The mayors were in San Francisco for the four-day US Conference of Mayors, which brought together nearly 300 mayors to discuss local policies and politics. The protesters were mostly members the San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance, a local cabbie union, who were there to demand ride-hailing companies be regulated the same way as taxis.
"We are trying to make our voices heard by the mayors," said Chakib Ayadi, a SFTWA board member who helped organize the protest. "I just want [ride-hailing companies] to be regulated and on the same playing field as us. I'd be very happy to compete with them that way."
Taxi drivers have long had beef with Uber dipping into their customer base. Over the past couple of years, cabbie protests have erupted in major cities across the world -- from London to New York to Mexico City. Taxi drivers say that not only are ride-hailing companies stealing their business, but the companies also don't play by the same rules with the driver insurance and background checks they require.
Uber is a service that lets passengers in need of a ride hail a driver with a smartphone app. Since the company was founded in 2009, it's gone from operating just in San Francisco to being in hundreds of cities in 57 countries. It's also become the second-highest valued venture-backed company in the world with a valuation of $41.2 billion.
http://www.cnet.com/news/taxi-drivers-demand-us-mayors-regulate-uber/
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NEWCASTLE
A taxi driver drove his car at a frustrated passenger who slammed the door and kicked his cab when told it was booked by somebody else.
Abdul Aziz, described as a model taxi driver, turned the customer away, telling him he couldn’t take the fare as he was booked.
A court heard the man became angry and slammed the cab door and is said to have kicked the vehicle before walking away.
Aziz then saw red, mounting the pavement in South Tyneside and driving towards the man, coming so close he stumbled forwards onto the bonnet.
Now Aziz, 44, has been given a community order and unpaid work after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Newcastle Crown Court.
The victim did not want to take part in the prosecution but the incident was caught on CCTV in Smithy Street, South Shields, in the early hours of February 1.
Aziz, who had been a taxi driver for eight years, drove off afterwards but was arrested when CCTV operators reported what they had seen.
Sentencing him, Recorder Duncan Smith told Aziz: “Testimonials reveal to me you were the model taxi driver.
“It is a great sadness to see someone of that character riled so sufficiently to change character and use his vehicle as a weapon to scare someone.
“I feel for people in your situation, having to tolerate abuse from people, no doubt who let drink get the better of them and become abusive, either personally or racially or both.
“It is a sad reflection of our society.”
Aziz, of Pentworth Close, South Shields, was sentenced to a community order for 12 months with 150 hours unpaid work, £200 costs, and a 12 month driving ban with an extended test requirement.
Vic Laffey, defending, said racial slurs and other taunts had become the norm for the taxi driver, who would always just ignore it.
Mr Laffey added: “This night, there was an exchange inside the car, then the man got out, slammed the door and kicked the vehicle.
“It was heat of the moment. He acted in a manner he has never acted. He deeply regrets it.”
Mr Laffey said Aziz’s behaviour is likely to have cost him his career as a taxi driver.
He said: “The chances of him ever getting a licence to drive a taxi again will be remote, if not nil.”
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/south-shields-cabbie-drove-man-9507131
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