When Uber first came to Merida, just after a local app that simulates their same business model called Ryde and Go entered the market, people said that Merida “was not ready for it” and that “Uber was one of these things that only happened in big cities”.
All these dismissals were caused by the fear of some to lose their market niche. But all of those negative statements could not override the need for innovative responses to everyday problems of all of the residents and visitors of Yucatan.
Today, members of the PRI and the PVEM practically closed the doors for Uber in Merida. The new transport law was proposed by Cecilia Rivas, local deputy for the PRI. The law covers a series of restrictions for users and drivers of the service.
All of the restrictions come to the benefit of the local taxis union called FUTV, a union that last month furiously attacked Uber drivers near Merida International Airport. Today the authorities are protecting this union with a law that has many restrictions.
These are the restrictions the deputies want for Uber in the state of Yucatan:
- Vehicles with a value under $200,000 pesos ($10,560 USD) will not be able to provide the service.
- An extra tax of 10% charged directly to the user, the highest tax for this service in the country.
- Limit the number of units that can provide the service.
- Only owners of cars will be able to operate.
- Users will not be able to pay in cash.
- Uber will not be able to operate some routes.
After all of these restrictions, Uber considered withdrawing from Merida, however, in just four days, a citizens’ petition added more than 18 thousand signatures, and 200 drivers protested outside Congress.
Moreover, thanks to social networks, more than a million people used the hashtags # UberMéridaNoPara and #NoALeyAntiUBER, both trending for two days.
Billboard seen on Prolongacion Montejo
Through a press release Uber thanked Merida for all the support received and assured it will continue its operations in the state, promising to remain in the fight for free competition. Legal action will be taken in the following days.
Meanwhile, Cabify, another transport service via app, applauded the actions of Uber and confirmed its entry to the city of Merida, also aiming for a free competition in the market.
TYT Newsroom
