Spanish taxi drivers on strike

The taxi drivers in Barcelona and Madrid have announced an immediate "indefinite" strike to reject the new regulations on companies such as Uber and Cabify. #sharingeconomy #transportation #mobility #innovation #smartcities https://lnkd.in/d6sxnwc

Barcelona Taxi flash strike, yet again tourists unable to BE tourists. I do not believe endless strikes will solve this, the client wants and WILL use the new technology platforms (as has been shown) such as UBER and Cabify because they embrace convenience & availbility with no queues. Instead of striking perhaps the Taxi Driver collective should actually look at updating their way of doing business to bring it more in line with current techonology and todays trending? https://lnkd.in/dyDpJtg

So in a fast changing world, businesses are faced with choices on how to cope with automation and 'progress.' Uber is a well known disruptor, but whilst in Spain this year I’ve been dismayed at the way the local taxi drivers have decided to try and protect their livelihood. In the summer they went on strike - effectively pushing more customers to Uber. And only last week some firms have decided to ban non Spanish numbers from being able to book taxis - effectively pushing more customers to Uber. Rather than trying to protect the old ways I think they need to adapt to the new ways and improve their offering.

I don't think "government" should be getting involved in this:? "Protests against ride-sharing apps have swept across Spain and encouraged the government to put the brakes on Uber. In recent years it has become difficult to hail a traditional taxi in most major cities without becoming ensnared in a conversation about how Uber or Lyft are ruining the industry.? So much so that even people whose morals conflict with technology giants’ gig-economy approach to mobility – low pay for drivers, price hikes and the rating system – are using them. In Spain, resistance to ride-sharing apps flared up last week as thousands of taxi drivers took part in strikes that spread from Barcelona to Madrid.? The protests ended on Wednesday evening as the government agreed to place a restriction on the number of licenses granted to Uber and equivalent services, meaning that there will be just one ride-sharing driver for every 30 taxi drivers throughout the country.? Mobility seems to be one area where governments are prepared to legislate to restrict the market domination of big technology." - Monocle, August 3rd, 2018