Cancun, Q.R. — Hundreds of Cancun taxi drivers took to the streets in protest of a lack of approved rate increases. The disgruntled drivers were also protesting the entry of digital drivers into the local economy, which they say, cuts into their earnings.
With signs in hand, the Cancun taxi drivers voiced their discontent for not being allowed to charge passengers more as well as the state’s decision to allow digital platforms to operate.
They voiced their frustration at the state’s Mobility Institute for not granting more taxi drivers concessions to operate in the city, but to approve digital platforms to operate freely, something they say, effects what they bring home each month.
One chatty taxi driver said he was there because “there has been no rate increase for eight years. The last time it was officially implemented was in 2016. Today we are working with a gas price above 27 pesos. In 2016, gasoline was less than 13 pesos. Today, it is double that, and that does not include maintenance, tires, and vehicle wear,” he said.
Hundreds of drivers walked along the main avenues of the city demanding stricter regulations of digital transportation platforms such as Uber.
The protest comes amid growing tensions in the transport sector after public drivers attempted their own fare increase Thursday. In retailation, Mobility Institute inspections were towing units found overcharing passengers.
Led by their General Secretary Rubén Carrillo, the large group of drivers gathered at the union headquarters Friday from where they set out on a peaceful march toward Cancun City Hall.
The group said they were hoping to pressure authorities to take action against digital platforms that, according to taxi drivers, operate without adequate regulation and compete unfairly with traditional taxi services.
In the event the Friday protest did not yield the results they’d hoped for, the group threatened to gather more drivers and protest again Saturday.