This follows an incident in Paguera when an Uber driver was stopped by a group of taxi drivers who demanded to see his service route. One of the taxi drivers was heard to say: "This is going to end badly, it's going to end very badly. We're going to burn cars."
In a statement, Uber say: "We are saddened that a part of the taxi sector in Mallorca is resorting to harassment of VTC* drivers who use our platform. We ask for the collaboration of the local authorities to prevent escalation of this type of intolerable action."
The National Police and Guardia Civil are said to be closely monitoring the situation, tensions having been evident since Uber started operations in four Mallorca municipalities last week. Taxi driver associations maintain that Uber are not observing a regulation which requires a minimum thirty minutes advance booking. The associations are themselves calling for action to be taken by the Balearic ministry for mobility.
* VTC = Transport vehicle with driver, a specific licence for passenger transport.
7 comments
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The taxi’s here are awful. I hope Uber gets more common here so that the prices are more like Dubai and the USA.
@Andy Walker - Obviously you've not used the kamikaze taxi mafia of Menorca! 😂😂
Jacqueline Neal. You know capitals means you are shouting but the words in parentheses or the lower case pronoun of i and poor spelling makes me wonder what you are actually emphasising.
well....not to STATE the obvious...what did you expect...!!! the "normal" Taxi drivers to "roll" over and just EXCEPT this Company....and "PINCHING" their "Buieness"...NOT that i am CONDONING there "TACTICTS"...This Company should have THOUGHT About the CONCSQUANCES of doing this Business..!!! And as if the Local Police don't have enough problems already with the Season here/started..this Company NOW wants PROTECTION ...!!! If thats the CAST i am SURE this Comapny can AFFORD PRIVATE SECUITY to PROTECT ITS TAXIS'S AND ITS PEOPLE...!!
The downfall of the taxi mafia begins! The more they fight it the worse they will come out. Watch the show!
Look, I don’t mind taxi drivers on the island. In fact, surprisingly many female drivers who are relaxed and pleasant. But it’s just disgraceful how the locals feel so entitled and want keep “their” market closed off, while refusing to improve service levels and progress like we see virtually everywhere else. One day they will all pay the price. MORE UBER PLEASE!!!
Makes me only want to use Uber. Mallorcan taxi drivers are an embarrassment and in my opinion the worst taxi drivers I have ever experienced in any country.