Paris taxi drivers demand payout for disruption during Olympics

Taxi drivers in Paris are calling for compensation due to the disruption caused by the Olympic Games, which they say has led to a 40% to 50% reduction in revenue.

In an open letter to the Transport Ministry on July 31, five unions of Paris taxi drivers write that they feel the Games are “a great disappointment”, that “demand is still slowing down and the very exercise of the business is profoundly hampered by these Games for the entire profession”.

“The spectators who have come for the Games are not compensating for the impact of the traffic restrictions, the closure of venues and the dissuasion of regular customers,” the unions write. 

The unions call for the ministry to arrange “a financial compensation fund covering the entire period of privatisation of event sites and public space [which would include the period] March to the end of October 2024”.

What disruption for drivers in France during the Paris 2024 Olympics?

The taxi drivers argue that they have been suffering Olympics-related disruption since spring, when traffic restrictions came into force around the construction of event venues, not only in Ile-de-France, but also in the Marseille area. 

Read also: Fines, banned vehicles: Rules for new Olympic lanes on French roads 

They also say that business in June 2024 was “much weaker than in 2023 because of the Games”, citing the government’s campaigns to encourage city-dwellers to take holidays or work from home during the busy period. They also claim that the traffic restrictions around Paris due to the Games have further dissuaded people from taking taxis.

All of this has "drastically restricted taxi activity”, they write.

The letter states that drivers are now “in a critical situation, with charges rising, and incomes falling by as much as 40 or even 50% in some situations”. 

Minister of Transport Patrice Vergriete responded to the letter on August 1, accepting that there had been significant disruption due to the security measures in place for the Opening Ceremony, which “likely resulted in traffic constraints and slower customer drop-off and pick-up times”.

"It is more fluid again now", Mr Vergriete said.

The appeal for compensation will be processed after the end of the Paralympic Games on September 8 by the national commission that was set up for this purpose in June.

The commission has a remit of compensating companies that were negatively impacted by the Games on condition that the damage “is established and sufficiently specific to the Olympic Games to be considered abnormal”.

Read also: How can I avoid high transport ticket costs during Paris 2024 Olympics? 

Paris metro ‘going very well’

The taxi drivers’ calls come as the Paris metro - which has also experienced planned disruption and closures during the Games - is reportedly operating extremely well.

In comparison to the usual summer service - when train frequency is reduced, major works are scheduled, and carriages can sometimes become much more crowded than usual - the schedule during the Games has continued at its usual pace, and users are reporting a reliable service and an excellent atmosphere.

Read also: Metro signs get pink makeover for Paris Olympics 

With many Parisians away on holiday, the carriages actually appear emptier, breezier, and more punctual than usual. 

Figures show that SNCF's RER and Transiliens trains had a punctuality rate of 94.5% from July 24 and July 29, the period over which the Games began.

“It's going very well, and that's no surprise,” said Arnaud Bertrand, chairman of the Plus de trains association. “We have operators who know how to organise this kind of thing.” 

He also said that Parisians had been warned to stay away, to ensure good service during the Games. “[The authorities] have been working away at the need to plan ahead and [warn Parisians to] avoid transport,” he said.

This messaging may have been too effective, as even tourist numbers are down. “Attendance is much lower than forecast,” said Marc Pélissier, President of Fnaut Ile-de-France, which also represents users. 

However, Ile-de-France Mobilités (IDFM), the regional  transport authority, said that it is satisfied with the quality of the service. 

“It’s working because we have put several years of work [into it], modelling transport plans according to events, plans B, C, D, etc,” IDFM said in a statement.