Böblingen taxi driver in the shade: Where are the protests against Uber?

Böblingen taxi driver in the shade: Where are the protests against Uber?

The Böblingen taxi entrepreneur Eddie Langner is frustrated by the unequal competitive situation that was created by rental car platforms such as Uber and Bolt. While there is calm in Böblingen at the taxi rank, there is in the nearby state capital Stuttgart according to the report from the Stuttgart Nachrichten The taxi driver. These defend themselves against the aggressive price war with hup concerts and autocorsos.

in Böblingen, unlike Stuttgart, the outcry has so far been missing. Langner and his colleagues are waiting for new orders at the taxi stand, while some drivers, such as Gürol Cikmaz, use the quiet minutes to take a cigarette break in the shadow of the old post office. Cikmaz, an independent taxi entrepreneur, has heard of the protests in Stuttgart, but remains skeptical about participation. He emphasizes that "nobody in Böblingen participates", however, makes it clear that he thought participation is sensible.

competitive pressure through platforms

The continued competition through platforms such as Uber and Bolt is a significant challenge for many traditional taxi entrepreneurs. Langner describes the pressure caused by the more attractive pricing of these providers. While taxis in Stuttgart draw attention to their situation through loud demonstrations, the protest in Böblingen has so far failed to materialize. The atmosphere at the taxi rank there is relaxed, which forms a contrast to the tense conditions in Stuttgart.

The competitive environment not only affects the profitability of the taxi companies, but also on the hiring of the drivers. So far, many of the taxi drivers in Böblingen have not seen any reason to mobilize, while the colleagues in Stuttgart vehemently defend themselves against the price policy of rental car providers.

The discussion about the business practices of rental car platforms and the reaction of taxi drivers are important topics that will play a crucial role in the future development of public transport in the region. It remains to be seen whether the calm in Böblingen continues in the long term or whether an urgent need for protest movement is also manifested there.