Paris: Uber files an appeal against the town hall to access rue de Rivoli

Europe 1 with AFP // Photo credit: MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP 9:03 p.m., January 26, 2024

Uber announced on Friday that it had filed an appeal against the Paris town hall so that its VTC drivers have access to the streets of Rivoli and Saint-Antoine. Since 2020, "while taxis, local residents and many artisans and traders can access them, VTCs have been systematically excluded from the lists of rights holders able to access these two axes, which are nevertheless necessary for their professional activity", underlines Uber in a statement.

Impossible access to large hotels and stores for VTCs

After filing a free appeal with the town hall, without success, the VTC platform decided to refer the matter to the administrative court against the decree of July 31, 2023 which excludes VTCs from these areas. According to Uber, the traffic restrictions have made "more difficult, or in some cases impossible, access to a significant proportion of Parisian passengers, customers of the multiple businesses and hotel establishments located on the Rivoli - Saint-Antoine axis".

VTCs can no longer easily access the Saint-James Albany, Meurice hotels, the Ritz, or department stores like the BHV. “We will not change the status of rue de Rivoli and VTCs will not be able to circulate there,” mobility assistant David Belliard replied in a reaction sent to AFP on Friday evening. According to the EELV elected official, “allowing too many vehicles to use rue de Rivoli would degrade the daily lives of thousands of RATP bus users, who are our priority”.

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"On the other hand", assures the elected environmentalist, "VTCs will be able to access hotels near the Rivoli axis" thanks to the traffic plan currently being developed for the future limited traffic zone (ZTL) which should see the day in the fall of 2024. The VTC platforms also criticize the town hall for excluding them from this future ZTL, de facto favoring taxis which will continue to circulate there.

VTCs have also been mobilized for several weeks to have access to the “Olympic lanes” which, on several major roads in the Ile-de-France region, will be reserved during the Games for Olympic vehicles, public transport and taxis, but not for VTCs. After the Olympics, the State intends to reserve these lanes during rush hours for carpooling and public transport on the A1 and A13 at the beginning of 2025. Paris town hall intends to do the same on the ring road at the end of 2024.