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

  • Uber’s autonomous taxi kills pedestrian, North American trials suspended
    March 20, 2018
    An autonomous car operated by Uber has killed a pedestrian in what is believed to be the first death of its kind, in a report by The Independent. The vehicle, according to Tempe Police, was driving in autonomous mode as part of the company’s North America tests that included an operator behind the wheel that was not in control at the time of the incident. Uber Technologies has suspended all of its driverless car tests in Phoenix and Arizona as well as Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Toronto.
    Read More
  • European Court of Justice rules Uber as a Transport service
    December 22, 2017
    The European Court of Justice has ruled against Uber, concluding it to be a transport service, which will require it to have stricter regulation and licensing as a taxi operator within the EU. The decision follows a challenge presented by taxi drivers in Barcelona who were seeking a declaration from a court in 2014 that activities of Uber Systems Spain, amounted to misleading practices and acts of unfair competition.
    Read More
  • Upcoming Flir traffic webinars
    October 30, 2015
    Flir Traficon Academy is organising several informative webinars for November, to provide participants with more about keeping traffic flowing. The vehicle and bicycle presence detector on 5 November at 7:00am, 1:30pm and 6:30pm will discuss the Flir ThermiCam/TrafiSense integrated thermal camera and detector that can be used for vehicle and bike detection, which uses thermal energy emitted from vehicles and bicyclists to detect their presence
    Read More
  • ERTICO-ITS Europe issues World Congress website warning
    July 11, 2018
    ERTICO-ITS Europe, organiser of September’s ITS World Congress in Copenhagen, has warned that an unofficial website could confuse potential delegates and suggests that people avoid it. The official site of the Congress is www.itsworldcongress.com, but a site exists with a similar domain - itsworldcongress2018.org – offering hotel bookings and travel information. In a statement, ERTICO said: “This website does not represent the ITS World Congress and is not affiliated with ERTICO – ITS Europe or any of t
    Read More

Highlighted Content