As millions of Americans prepare to descend upon one of Mexico’s top tourist destinations ahead of the spring break season, travelers may want to think twice when it comes to their local transportation options: Uber vs. taxi.
Uber was recently reintroduced in Cancun after a court ruled in January that the ride-share app could operate after it was essentially driven out by taxi drivers after first being introduced in 2016.
However, tension over sharing the roads has not fizzled out, and taxi drivers in recent weeks have been aggressive and violent toward Uber drivers, their vehicles, and even their passengers.
Frustrated travelers have since taken to social media to show how unruly cabbies have become, with some suggesting their actions have motivated tourists to “boycott” Cancun’s taxi services.
The U.S. State Department issued an advisory to Americans traveling to Mexico in January after several reports of harassment and assault were issued.
Cabbies in January blocked the main road leading to Cancun’s hotel district, forcing tourists to either walk for miles or catch rides with drivers on the other side of the blockade.
The Associated Press even reported that police escorts were forced to shuttle people to the airport to catch their flights.
Several Cancun taxi drivers have been arrested for their hostile actions since January. In February alone, some 60 drivers were fined for violating the “Zero Tolerance” rule enforced by the Andres Quintana Roo Taxi Drivers Union – a policy implemented in a move to crack down on cabbie aggression, reported the Cancun Sun.
Cabbies are now required to attend manner-based training sessions to improve their interactions with tourists. To ensure an enjoyable trip when visiting Cancun this year, one top travel agency told Fox News Digital that they advise avoiding either cabbie or Uber options.
The program will reportedly focus on issues relating to labor regulations and quality of service along with communicating and empathizing with passengers. Ultimately, the course is intended to not only give drivers the tools they need when dealing with passengers but will focus on rebuilding standards for passengers.
“We’d recommend that travelers contract transportation through non-ride-share services, like official airport taxis or licensed tour operators/travel agencies, to avoid delays and inconveniences until the situation has stabilized,” Zachary Rabinor, founder and CEO of Journey Mexico, said.
Source: El Quintanarroense
