Uber suspends Barcelona service after new regulations introduced

Taxi-hailing giant Uber is suspending its service in the Spanish city of Barcelona. The move comes after new regulations were passed by local authorities, according to Reuters. The company started its UberX service in the city last year. But from now on, passengers using ride-hailing services will have to wait at least 15 minutes after booking a ride before they can be picked up – thus negating one of the key selling points of companies such as Uber. Speed and convenience – as well as cost – are w
February 5, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

Taxi-hailing giant 8336 Uber is suspending its service in the Spanish city of Barcelona.

The move comes after new regulations were passed by local authorities, according to %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external Reuters false https://uk.reuters.com/article/uber-spain/uber-suspends-taxi-service-in-barcelona-after-new-regulation-idUKE8N1YJ00C false false%>.

The company started its UberX service in the city last year. But from now on, passengers using ride-hailing services will have to wait at least 15 minutes after booking a ride before they can be picked up – thus negating one of the key selling points of companies such as Uber.

Speed and convenience – as well as cost – are what help make taxi-hailing companies so popular with users, but existing taxi firms have long complained of the effects on their own business.

The move in Barcelona by Catalan authorities comes after protests by cab drivers, and reflects more widespread problems for %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external policymakers false http://www.itsinternational.com/categories/enforcement/news/rapidly-changing-mobility-environment-is-challenging-policymakers-says-uk-dft/ false false%> as they wrestle all over the world with the consequences of fast-spreading new mobility services.

Taxi drivers are currently on strike in Spain’s capital, Madrid, in part because of what they see as the unfair advantage which taxi-hailing apps enjoy. Madrid’s authorities have so far not offered similar %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external concessions false https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/01/28/inenglish/1548662803_560309.html false false%> to those in Barcelona.

An Uber spokesman is quoted as saying: “The new restrictions approved by the Catalan Government leave us with no choice but to suspend UberX while we assess our future in Barcelona. We are committed to being a long term partner to Spanish cities and hope to work with the Catalan Government and the City Council on fair regulation for all.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Test
    August 10, 2016
    %$Linker: 2 Internal <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 4 9782 0 oLinkInternal <span class="oLinkInternal"><span class="oLinkInternal">RSS</span></span> Events (Diary)
    Read More
  • Bird establishes board to help increase safety for e-scooter riders
    August 14, 2018
    US electric mobility company Bird has formed a global safety advisory board to implement campaigns and products to improve the safety for riders using electric scooters. The board will also seek to improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists who share space with riders using low-speed e-scooters. Additionally, Bird intends to carry on working with cities through its Save Our Sidewalks pledge to boost rider safety and improve the quality of bikes lanes. The scope of the work includes repainting an
    Read More
  • London conference looks to MaaS future
    March 16, 2017
    Transportation experts from across the globe converge on London for ITS International’s MaaS-Market Conference on 22 and 23 March. Reading international transport and technology experts will gather at a major conference in London next month to debate a revolutionary overhaul of their transport systems by developing Mobility as a Service – or MaaS – operations.
    Read More
  • ISS and CitySync showcase ANPR solutions at World Congress
    September 26, 2012
    ISS Europe and CitySync, specialists in detection and ANPR solutions for the ITS market, will use the ITS World Congress to showcase the Jet-Aludra which incorporates an IR ANPR camera, colour overview camera and an on-board processor. This cost effective Intelligent ANPR camera processes images at the time of capture, so smaller packets of information can be transferred via wireless 3G or wired connections to a central server for review or directly to a police back office facility, matching against hotlist
    Read More

Highlighted Content