Taxi drivers across Italy were part
of a Europe-wide strike on Wednesday against the Uber
cab-hailing app they fear is co-opting their livelihood while
sidestepping regulations.
In Milan, the country's most heavily trafficked city,
protests were planned to continue through the night "in order
not to lose our sector to a multinational that cares about
profit and not service, without even paying taxes in Italy,"
said a statement from the cabbies union.
Only the ill, disabled, pregnant, and those with small
children were offered rides in Milan, Rome, Naples, and other
cities spanning the peninsula.
Licensed cabbies in London, Paris, Berlin, Madrid and
Lisbon join their Italian colleagues in similar strikes on
Wednesday over the introduction of Uber, a service allowing
passengers to connect with nearby drivers at the push of a
button on their smartphone.
Opponents say it violates laws setting out the roles and
characteristics of taxi drivers and chauffeur car rentals.
Based in California, Uber allows users to see where the
closest participating car is and book it after agreeing a set
fare paid by credit card.
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