02:51Taxi operators in Paris complained on Friday about the lack of clients due to massive road closures brought on by the Olympic Games. The measures affecting public transport routes and vehicle access were introduced a week ahead of Games' opening and will last till the end of sports' fever.
Several taxi cabs could be seen parked in a row on Champs-Elysees waiting for rare clients to be picked up by them.
"Streets are blocked so how are tourists expected to move around? This is why tourists did not come and the athletes which are taking part in the Olympic Games have their own means of transportation. So that's why taxis do not have clients," explained the taxi driver parked along Champs-Elysees.
"Our work has decreased considerably, the daily ridership that we've had has been cut in half. So how do we feed our home, our families? How do we pay taxes? How do we pay our houses and the license needed to drive the vehicles?" another taxi driver questioned, noting that the current situation is the 'worst period since COVID-19 pandemic'.
Another driver also complained about the massive decrease in local and foreign clients saying that people "don't want to come to Paris because they say it's a nightmare.'
"We have somewhat scared off people with all of this, you know what I mean?" commented the driver.
The massive arrival of tourists for the Olympic Games has not turned into a financial windfall for Parisian taxis.
Their daily ridership was also further impacted by the establishment of security perimeters in and around Paris as well as the removal of numerous taxi zones to accommodate the temporary infrastructure for the games.
To compensate for this slowdown in activity, taxi unions asked the ministry to create a financial compensation fund covering the entire period of privatisation of event sites or public spaces taking place from March to the end of October for this year.
According to local media reports, other businesses in Paris also shared the plight of taxi drivers complaining a slump in demand due to the Olympic Games.
'It's a nightmare' - Taxi operators complain about lack of clients due to Paris Olympics restrictions, road closures
Taxi operators in Paris complained on Friday about the lack of clients due to massive road closures brought on by the Olympic Games. The measures affecting public transport routes and vehicle access were introduced a week ahead of Games' opening and will last till the end of sports' fever.
Several taxi cabs could be seen parked in a row on Champs-Elysees waiting for rare clients to be picked up by them.
"Streets are blocked so how are tourists expected to move around? This is why tourists did not come and the athletes which are taking part in the Olympic Games have their own means of transportation. So that's why taxis do not have clients," explained the taxi driver parked along Champs-Elysees.
"Our work has decreased considerably, the daily ridership that we've had has been cut in half. So how do we feed our home, our families? How do we pay taxes? How do we pay our houses and the license needed to drive the vehicles?" another taxi driver questioned, noting that the current situation is the 'worst period since COVID-19 pandemic'.
Another driver also complained about the massive decrease in local and foreign clients saying that people "don't want to come to Paris because they say it's a nightmare.'
"We have somewhat scared off people with all of this, you know what I mean?" commented the driver.
The massive arrival of tourists for the Olympic Games has not turned into a financial windfall for Parisian taxis.
Their daily ridership was also further impacted by the establishment of security perimeters in and around Paris as well as the removal of numerous taxi zones to accommodate the temporary infrastructure for the games.
To compensate for this slowdown in activity, taxi unions asked the ministry to create a financial compensation fund covering the entire period of privatisation of event sites or public spaces taking place from March to the end of October for this year.
According to local media reports, other businesses in Paris also shared the plight of taxi drivers complaining a slump in demand due to the Olympic Games.
Taxi operators in Paris complained on Friday about the lack of clients due to massive road closures brought on by the Olympic Games. The measures affecting public transport routes and vehicle access were introduced a week ahead of Games' opening and will last till the end of sports' fever.
Several taxi cabs could be seen parked in a row on Champs-Elysees waiting for rare clients to be picked up by them.
"Streets are blocked so how are tourists expected to move around? This is why tourists did not come and the athletes which are taking part in the Olympic Games have their own means of transportation. So that's why taxis do not have clients," explained the taxi driver parked along Champs-Elysees.
"Our work has decreased considerably, the daily ridership that we've had has been cut in half. So how do we feed our home, our families? How do we pay taxes? How do we pay our houses and the license needed to drive the vehicles?" another taxi driver questioned, noting that the current situation is the 'worst period since COVID-19 pandemic'.
Another driver also complained about the massive decrease in local and foreign clients saying that people "don't want to come to Paris because they say it's a nightmare.'
"We have somewhat scared off people with all of this, you know what I mean?" commented the driver.
The massive arrival of tourists for the Olympic Games has not turned into a financial windfall for Parisian taxis.
Their daily ridership was also further impacted by the establishment of security perimeters in and around Paris as well as the removal of numerous taxi zones to accommodate the temporary infrastructure for the games.
To compensate for this slowdown in activity, taxi unions asked the ministry to create a financial compensation fund covering the entire period of privatisation of event sites or public spaces taking place from March to the end of October for this year.
According to local media reports, other businesses in Paris also shared the plight of taxi drivers complaining a slump in demand due to the Olympic Games.