As more reports surfaced this week of confrontations between yellow cab drivers and their Uber rivals, the general public is taking to the streets to have a say.
A small group gathered in the Plaza de Armas in downtown Guadalajara to offer support to Uber and highlight the differences between the new taxi firms that use mobile apps and smartphones to request rides, and the traditional cab service. The chief point raised by the demonstrators was the obvious transparency of the Uber service compared to the yellow cabs. Fares are cheaper and respected, routes automatically planned, no cash need change hands and drivers can be evaluated for the service they provide, they noted.
“Technology is advancing, why are we going backwards,” said one protestor, concerned the state government is ready to bow to union pressure and prohibit or drastically limit Uber and similar services.
“The governor and state legislators should try (Uber) for themselves and see how much better it is before making any decision,” said another.
Guadalajara’s traditional taxi drivers say the popularity of Uber is threatening their livelihoods. A particularly thorny issue has been the increasing number of Uber cars that passengers are now summoning to the Guadalajara Airport to take them into the city after their flights touch down.
The airport operators have signed an exclusive agreement that only permits authorized taxis to operate from the facility. But Uber drivers now prowl the area around the airport waiting for calls, although they have no legal place to park. Depending on the supply/demand factor, a ride into the city can cost as little as 200 pesos, significantly less than the average fee of 320 pesos that the authorized cabs charge.
The Jalisco state government is in the process of negotiating how the new service should be regulated with input from both taxi union leaders and Uber representatives.