Warning: The subsequent time you land at Cancun Worldwide Airport, you may face arrest merely for ordering an Uber as a substitute of a daily cab. That’s precisely what occurred to 3 vacationers final week.
For the previous two years, we’ve been reporting on the continued abuses by “authorized” taxi operators at this airport, together with frequent incidents of violence in opposition to drivers and customers of ride-sharing platforms like Uber and Cabify.
Whereas Uber drivers declare they’ve a courtroom order permitting them to function on the airport, taxi drivers insist this violates federal legal guidelines. For causes that stay unclear, the Nationwide Guard seems to facet with taxi unions.
This time, three vacationers had been ready for his or her Uber on the Terminal 2 toll space when taxi drivers started harassing them, taking photos, recording movies, and naturally, calling the Nationwide Guard to get them in hassle.
Nationwide Guard officers shortly arrived to cease the Uber driver from offering the trip. When one of many ladies argued that she must be allowed the service she felt was most secure, places of work put her in in an official car, stating she wanted to “make a press release” on the police station to “confront” the taxi drivers who had reported her.
The lady protested, questioning how she was purported to “confront” anybody if she was the one one being pressured to go to the station.
Happily for this lady and her companions, a local news outlet was present, difficult the Nationwide Guard for his or her actions. However you won’t be so fortunate.
After a while, the police simply let her go, however not earlier than trying to cease journalists from recording the entire episode.
So, Why Do Vacationers Really feel “Safer” Utilizing an Uber As an alternative of a Common Cab?
Sadly, this sentiment is shared by plenty of vacationers on social media. Right here, on Touring Way of life, we’ve got reported circumstances of taxi drivers assaulting Uber drivers and passengers. Probably the most frequent abuses embrace verbal harassment, fights, car harm, and naturally, scams.
One placing instance is the case of Xavier Cornier, a Canadian vacationer who went viral on TikTok after being charged USD 1,056.28 for a trip from Terminal 4 to three, as confirmed by the State Legal professional Common’s Workplace in April.
That rip-off clearly concerned a number of members, as two safety guards misled him into believing he wasn’t allowed to remain at Terminal 3 and he needed to transfer to the following one and “pay the taxi driver with a bank card.” These guards conveniently failed to say that the airport presents a free shuttle service between terminals.
One other latest case occurred in September when a Venezuelan household was noticed strolling alongside the freeway after taxi drivers tried to cost them USD $80 to take them to the town, regardless of the official price being round USD $32.
So, Is It Unlawful to Take an Uber at Cancun Worldwide Airport?
Common taxi drivers—and even Nationwide Guard officers—will inform you it’s. However it isn’t. No less than not anymore.
Again in August 2024, the courtroom dominated in favor of Uber drivers, which means they’re now legally permitted to function at Cancun Worldwide Airport with out requiring further permits.
“The courtroom ruling, efficient from Aug. 15, 2024, implies that Uber drivers now not want particular permissions to function in airport areas. This choice removes earlier obstacles and permits Uber to compete instantly with conventional taxi providers,” says the official web site.
Nevertheless, tensions persist between Uber drivers and native taxi unions, leaving vacationers caught within the center. If you happen to really feel your proper to transit is being violated, Uber “has additionally launched an emergency button within the app, which connects drivers on to 911 for fast help in dangerous conditions.”
“At Uber, we reject any type of violence and promote accessible mobility for everybody,” the corporate acknowledged.
