Uber to suspend service in Budapest – UPDATE
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Budapest, July 13 (MTI) – Ride-hailing service Uber will suspend its operations in Budapest effective July 24 in response to government legislation that the company says will make it impossible for it to operate, the operative director for Uber’s business in Hungary said on Wednesday.
Zoltán Fekete told a press conference that under the legislation that enters into force later this month, Uber drivers could have their drivers’ licences revoked and their cars’ number plates removed even if they have all the permits required to provide their service. Uber has around 1,200 drivers in Budapest, Fekete noted.
Fekete said Uber had been pursuing dialogue with policy makers from the start of their dispute with the government. He said the company had made several proposals but there had been no openness and willingness expressed by policy makers to address them.
UBER: Good bye Budapest!
Uber’s services are being suspended indefinitely, he said in response to a question. The company intends to continue working with decision makers on amending passenger transport regulations. If regulations change — which will be up to lawmakers — Uber could resume its operations, Fekete said.
He said Uber would look into what other types of services it could offer in Budapest.
Fekete said the company had complied with all of the sector’s regulations: Uber drivers had obtained tax numbers allowing them to provide an invoice after every trip and secured permits from the transportation authority. Drivers whose cars did not pass the extensive inspections prescribed by the regulations were not allowed to operate as Uber drivers, he added.
Absolutely ridiculous. Hungarian government again shows that it is not capable of moving with technological advances and aids the corrupt system of the taxi drivers.
Generally I enjoyed Uber in Budapest very much. Each driver was genuinely doing his/her best to provide a comfortable ride. Whereas 1 in 3 taxi drivers try to cheat you (especially as non native Hungarian) and drive in such manners that you are fearing for your life during the ride.
The taxi system as it is now, with no consequences to bad taxi drivers (Uber had the review system picking out the bad drivers in a heartbeat), is outdated and the Hungarian government needs to accept that, but mostly likely won’t.