Uber threat to Vienna taxi profits
Outlawed in Germany, the smartphone app that seeks to replace taxis with private drivers has seen a surge in demand in Austria's capital city
A court in Frankfurt this week imposed a temporary nationwide ban on the Internet-based taxi service, claiming that the San Francisco-based company was engaging in unfair competition with German taxi drivers.
Despite the ban in Austria's neighbour, Uber in Austria says that demand is high. Their General Manager John Wesemann said that "the demand for our service in Vienna is great."
"Currently Uber provides Uber Black and Uber X services in Vienna. With both services Uber cooperates exclusively with fully-licensed car rental companies in Vienna, who have been working in their business for many years. They meet all the requirements required by law, which includes of course insurance protection for drivers and passengers."
"We want to offer our technology to other partners, such as existing taxi drivers, to give them the opportunity to increase their utilization and their earnings. Finally, we want to offer especially all Viennese another option to get around their city."
Uber was responding to criticism on Tuesday from Gökhan Keskin, deputy chairman of the department for transport in the Vienna Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the taxi and car rental section in the Social Democratic trade association of Vienna.
"How can it be that a company that has no taxi or rental car authorization, but only a so-called travel agency authorization, is allowed to operate under these conditions?" said Keskin.
He demands a rapid intervention from the Chamber of Commerce. "We cannot allow that Vienna taxi operators are steamrolled," said Keskin, citing the recent court decision in Germany.
On average Uber is around 25 percent cheaper than comparable transport services in Vienna.
http://www.thelocal.at/20140903/uber-threat-to-vienna-taxi-profits
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EDINBURGH
AN end is in sight for traffic chaos around Haymarket after plans were unveiled for a new taxi rank.
Cabbies will be given specific space in Haymarket Terrace, following months of misery for residents.
Complaints have ranged from taxis blocking traffic to cutting off pedestrian access and parking on double yellow lines since the rank outside the train station was abolished in December.
Taxi drivers have been forced to make-do with a short rank outside the Tune Hotel across the road from the rail hub and an “overflow” area around the corner.
The new blueprint, set to be rubber-stamped by council chiefs within weeks, has been backed by local residents and taxi firms alike.
Under the plans, a rank would stretch the length of the block between Rosebery Crescent and Coates Gardens.
The original rank was abolished following the completion of the tram line due to a lack of space, and was instead turned into a drop-off zone for disabled passengers.
Edinburgh Taxi Association secretary Raymond Davidson said cabbies would be happy with the new scheme.
He said: “The way it is now isn’t right. There were too many complaints. The new proposal will be better for us, as it will increase the number of spaces.”
It’s understood that a consultation on establishing the new rank found that residents and businesses were largely supportive of the plan, clearing the way for approval of the scheme.
Adam Clark, co-owner of two sports equipment stores on the corner of Rosebery Crescent and Haymarket Terrace, said the new rank would ease tensions between locals and cabbies.
He said; “We’ve been unhappy with the current situation. There are serious issues with the bus dropping off just before the junction, and tourists are getting off the airport bus and struggling to get across the road. I’ve seen umpteen near misses. Taxis are parking around the corner which is really unsafe, and they’re sitting on a double yellow line.
“It’s very difficult to cross the road, and I’ve had an altercation with a taxi driver because they’ve left three inches between two taxis for people to try to cross the road.
“I was standing with my two nephews, who are four and eight, and it was so unsafe it was ridiculous. There was nowhere to cross the road.”
However, Erica Stahl, owner of nearby gift shop Pippin, said the new rank would be detrimental to her business.
She said: “I know taxis will sit there running their engines most of the time, and they will block the view of my shop. A lot of people stand at the bus stop across the road and look at the window displays and are drawn in by it.
“I’m also concerned the deliveries won’t get through, because the taxis will park across the delivery bays.”
City transport leader Councillor Lesley Hinds said: “There’s no doubt that the current taxi situation around Haymarket Station is far from ideal and we’ve just completed a consultation with taxi companies and other transport bodies to look at how we can make it better.”
http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/haymarket-taxi-rank-plan-to-end-traffic-chaos-1-3529424
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A Dublin man, who has never had a full driver's licence, has been spared a jail sentence for fraudulently operating a taxi using forged documentation.
David Slight, 49, from Pinebrook Vale, Huntstown, was fined €250 and given a two-year road ban after he pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to offences under the Road Traffic Act and the Theft and Fraud Act.
He admitted he did not have a driver's licence or motor insurance, and that he made a false declaration to an insurance company.
He also owned up to using counterfeit public service vehicle (PSV) discs on his car after he was caught picking up fares, on Main Street, in Swords, north Dublin, on July 22, 2012.
In evidence, Garda Paul Doona told the court he saw three people hailing a taxi driven by Slight. Gda Doona stopped the 01-registered car and spoke to him.
Enquires were carried out and the taxi regulator confirmed that Slight did not have a PSV licence Gda Doona said it was also established that Slight, “has never held a full driving licence in this country, the last licence he had was a provisional, in 1985.”
Slight had stated in his declaration to an insurance company that he had a full licence, the court also heard. Gda Doona had said that the vehicle's insurance would not have covered the accused, and it was not meant for a taxi.
The PSV discs at the rear and front of the car were “seized, examined, and found to be counterfeit,” the court also heard.
He had two prior convictions under Section 49 of the Road Traffic Act which is for driving while intoxicated.
Pleading for leniency, Slight's barrister Rory Staines told Judge Patrick Clyne that his client had personal and health problems at the time and had to pay his mortgage. Gda Doona also agreed with the defence that Slight has not been driving since he was caught.
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Chelmsford.
A cabbie stabbed a Tesco worker with an eight-inch metal car tool after a dispute over parking escalated out of control, a court heard.
Isaac Carter, 24, kicked Mehdi Masoudi’s people carrier and punched him around the face in the Viaduct Road taxi rank in Chelmsford.
Jurors at Chelmsford Crown Court were told how 31-year-old taxi driver Masoudi reacted by grabbing a car towing eye from his cab, chasing Mr Carter up a flight of stairs, before stabbing him in the back “three times”.
Giving evidence yesterday (September 2), Mr Carter said: “He was going f***ing mad at me.”
Mr Carter said that on the evening of Wednesday, June 12 last year, he walked from his flat in Wells Crescent to the ground floor in Viaduct Road to collect £10 his cousin owed him.
Yet his cousin pulled up on double yellow lines, blocking the taxi rank in front, and provoking Masoudi to flash his lights.
“He was also shouting, swearing and being aggressive to my cousin’s young family which is threatening,” said Mr Carter.
“I told him to stop shouting and swearing because there were children in the car.
“He said ‘this is part of a taxi rank’ and moved towards me in an aggressive manner and I kicked his taxi which I admit I shouldn’t have done.
“I lost my temper and I admit that was stupid.”
After his cousin had driven away, the pair allegedly continued a shouting match before Mr Carter is seen on CCTV swinging a left hook at Masoudi, who had stepped out of the taxi.
“I hit him with a left hook and he sort of wobbled and that’s when he ran back towards his taxi,” said Mr Carter.
Masoudi is indeed seen grabbing an implement from the car, before allegedly stabbing him in the back in Mr Carter’s doorway upstairs.
“It was more than three times, maybe five,” said Mr Carter.
“It really hurt but I was quite adrenalin filled so I didn’t feel much.
“He then pushed me over so he was on top of me on the floor and I put my arms around the outside of his and squeezed him so he couldn’t gouge my back full power.
“He was also trying to headbutt me and was shouting at me.
“I didn’t know what he had in his hands so I potentially thought I could die.”
'Lots of arguments'
Masoudi then drove away but was tracked and arrested by police, while Mr Carter was taken to hospital with bruising and gashes to his back.
While cross examining Mr Carter’s evidence, Masoudi’s barrister Sasha Bailey singled out the store assistant’s grudge against taxi drivers’ behaviour in Viaduct Road.
Mr Carter has complained to Chelmsford City Council and British Transport Police, arguing that cabbies are treating part of Viaduct Road, outside of the designated taxi rank, as a collection point.
The court also heard that taxis had blocked an ambulance that was taking Mr Carter to hospital with second degree burns on a previous occasion.
He said: “I don’t hate all taxi drivers. If they followed the rules like everyone else I wouldn’t have lots of arguments with them.”
Masoudi, formerly of Taylor Avenue, Chelmsford, denies one count of causing actual bodily harm and one count of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.
Mr Carter does not face any charges.
The trial continues.
