Brussels: EU-wide regulation for Uber-App Taxi Times Update 2015-04-09

About this update: Our bilingual ‘update’ summarises the international news of the last days and hours. As some of the links are in foreign languages, we recommend using a website translator.

International News

Brussels mulls EU-wide regulation for Uber-App: This follows a private letter from the transport commissioner to the chairman of the traffic committee of the European Parliament.

http://gulfnews.com/business/sectors/automotives/boost-for-uber-as-brussels-mulls-eu-wide-regulation-1.1487054

£45 million for greener taxis: The British government has decided to give £45 million to local authorities to support the broader use of taxis with electric and plug-in hybrid drives.

http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/2015/3/27/government-invests-45-million-to-support-the-rollout-of-greener-taxis/55282/

Quote of the day

“Taxi regulations were “currently” dealt with at a national level.“

EU-Commissioner Violeta Bulc, who oversees transport regulation, in a letter to the chairman of the European Parliament’s transport committee.

Automobile news

Renault Espace 2015 Test Drive: This revamped-model brings back elegance and coziness from its older model, but with improved design, writes the test-driver.

http://carstopsites.com/2015-renault-espace-reviews/renault-espace-2015-test-drive

News from Germany

‘Lane sharing’: Bus and taxi drivers will now have to share specially demarcated lanes with electric vehicles.

http://www.hoech-partner.de/blog/tag/elektromobilitatsgesetz/

http://www.bundesrat.de/SharedDocs/drucksachen/2014/0401-0500/436-14.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=1

Bayreuth taxi trade in dispute with AOK: How can the minimum wage be paid if the health insurers only want to provide compensation at rates from 1995?

http://www.nordbayerischer-kurier.de/nachrichten/taxen-bayreuth-es-knirscht-wegen-krankenfahrten_352848

News from Austria

Vienna taxis with the ESC design: During this year’s European Song Contest (ESC), 150 taxis will show the design of the event.

http://www.vienna.at/150-taxis-im-esc-design-fahren-durch-wien/4288923

autonomous drive

Der autonome Mercedes F015 Luxury: Zwei Testberichte gehen der Frage nach, ob und wann dieses selbstfahrende Auto zukunftsfähig ist.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/20/8263561/mercedes-benz-f-015-self-driving-video

Our last words

Succesful taxi-protest: At last year’s ‚Stuttgarter Wasen’, a large local festival, taxi ranks had suddenly disappeared. So, the taxidrivers went on strike and demonstrated. With success, because at the next Spring-festival the drivers will be trialling a rank quite near to the festival area.

http://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.fruehlingsfest-taxi-streit-am-wasen-vorerst-beigelegt.d30f0ead-d531-445b-b6e0-9a31fef4c943.html