Uber has suspended its cheapest service in France, amid legal issues and widespread criticism.
UberPOP, which doesn’t require drivers to have a taxi license or training, will no longer be available as an option for French Uber customers.
The company, which has been dogged by controversy around the world, has had a pretty rough ride in France.
Non-Uber taxi drivers rioted last week, prompting Prime Minister Manual Valls to come down hard on the service, saying it gives “a deplorable image to visitors to our country.”
Uber executive Thibaud Simphal, who was arrested this week, played down the backlash but told Le Monde that the decision to suspend UberPOP was made in order to keep the peace.
In a statement, the company said: “In the light of last week’s violence, we have today decided to suspend uberPOP, our ride sharing service, until September’s Constitutional Court decision.
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“It’s a tremendously sad day for our 500 000 French UberPOP passengers, as well as the drivers who used the platform. However, safety must come first.”
UberPOP was banned in Germany last year, with a court ruling that the taxi firm didn’t have the necessary legal permits.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.