no reports yet of drivers spooking Courtney Love). Another new twist were the larger numbers of demonstrators from outside France. Drivers from Italy, Spain, and Germany stood united with French counterparts at Port Maillot.

These types of protests underscore Uber’s mounting troubles as the company expands overseas. In addition to France, Uber faces legal or regulatory challenges in Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain. A valid question now for Uber, the world’s most valuable venture-backed start-up, is how it expects to grow if it continues to be locked out of top markets.

A question the cabbies should ask is how they expect to adapt to a world irreversibly changed by Uber, Lyft and similar services. Regardless of the regulatory roadblocks, these services are unlikely to disappear. Paris commuters have tasted the convenience that internet-hailing offers and, at least on Twitter, many remain loyal to Uber and similar services.

It's clear who European taxi drivers see as their enemy. (Credit : Greg Sandoval)
It’s clear who European taxi drivers see as their enemy. (Credit : Greg Sandoval)

Some of the strife with France’s regulators Uber likely brought on itself. According to a story in the New York Times, senior Uber executives declined to reach out to lawmakers prior to the company’s Paris launch in 2011. This was widely seen by France’s taxi companies as an example of Uber’s arrogance.

Later, the company defied an order to suspend UberPop, which enabled nearly anyone to use Uber’s software to pick up rides. This led to June’s violent protest, followed promptly by the decision of the government of Francois Holland, France’s president, to demand a shutdown of UberPop and the arrest of two top Uber executives. Those managers are scheduled to go on trial next month on six charges, including deceptive commercial practices, complicity in operating an illegal transportation service, and keeping data on customers too long.

The quick and favorable response by France’s government to the last demonstration is likely one reason the drivers are back at it. We’ll see how Hollande responds to this one.

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