French taxi drivers protested across the country today against the illegal but continuing Uberpop service, with some demonstrations turning violent. At the end of the day, the government announced it will now shut Uberpop down, at least in Paris.
Uberpop was banned months ago, but courts have allowed it to continue while the case is under appeal, and have not fined drivers. The Uberpop app allows customers to call drivers working in their own cars without permits or necessary insurance, usually at rates lower than licensed insured cabs.
Taxi drivers have been angry because they are losing income to the illegal cars. Today's protests by 3000 cabbies in several cities blocked highways and access to train stations and airports to back up demands that Uberpop be taken off the road, but in others Uberpop cars were burned and some drivers pulled from their cars.
Uberpop operates under the same company umbrella as the also-controversial Uber service that uses licensed drivers and vehicles. It's been banned in several European countries and bans are under consideration in several others. For a fuller report from TheLocal.fr, click 3CThomasI@graham-windham.org%3E" target="_blank">HERE
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