Uber in Paris, Can I use by USA app??
 

Are Uber problems over in Paris? If so, I want to use them. Will my USA app work there? Can I use my USA iphone 4s app to contact them? If you have done this...please let me know how it all worked. Merci

I used it in September of 2014, but double check as rules change.

Thanks, Beam. Any do this recently?

I would also like to know.....

I've used Uber several times on recent trips and all have been positive experiences. The most recent was a few weeks ago. The app works exactly as it does at home.

Since the issue was with UberPop, I've been using UberX but a friend who lives in Paris said she's used the cheaper UberPop with no problems.

Hello from India, Elainee!
Glad to read you are visiting Paris. I was there in 2004...loved it all, the Eiffel tower from the terrace of a nearby restaurant to beat the crowds,the afternoon river cruise, Notre-Dame cathedral, the Louvre Museum, the walk on the main boulevard of Arch d'triumph, the antique shops closeby the museum & those several delightful restaurants. Sadly, I have forgotten the names of all those different & famous Parisian restaurants, the lady guide, very kindly, took us to.
Give my 'salaams' (Greetings) to Bill after you have kept a bit for yourself!
Enjoy your travels!!

It is illegal and the local taxi drivers do not like Uber. News from the past few hours.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD1alox7AWU
http://www.connexionfrance.com/uber-...w-article.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/07/ma...ance.html?_r=0

I don't know how these controversies are going to settle out, but I am watching this one and the one about vacation rental apartments in Paris with interest and some sadness. I love renting apartments in Paris, the experience just wouldn't be the same without them. And I love having access to taxis without the stress of finding one when I need it. These are things that improve the visitor experience, at least for me, quite a bit.

I know there were issues with UberPop (non-professional drivers) but the regular UberX & the higher end Uber cars are legal & operate like the other VTC services.

Naturally the taxi commission is threatened by Uber in Paris because it has taken a large chunk of the market but that doesn't mean it's illegal or that it is not a service that visitors should be aware of.

Nikki, I agree with you about both issues. I am trying to stay informed but IMHO the more options people have, the better. If it weren't for Uber, I doubt G7 wouldn't have invested in their own app so those who prefer taxis & prefer the convenience of an app can thank Uber. ;)

This is from 10 June:
"As a reminder, UberPOP is the European equivalent of UberX — anybody can become an UberPOP driver and use the Uber app to accept rides. As you don’t need a specific driver’s license to become an UberPOP driver, many taxi drivers saw the new service as unfair competition.

That’s why UberPOP is the most controversial part of Uber in Europe, and many countries are trying to ban the service. UberPOP was banned in Brussels, the Netherlands and, yes, France."

http://techcrunch.com/2015/06/10/whe.../#.wu1vzd:oEXc

....meanwhile in London a UK newspaper has published more controversy about the system.
http://www.theguardian.com/technolog...proval-process.
If it affects one place no doubt it will affect others.

****Naturally the taxi commission is threatened by Uber in Paris because it has taken a large chunk of the market but that doesn't mean it's illegal or that it is not a service that visitors should be aware of.****

The taxi commission, in any city, is there to protect you the customer. It ensures that drivers have the correct documentation (including insurances). Sometimes a driver also has to undergo other training to obtain their taxi licences. Some counties have criminal background checks too.
Despite the quote saying the opposite it is actually considered illegal in a number of European cities.
Just do not use it this app until the questions have bee sorted out legally.

I agree UberPop is risky which is why I stated above that UberX (which is the next level up from UberPop in France) is what I have used. Uber has extensive insurance that covers a passenger from the time they schedule a car until the ride is completed.

*The taxi commission, in any city, is there to protect you the customer.*

Sorry but I find that incredibly naive. Yes, there are necessary rules & regulations that the commissions enforce that are in the best interest of the public but they are there to help the taxi companies & drivers more than the public. These commissions have a lot of political power in large cities & I believe they are doing all they can to limit Uber because it cuts into taxi profits.

* Despite the quote saying the opposite it is actually considered illegal in a number of European cities.
Just do not use it this app until the questions have bee sorted out legally.*

This post is referring to Paris not all European cities. I have never seen or heard that UberX is illegal in Paris but if you have proof otherwise, please share that info.

Sorry but regulation in life is part of society part of living together. Regulations and rules cover us all whether you like it or not. Without regulations and rules the world would quickly fall into chaos. Some say it has with the various deregulations over the past 30 years or so.
Uber no matter which one is unregulated in any form. The links above prove the illegality. However I challenge you to prove your case that Uberx i fully within the law.

The likes AirBNB- Uber are some of those things which has gone beyond the laws, because law makers have not caught up quickly.

I also thought to add an article, which by coincidence, is from your home town newspaper about the situation in Paris.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/0...ines-in-paris/
Quote ***Under new French transport rules known the Thévenoud Law, the police in Paris have been issuing fines since the start of the year to drivers who pick up fares through UberPop, the company’s low-cost service.***

There is no x in Paris.

For the public's safety this is what the Taxi drivers of Paris are required to abide by.
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxis_parisiens


read this too. please.
http://www.stopuber.com/

I mentioned in both of my posts that I do not use UberPop because of the legal issues.

I am not an expert in French law nor do I claim to be so I cannot take your "challenge". The reason I am somewhat confident it operates within the law is that in every article I have read about the issues in Paris, I have only seen mention of UberPop specifically. I can, however confirm that UberX is absolutely available in Paris. I have used it with good results multiple times during several trips over the last few years.

I realize Uber is controversial in many areas and it was when it originally came to NYC because of our strong TLC (taxi & limousine commission) as well. I can't speak to their communication with other cities but in NYC they proved willing to work with local authorities & the TLC to ease their way in so I have to assume they have tried in other cities as well. As an example, Uber agreed to not offer what would be the equivalent of UberPop (drivers without a professional license) before launching the app here. They also negotiated that their Ubertaxi option would work in conjunction with medallion (TLC drivers) taxis. When you order UberTaxi, Uber gets a flat fee ($1.50 or something like that) and the passenger pays the cab driver as they normally would.

More protests in Paris:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...-10344352.html

Best tweet on the subject:

Today, all Paris taxis are on strike to violently protest against Uber. So, I had to take an Uber.

Crosscheck - that was hilarious !

Not so funny if your Uber is one of those attacked, however.

I can understand people wanting to take Uber (the legal one) in cities where taxis are problematic, like NYC and London. But Paris doesn't have those problems - there are more Taxis Parisiens than I have ever seen before (borne out by reports) and it's easier than ever before to either hail a taxi on the street or book a regular taxi over the phone or online with G7 or TaxisBleus.

Paris didn't have problems until recently, when rogue taxis started proliferating. Again, it's the companies that have created the market, insisting that Uber is "better" and more reliable than Taxis Parisiens. That's simply not the case, in the overwhelming majority of instances. Using Uber makes people feel "special" though, that's really why they use it - all the VIPs use them, after all.

All the 'popular kids' use Uber because it's app based so we have the cool factor going on.

I feel for the taxi operators and would never use Uber on principle. The fact that they have your details and can track your phone is just terrifyingly Orwellian to me.

Take a licensed cab people!

<Again, it's the companies that have created the market, insisting that Uber is "better" and more reliable than Taxis Parisiens.>

Hmm..I don't see how this is about marketing. The fact is Uber that offers a superior product. Passengers all over the world are fed up with taxis, which are hopelessly stuck in the 20th century. I'm sure I'm not the only one on this board who has found it a challenge to hail a cab in Paris.

Ubers are rarely more than 2-3 minutes away. They're clean and comfortable. The drivers are polite, eager to please and obsessed with reaching the destination the most efficient way possible. There is no need for tipping or hassling with cash. On the international level, there is rarely a language barrier or currency conversion hassle. And, of course, they're often cheaper.

I do feel for some drivers who paid a fortune for their medallions, but they could have pushed their organizations to keep up with the times, as did the taxistas in Madrid who adopted the Hailo app. But after today's ridiculous violence, I find it impossible to empathize with the participating drivers in Paris. Vive le Uber.

<And, of course, they're often cheaper.> Until your Uber account gets hacked, then you're on your own!

I have never been in anything other than a clean, comfortable Parisian Taxi - and have not had trouble hailing a cab on the street or calling for one, in the last 5 years or so, when this was finally permitted by City ordinance.

If zooming ahead to the 21st Century means a loss of my privacy, due to Uber's demand for my personal information, that's just not acceptable. Candy and a bottle of water don't make up for that, either.

A lot of younger people just jump onto whatever's new and trendy, without thinking about the ramifications. You bite on anything that promises "instant satisfaction" - thus, yes, it is all marketing. Things take time in Paris for a reason - so that the outcome will be "correct". Fast and furious, everyone's in a hurry, it's all about me...this never ends well.

The "ridiculous violence" you referred to was limited to just a couple of incidents - a few cars were sprinkled with flour and eggs, one parked car was set on fire, a dozen tires were set in the road and burned, and Courtney Love was insulted. In the US, this likely would have escalated into a hail of gunfire and a few dozen innocent bystanders would have been murdered.

"Passengers all over the world are fed up with taxis, which are hopelessly stuck in the 20th century."

I have never been fed up with London taxis. In the countries where I have had issues - Vietnam and India come to mind - I very much doubt that Uber would improve things. And I certainly don't want yet another company trying to track my movements. But then, in Europe, I use public transport almost exclusively, so this is a non-issue for me.

@ manouche - you couldn't have said it more perfectly. Thank you.

Yes it appears to be 'all about me' and of course these 'operators' are eager to please. They're dodging tax, breaking the law and getting paid to do so.

Here in LA, where taxis are notoriously MIA/clueless, Uber and its competitors have been game changers...not just for the "cool kids," but for the elderly, disabled, business travelers, tourists, teens on their way to activities and grownups out for a drink or two. DUIs are way down, the air is cleaner and everyone is less stressed.

Orwellian? Hmm...Big Brother lurks on any smartphone GPS. Hacking? Worth the minuscule risk: Uber will refund, or you can contest the CC charge. I suspect all the critics here would be instant converts if they tried it on their next business trip.

I am happy to say that I no longer make business trips, and when I did I had a rental car.

'Big Brother' only lurks on your smartphone if you are dumb enough to have your location available.

Your reference to LA is meaningless for cities like Paris - which has an effective mass transit system and perfectly good taxis.

When the taxi drivers have all be reimbursed for their licence fees and the Uber drivers all pay proper income taxes and the same insurance fees as for taxis, maybe we can start talking about allowing Uber.

There is so much misinformation and paranoia here that I was going to stop posting, but I just came across this right here on this site - from the Fodors front page in the featured list "15 Things Not to Do in Paris." As a frequent visitor, I absolutely agree that it is nearly impossible to get a a cab in the streets of Paris late at night.

http://www.fodors.com/news/photos/15...-late-at-night

"Hmm..I don't see how this is about marketing. The fact is Uber that offers a superior product. Passengers all over the world are fed up with taxis, which are hopelessly stuck in the 20th century."
Flipping internal combustion engines. Time for a Tesla moment?

Uber was very helpful when we needed car service to Chartres from Paris. My USA Uber ap worked fine from hotel where we had wifi. The car service was much less than any other option we explored. Plus, the car was a Mercedes.

Tax drivers all over France are striking, protesting Uber.

crosscheck:

LOL on your twitter quote!
Shows the total absurdity of the situation!

*** Plus, the car was a Mercedes***
Commonly called A Bavarian Taxi.

So much for experiencing/immersing yourself in the culture, folks.

The fact is Uber that offers a superior product. Passengers all over the world are fed up with taxis,

Sounds like the same rationale people in the US use when they justify buying cheap Chinese merchandise.

Still wish to use Uber?
http://techcrunch.com/2015/06/29/ube...-taxi-company/
http://www.theguardian.com/technolog...etained-france