Taxi drivers bring Kraków to a standstill in protest

Taxis blocked major roads into the city, with drivers moving at snail's pace, two abreast, honking their horns in succession.

The protest follows a similar protest in Warsaw last week, when over a thousand vehicles descended on various points across the capital.

The recent emergence of the Uber firm in Poland has proved to be one of the banes of traditional taxi drivers. Uber drivers use their own cars, and they are not obliged to pass the same tests that licensed taxi drivers carry out.

However, Ilona Grzywińska of Uber claims that the firm is all above board.

“Uber operates in Poland in accordance with all legal requirements and tax,” she told onet.pl.

“We have offices and teams working in every city in which we are present.

“Members of staff were recruited by a Polish company and under current Polish regulations, including tax laws,” she said.

It has been estimated that, aside from the Uber controversy, between 600 and 700 vehicles are transporting customers illegally in Kraków. These include some drivers who actually have a licence, but are from other cities or towns. (nh/rk)

Source: IAR/Onet