Taxis Planning Protests Over Olympique Lyonnais, Uber Partnership

If taxis in Lyon, France were not “mobilized since the resumed strike on Tuesday, they will soon step into the fray to protest against the new partnership” between Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais and the mobile service Uber, according to L’ÉQUIPE. For last Sunday’s match against Olympique de Marseille, OL “reserved a loading and drop-off zone for Uber drivers” at its stadium Parc Olympique Lyonnais. According to regional newspaper Le Progres, local taxis are complaining of “unfair competition.” The taxis plan to take action at the next OL home match (against Bordeaux on Feb. 3), “if OL does not end its partnership with Uber” (L’ÉQUIPE, 1/28). Olympique Lyonnais on Friday will begin talks, under the guidance of Rhône Chamber of Trade President Alain Audouard, with various taxi association representatives, including House of Rhône Taxis President Jean-Paul Durand and National Taxi Union Secretary Pascal Wilder, to formulate a plan for Parc Olympique Lyonnais access (OL).