An ongoing protest against app-based taxi hailing services such as Uber, organized by French taxi drivers, turned violent on Monday when demonstrators attacked an Uber car outside Paris' airport. Passengers in the car were consulting firm Five by Five co-founder Kat Borlongan and Eventbrite's Chief Technology Officer Renaud Visage.
The assailants smashed a passenger window of the car and slashed one of its tires after throwing rocks and defacing one side of the car with glue.
Later, Borlongan tweeted the series of events. "Got attacked in an @uber by cab drivers on strike near Paris airport: smashed windows, flat tires, vandalized vehicle and bleeding hands," she tweeted.
Got attacked in an @uber by cab drivers on strike near Paris airport: smashed windows, flat tires, vandalized vehicle and bleeding hands.
— Kat Borlongan (@KatBorlongan) January 13, 2014
Borlongan also thanked her driver who maneuvered them both to safety. "Attackers tried to get in the car but our brave @uber driver maneuvered us to safety, changed the tire on the freeway and got us home," she added.
Attackers tried to get in the car but our brave @uber driver maneuvered us to safety, changed the tire on the freeway and got us home. — Kat Borlongan (@KatBorlongan) January 13, 2014
The attack was confirmed by Uber's GM of France Pierre-Dimitry Gore-Coty, who said it was safety, reliability and choice that draws customers instead violence.
"Uber strongly condemns this morning's incident where two of our users and our driver were confronted with severe violence. First, we are very glad all involved are safe and ok. Also, we would like to praise our partner who has shown great courage and professionalism, who focused on getting his customers out of a very challenging situation. That the taxis chose to use violence is unacceptable, that they chose to strike is their business. However, Parisians also have a choice when it comes to moving around in their cities, and today's incident will certainly not tempt Parisians into choosing a taxi for their next ride. Safety, reliability and choice, not violence, are what continues to draw customers towards VTCs," he said.
Despite the new laws that favor traditional services, French taxi drivers are protesting against the likes of Uber. Nearly a month ago, the taxi union was able to successfully push for a law that all taxi apps must wait "at least 15 minutes" before picking up a passenger after reservation. They are now calling for tighter restrictions like a minimum 30-minute delay instead 15-minutes at present.
Paris is one of the two biggest markets for Uber, outside United States.
