Government wants Uber meets the same requirements as taxi drivers – Daily News – Lisbon

Secretary of State says that services are “quite similar”

The Assistant Secretary of State for the Environment José Mendes defended today that competition in the service of taxis, made in Portugal through Uber private transport service, “must also comply with requirements to taxi drivers.”

“As providers of a service that is public, taxi drivers are tied to compliance and legal obligations. the competition is taking place and is on the ground across platforms (…) shall meet the requirements for taxis, “he said.

the Secretary of State spoke at the opening session of the Mobility and Transport Forum Metropolitan System:. Right to Mobility with Sustainable Public Transport, now held at the Institute of Social and Political Sciences in Lisbon

Reaffirming that Uber offers “perfectly similar to the taxi service service”, José Mendes argued that “the rules must be observed because if there requirements for those who provide certain services, have to be met.”

Taxi drivers require fair competition

| Diana Quintela / Global Graphics

“He who carries on the ground is a transport operator and a transport operator has to comply with requirements,” he added.

the official also said that this is “a European problem, which is still not resolved” what “is important to understand if there is a European directive” that set.

Since this week Minister of Environment, John Matos Fernandes, had argued that, in Portugal, the passenger has to be done by transport operators and Uber does not have this status.

“the law is clear when it says that to be carrying passengers, it can only be done by transport operators, “said the minister in parliament, stressing that” the Uber is not a transport operator, “he said, taking the taxi drivers to demand the immediate suspension of service .

public transport in the Metropolitan Area of ​​Lisbon

Referring to the issue of public transport in the metropolitan area of ​​Lisbon, the Secretary of State argued that should be local authority because “the municipalities that manage the road network, parking systems, the school system [and] the space occupied by pedestrians and cyclists.”

“we believe that the management of Carris should be much closer to the authorities, “he said.

José Mendes reaffirmed that the” support in the tariff will be maintained “and recalled that” access to social pass + will be extended to the whole country “, being enrolled in State budget with a value of seven million euros.