With the Paris Olympic Games just two months away, the City of Lights has a big taxi problem on its hands.
Daouda , a taxi number one wood in Paris for over a decennium , is dreadingthe Olympic Games . Even though he recognizes the hope of more business , he plans on leaving the city for its entirety . “ In Paris , there is already too much dealings , ” he said . “ Have you figure the roads ? They ’re not quick . ”
Asthe French capitalhustles to completepreparations for the Olympics , which will take place from July 26 to August 11 in some of the most heavily traffic component part of the urban center , many taxi driver — like Parisian residents , in worldwide — are making plans to leave , imperil an already flimsy transportation scheme that will see an reckon inflow of 15 million visitors . Beyond infrastructural chaos , Daouda is concerned about security department . “ There are a mint of dotty people in the world , ” he say . “ I ’m frightened of terrorists . ”
When I asked a licenced driver near Gare de Lyon , in the eastern United States of Paris if he was excited for the Games , he react flatly , “ No . “ He gesticulate to the bumper - to - bumper traffic on Rue de Bercy . “ I will go on vacation . ”
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As licensed hack driver in Paris check whether or not to stay in the city for the games , the spreadhead of unlicensed equipment driver cover to plague city officials and tourists . These “ fake ” taxis often charge passengers extortionate and illegal fare , as opposed to the posit rates that licensed taxis are bound to .
The Paris law are already ramping up their crackdown on the unlicensed taxis in overture of the Olympics . The peculiar building block , send for “ Les Boers,”told the AFPthey plan on expanding their presence during the Olympics , namely at consequence venues . ( In December , Minister of Transport Clément Beaunepromiseda crackdown onlicensedtaxis that refuse to accept credit card requital , which he send for “ illegal ” and “ insufferable . ” )
It ’s not just hack drivers who want out of the Olympian bedlam : Many Parisians feel they ’ll have no selection but to flee . The government publish a website called “ foreknow the Games ” about impending public transport runoff , advising locals to purchase their metro passes early because prices will be conjure for the event . “ We ’re basically being advised to get out the metropolis , ” says Gabrielle Pedriani , a 33 - year - old publicist who lives in the 5th arrondissement . The website’sinteractive mapshows metro stations that will be close , implausibly crowded , or simply “ to be avoided . ” ( The metro has already beencalledan “ obstruction course ” for handicapped Parisians , though the transport ministry drink a 1.5 billion euro budget to ameliorate approachability for the Games . )
A banner for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games is affixed to The National Assembly.|STEFANO RELLANDINI/AFP/Getty Images
As of former May , many Parisian roads still seem to be under construction . Pedriani is trying to remain optimistic that the current street topsy-turvyness is “ reflective of them not wanting to destroy the lives of locals for more clock time than is absolutely necessary . ” But she knows that the next two months and the Games themselves will be a transportation incubus for full - time resident , and the taxi situation will be just as messy .
“ As for road traffic , Paris is already abysmally make for the flow of traffic and Ubers take a farsighted sentence to go far , ” she say , adding that she does n’t understand why so many city road appear to be stab up as part of the preparations . “ Even though the road mental synthesis will ideally be cease pre - Olympics , I doubt traffic will ever lam ‘ smoothly ’ here . ”
For a moment , there was hope that the sky could relieve some of the over-crowding on route and underground . In 2023 , the German company Volocopter made global headlines when itannounced plansfor a small fleet of galvanic , flying “ air taxis ” to fly routes during the Olympics , with plan routes landing on a float platform on the Seine . But the company is still waiting on regulatory approvals from the EU Aviation Safety Agency ( EASA ) , and a person necessitate with the process of late toldPoliticothat “ it is highly unconvincing this will be ready at the EU storey , with a minimum expected delay to 2025 . ” ( The individual suspects there will be demo flight with non - paying VIP passengers , like athlete and journalists . )
The aircrafts could have come in William Christopher Handy . Daouda said that the normal hack drive of 40 second from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the city center could take three hours during the Olympics . He added , “ But I ’ll be on holiday . ”
