Airport taxi/bus lane suspended
Minicab drivers went to court saying a new fast lane on the A1 motorway to Charles de Gaulle caused unfair competition
A DEDICATED bus and taxi lane on the A1 motorway to Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport has been suspended on order of a court after minicab drivers complained.
Drivers of so-called véhicules de tourisme avec chauffeur (VTC) say a fast bus/taxi lane which allows vehicles to avoid the rush hour traffic from 6.30 to 10.00 on weekdays causes unfair competition to them.
The Montreuil administrative court has agreed but only as part of a référé decision - that is a fast-track, temporary measure. A final decision is expected after the court looks at the matter in more depth.
According to a lawyer for the minicab drivers, quoted in Le Figaro they believe the court will reinstate the lane, but allowing them to use it too.
However the head of the firm Taxis Bleus told Le Parisien nothing is definitive until the court takes its final decision. Taxi drivers believe their case is made stronger by the fact the European Court recently ruled that a dedicated lane for London cabs was acceptable.
The lane opened at the end of April and a bylaw was passed at the end of May allowing for a similar measure on a lane of the A6a towards Orly “in case of congestion”.
However in the case of the A1 lane the judge reportedly decided reserving a motorway lane just for the taxis and buses was not justified by sufficient public interest.
If the dedicated lane was permanently axed that could also call into question arrangements by which the taxis have been asked by the government to accept fixed-rate tariffs between the airports and central Paris from next year. Unions said yes, but on the understanding that they would be able to avoid being stuck in jams.
The Competition Authority agreed on Monday to the idea of the fixed rate tariffs, which it said would protect the consumer, especially foreign tourists. It also suggested extending it to trips from the airports to other popular destinations, such as Disneyland Paris.
It is planned that the rates will be fixed at €50-55 to Roissy and €30-35 to Orly and higher than usual night-time rates would be axed.
. Photo: jean pierre gallot
