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Taxis in Budapest block traffic, demand ban on Uber Taxis in Budapest block traffic, demand ban on Uber
(about 2 hours later)
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Over 100 taxis are blocking traffic in downtown Budapest, demanding a ban on Uber and other ride-hailing apps. BUDAPEST, Hungary — Over 100 taxis blocked traffic in downtown Budapest on Monday, demanding a ban on Uber and other ride-hailing apps.
The yellow vehicles from several taxi companies are blocking most lanes of a key intersection in the Hungarian capital near St. Stephen’s Basilica, causing traffic delays. The yellow vehicles from several taxi companies blocked most lanes of a key intersection near St. Stephen’s Basilica in the Hungarian capital, causing traffic delays.
Taxi drivers said they would go later Monday to the office of Budapest’s mayor to present a petition with their demands. Taxi drivers also went to the nearby offices of Budapest’s mayor to present a petition with their demands, but their meeting with Mayor Istvan Tarlos did not result in any immediate solutions.
Protest organizers said they want to show Mayor Istvan Tarlos “that the current condition is unsustainable” and called for fines against Uber drivers and the immediate shutdown of the service. Protest organizers said they wanted to show Tarlos “that the current condition is unsustainable” and called for fines against Uber drivers and the immediate shutdown of the service.
Driver Zsolt Gelencser said Uber and similar apps were avoiding regulations and licensing issues which taxies had to comply with.
“We demand that Uber, as an app or as an activity, cease to exist,” Gelencser said, standing amid the taxis occupying most of the road. “They are applying a double standard. Nothing applies to them, while everything applies to us.”
Laszlo Pusztai, another taxi driver at the protest, estimated that Uber was taking away 50-60 percent of the rides of traditional taxis. “Unfortunately, it is working very well for them,” Pusztai said.
Uber says it has 1,200 drivers and 80,000 users in Budapest.Uber says it has 1,200 drivers and 80,000 users in Budapest.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.