There are about a hundred drivers that offer taxi services illegally in the Lithuanian capital. The city authorities say that one of the factors is the ride sharing service Uber, recently introduced in Vilnius, which makes it more difficult to distinguish between licensed taxi drivers and others.
Illegally operating companies take up a third of the market, according to estimates.
A new law on transportation is expected to be head at parliament this spring and define clearer rules about who can offer passenger transportation services and the responsibilities of ride-sharing service providers like Uber.
Meanwhile representatives of Lithuanian taxi drivers say that services like Uber are eating into their business without having to meet the same requirements as traditional taxi companies.
Taxi drivers’ union ‘Solidarumas’ has asked to meet with Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius to discuss ride-sharing services and their impact on taxi business.
“Digital ride service platforms [raise concern that] one company can be accorded undue privileges and discriminate against other players in the market of transportation services,” the union said in a statement.
Be the first to comment