Go-slow operations, blocking the bus network... taxi drivers' protests continue in Paris, Marseille and Pau

In the capital, Boulevard Raspail, located near the Ministry of Transport, is expected to be blocked this Thursday, as it was the day before, according to France Info . On Wednesday, car horns and fireworks were heard in the rain until late into the evening.

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"Taxis from the provinces are heading to Paris, with blockades planned at Orly and Roissy," Dominique Buisson, secretary general of the National Taxi Federation, warned on France Info. The day before, taxis had blocked secondary access to the Orly airport for about fifteen minutes, with the main roads controlled by law enforcement, the police reported.

The inter-union began a massive mobilization on Monday to protest a proposed new health insurance pricing for patient transport by licensed taxi drivers, which is expected to come into effect on October 1. These trips to hospitals or doctors' offices represent a significant portion of many drivers' revenue, and 6.3 billion in the health budget in 2023, according to the Ministry of Health. Taxis are encouraged to group together patients who have nearby journeys and to use geolocation to prevent fraud.

The sector says it is ready to discuss, particularly shared transport and " cost optimization ." But it is calling for the current project to be frozen. Several thousand taxi drivers from cities and rural areas have since been demonstrating across France. The climate has become tense on several occasions with the police, and four Parisian protesters have been prosecuted.

Many taxis are also protesting against competition from chauffeur-driven vehicles (VTCs), coordinated by platforms like Uber and Bolt . The Ministry of Transport proposed on Wednesday, May 21, increased monitoring of VTCs. In particular, it will ask prefects to " strengthen controls against fraud, particularly targeting illegal activity, marauding, and illegal soliciting ," the ministry attempted to reassure in a press release.

" We're not against " these measures, replied Emmanuelle Cordier, president of the National Taxi Federation (FNDT). " But it's administrative; it doesn't meet the needs on the ground ," she said.

The ride-hailing platform Uber called for calm on Wednesday, regretting the physical assault of four drivers on Monday in Paris, Grenoble, and Marseille, "including threats with a firearm, a taser, and even the use of tear gas." "The regulations governing ride-hailing and taxis are clear, and everyone must be able to carry out their activities peacefully in compliance with the law without being the target of intimidation ," insisted Laureline Serieys, director of Uber in France, in a statement. " We call for a de-escalation of tensions and respect for everyone's freedom."

In Pau, taxi drivers are claiming to have extended their strike notice " indefinitely ," according to Baptiste Ondarts, vice-president of a local taxi union. After marching outside Prime Minister François Bayrou's house, they plan to "invite themselves to events and institutional meetings in Pau ," he added.

As promised, this Thursday, the strikes continue in the Pyrenean city with go-slow operations, the blockade, for motorists, of the station, as well as the morning immobilization of Idélis, the agglomeration's bus network, alerts the Republic of the Pyrenees . At 6:30 a.m., time of the first departures, no buses were able to leave the depot until the blockade was lifted at 7:15 a.m. Idélis confirmed that the buses were finally able to start, with delays that were expected to be absorbed around 8:30 a.m.

In Marseille, " major disruptions were expected from 7 a.m. ," warned the Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture in a statement reported by our colleagues at Actu Marseille . According to information from the authorities, the protesters announced a slow-moving operation throughout Thursday: from Ollioules, in the Var, where the meeting point was set for 7 a.m. The procession is expected to head towards Marseille via the A50, at a very slow pace. Once there, the protesters plan to gather in the center, at Avenue du Prado and Place Castellane, " causing significant traffic disruption ," announced the prefecture. The day before, uninterrupted lines of dozens of taxis blocked Avenue du Prado, causing major traffic problems, without escalating.