French taxi drivers on Thursday demanded compensation from the government for lost revenue during the Olympics, as traffic disruptions and fewer regular customers weigh on demand.
In a letter to the transport ministry, taxi unions said the Games were “hugely disappointing” for drivers of licensed taxis, of which there are 20,000 in Paris alone.
“Demand is slowing and the entire profession is being prevented from simply doing its job because of these Games,” said the letter, seen by AFP.
The number of extra visitors the Olympics attracted failed to make up for “the impact of traffic restrictions, venue closures and the impact of regular customers staying away”, it said.
Maersk raises profit target by $2bn on Red Sea shipping woes
Unions called for the creation of a “compensation fund” which they said should cover lost income for the seven-month period when public venues were taken over for the Games.
Several venues in and around Paris, as well as in Marseille, were blocked off for several weeks before the Games began on July 26.
Responding to the letter, Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete said in a social media post that taxis and ride-hailing services will now be allowed to enter the so-called “red zones” around the Olympic sites, which were previously off-limits to motorized vehicles . .
Now that the high-security opening ceremony is in the past, several security measures have been lifted and traffic is becoming more fluid, the minister said.
The government encouraged French residents to go on holiday or work remotely during the Games, further curbing demand and contributing to a sharp drop in business compared to the same period in 2023, unions said.
French storm damage leaves train passengers stranded
Some drivers had seen their income drop by 40 or 50 percent, they said.
Last month, trade groups said Paris’ shops, restaurants, bars and clubs were facing an “unprecedented slump in business and performance”, partly blaming “heavy security measures” during the Games.
Source: AFP