This Massive Taxi Driver Protest Backfired In The Most Hilarious Way Possible

Taxi drivers in London, Madrid, Milan, Berlin and Paris staged protests against taxi-booking app Uber yesterday, which backfired spectacularly for British cabbies in particular. Compared to last Wednesday, the app saw a massive 850 per cent increase in downloads, thanks to all the exposure Uber received.

In London, an estimated 12,000 cab drivers protested because they believe Uber skirts around stringent laws put in place to protect people from unlicensed drivers. Uber countered by telling The Independent “we passed TfL’s most stringent and comprehensive audit of a Private Hire Vehicle operator to date, passing with flying colours.”

The app works by allowing users to call the nearest taxi, which is directed to their location. The app then calculates a fare based on the distance to your destination, charging your account automatically. Cab driver unions claim that this is essentially a taxi meter which, in London, is illegal in anything other than licensed black cabs.

Uber has proved controversial with traditional cabbies, but it maintains that its competitors are “stuck in the dark ages” as it continues to grow. It’s available in more than 100 cities in 30 countries, and is valued at $18.2 billion (£10.8 billion).