More than 23 open investigation folders against taxi drivers of cancun for attacks on Uber partners have not been enough to stop them.
From January to date, there have been more than 19 attacks in which there were even people injured and vehicles damaged. In the vast majority there were tourists who witnessed the attacks, some reported them to 911 and others evidenced it on social networks.
And, despite the bad image they have earned in the face of international tourism, the operators of the union Andres Quintana Roo do not care.
Investigations advance
Despite complaints and arrests, Cancun taxi drivers continue to attack Uber
Cristina Torres, Secretary of Government, pointed out that in the last count the authority has more than 23 open procedures.
“Three more accumulated. It is that there is a different issue here, what they point out are alleged acts of violence, so what concerns administratively is reviewed by the Mobility Institute. Regarding the demarcation of alleged illegal acts, it is up to prosecution. We are making good progress,” she said.
José Pablo Mathey, Secretary of Public Security of cancunconfirmed that, until the last cut, eight taxi drivers have been arrested for assaulting Uber drivers and were placed at the disposal of the authority.
Despite all this, the attacks continue. From April 2 to date, in the middle of Holy Week, four attacks were recorded, the last two on Sunday, April 9.
More than 500 attacks
Despite complaints and arrests, Cancun taxi drivers continue to attack Uber
Since uber began operating in Cancun, there are more than 500 attacks against the operators.
“There are colleagues who even have three to four complaints in the Prosecutor’s Office, there are already more than 500 complaints, but nothing is done,” said Águeda Esperilla Soto, spokesperson for a group of drivers from the private transport platform.
He pointed out that they have received intimidation and attacks on the units. The aggressor taxi drivers have used tubes, sticks, bladed weapons and corrosive chemicals.
We have to improve: taxi drivers
Despite complaints and arrests, Cancun taxi drivers continue to attack Uber
Heriberto Núñez, secretary of the Union of taxi drivers Andrés Quintana Roo, said that the entrance of Uber will affect the pockets of all union members, partners and operators, since visitors arrive with the idea of making use of these digital applications.
He affirmed that the union is working to improve its service, in coordination with state authorities.
“I always invite our colleagues that we have to change, we have to improve as much as possible to be able to compete, we have roots, we already know the terrain anyway, but we have to innovate and improve so that the public prefers us”, exposed.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UBER AND DIDI
Despite complaints and arrests, Cancun taxi drivers continue to attack Uber
In cancun at least two private transport platforms operate: DiDi, of which the taxi drivers from the Andrés Quintana Roo union, and Uber, which operates with private drivers.
In La Verdad Noticias we did an exercise to find out which of the two services is the best, because, to make a decision, not only the price should be highlighted, but other factors, such as services, attention, speed limits, respect and even security .
The exercise consisted of using one of the three Uber modalities from El Torito to Plaza Las Américas. Uber offered three fares: UberX at 199.91 pesos, Uber Planet at 209.91 pesos and Comfort at 253.17 pesos.
In the UberX service, the driver named Esteban opened the door, put on the air conditioning and music. He did not engage in much conversation and respected the passenger’s privacy at all times.
His appearance was good, he was well dressed, he wore a polo shirt, dress pants and perfume. The only negative point for this service is the waiting time, as it took more than 10 minutes to arrive.
For comparison, the same service was requested through the app DiDiwhich had a minimum rate of 204.15 pesos, that is, less than five pesos more expensive, but with a waiting time of five minutes, less than Uber.
The driver had the music at high volume and was asked to turn it down, so he kindly agreed. It did not have air conditioning, the vehicle smelled good, and the operator respected the user’s privacy.
AGGRESSIONS AGAINST UBER
JANUARY 9TH
A few meters from the Residence Inn by Marriott hotel, at kilometer 23.5 of Kukulcán Boulevard, a driver was attacked when she came from the airport to pick up some tourists, the group of taxi drivers stoned the Uber with the foreigners on board. The taxi driver was arrested.
JANUARY 19
At least three taxi drivers blocked the way and verbally assaulted an Uber driver, forcing tourists to get off at the Ceviche roundabout. The case monopolized the international news.
JANUARY 21ST
In the vicinity of the Crystal hotel in the hotel zone, a tourist was intimidated by four taxi drivers moments before boarding a platform unit.
On that same day, another incident was reported, it was on Yaxchilán Avenue, in front of the Xbalamqué Hotel, where taxi drivers aboard unit 5164 blocked the way and verbally assaulted an Uber driver.
JANUARY 22
Several influencers joined the complaints and expressed their complaints about the attacks against Uber. Tiktoker Chad Scott shared how difficult it was for him to get around in a taxi that charged him $25 for two miles.
Jahir Jiménez, also denounced high charges from taxi drivers. Carlos Salmerón Villarreal, another influencer, witnessed the aggression of the “taximios”, as many now call them, towards a family that was traveling in an Uber to the Cancun airport. The unit had its tires flattened.
JANUARY 23
Taxi drivers blocked the Hotel Zone at kilometer 0 and at the end, at kilometer 28. They attacked tourists and citizens, who were forced to get out of the vehicles to walk to the airport.
JANUARY 25
A taxi driver threw acid at a car outside a hotel in cancunmistaking it for an Uber, and was detained by the police.
A group of taxi drivers cornered the Uber driver outside the downtown Walmart. She got flat tires.
JANUARY 30TH
At the Gran Oasis hotel, located in the hotel zone, taxi drivers threatened the Uber driver who was carrying tourists on board.
FEBRUARY 22
Two taxi drivers were detained by the Tourist Police, after threatening an Uber driver at kilometer 9.5 of the hotel zone.
MARCH 1ST
On the Ultramar ferries, in Puerto Juárez, a taxi driver verbally assaulted an Uber driver and hit his car to prevent him from picking up a ticket.
MARCH 4
A taxi driver was arrested for assaulting a female driver uber, whom he threatened with a 9-millimeter firearm. He was arrested and the weapon confiscated.
MARCH 25TH
In Playa Tortugas, taxi drivers broke the windows of an Uber that was transporting tourists at kilometer 6.5 of Kukulcán Boulevard.
APRIL 4
A hotel taxi driver attacked an Uber operator and tried to intimidate the tourist on board, but the latter, knowing about the situation, did not let him.
5TH OF APRIL
The Chedraui Tulum taxi drivers threatened the Uber driver and its occupants, some tourists who were going to the hotel zone.
APRIL 9TH
taxi drivers They blocked his way and intimidated an Uber driver when he arrived at a tourist complex in the hotel zone to deliver wine. The fact was spread on social networks.
Another assault was recorded on video. It happened in the Soriana in front of the ADO, when the taxi driver threatened the driver of an Uber where there were passengers on board.
