Taxi drivers brought downtown Mexico City to a standstill, in an anti-Uber protest that was replicated across the country in at least eight states.
The National Taxi-driver Movement (Movimiento Nacional Taxista) is taking on ride-hailing platforms that are largely unregulated in Mexico.
Licensed, tax-paying drivers are angry that inexperienced drivers for Uber and other services don’t pay taxes, aren’t licensed and put the safety of their passengers at risk.
Mexico’s cabbies are calling for ride-hailing drivers to have publicly identifiable cars and some means of registration to disallow just anybody from being a driver.
While some cities are overrun with ride-hailing apps, others, such as Veracruz, have banned them.
Yet regulations may soon become more widespread — in response to the protests, Mexico’s Interior Ministry agreed to review the issue and work to ensure all drivers operate with the same legal oversight.
Sources: La Silla Rota (Mexico), Fronteras Desk (KJZZ-FM, Arizona)