New rules delay minicab firms

NEW-STYLE minicab companies face new laws in the autumn that will impose a 15 minute delay before they can pick up passengers.

The move by Social Economy Minister Benoît Hamon protects traditional taxis who have seen their business severely affected by the new, cheaper voitures de tourisme avec chauffeur VTC companies such as Chauffeur Privé, Le Cab, SnapCar and Uber.

Hamon said the move was to “rebalance the power between consumer and professional”.

In January thousands of taxi drivers went on three-day strike over plans to open up their business to outside competition – and many mounted opération escargot go-slows on motorways and main roads.

The new VTC minicabs came after changes by the previous government to increase competition. They do not have to abide by the strict rules for taxi drivers but are not allowed to pick up street fares and cannot use authorised ranks.

If approved, the new law will mean they have to impose a 15-minute waiting time on customers phoning for a minicab.

Taxi company bosses such as Nicolas Rousselet, of leading European firm G7 and the main company in Paris, have called for minicab companies to face a 60-minute waiting time.

Camille Richard, for the federation of VTC companies, said they hoped to convince the government to drop the 15-minute delay for company hires, where the company was an existing client of the VTC firm.

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