PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 25, 2015) (BFMTV - NO ACCESS FRANCE) 1. VARIOUS OF BLOCKED PARIS RING ROAD WITH TYRES AND PALLETS BURNING ON ROAD 2. POLICE ARRIVING ON LOCATION WITH PROTESTING FRENCH TAXI DRIVERS ON SIDE OF ROAD 3. BLOCKED TRAFFIC AND SMOKE 4. PEOPLE WATCHING FROM BRIDGE 5. POLICE CAR 6. TRAFFIC 7. STUCK TRAFFIC WITH DRIVERS OUTSIDE CARS 8. PROTESTING TAXI DRIVERS PUSHING PLASTIC ROAD BLOCKERS 8. CAR REVERSING 9. TAXI DRIVERS ON ROAD 10. FIRE CRACKERS SETTING OFF ON ROAD 11. RUBBISH ON FLOOR 12. VARIOUS OF TAXI DRIVERS TRYING TO TIP OVER A CHAUFFEUR-DRIVEN CAR / RIOT POLICE RUNNING TO THEM 13. DAMAGED CAR 14. VARIOUS OF FLARES AND POLICE / GLASS BOTTLE LANDING NEXT TO POLICE 15. POLICE PUSHING PROTESTER/TYRE BEING THROWN 16. PROTESTERS FACING POLICE WITH LIT FLARES 17. VARIOUS OF SMOKE AND POLICE 18. VARIOUS OF BLOCKED ROAD WITH SMOKE, RESCUE VEHICLES AND TAXI DRIVERS PROTESTING STORY: Scuffles erupted between French police in riot gear and French taxi drivers as they stepped up protests against U.S. online ridesharing service UberPOP on Thursday (June 25), blocking road access to airports and train stations in Paris and other cities. Angry cabbies who had gathered east of Paris at Porte Maillot invaded Paris’ ring road and burned tyres, blocking traffic. Aeroports de Paris, the operator of the French capital’s Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly airports, warned travellers to take local train services because of the taxi protest. Taxi drivers also blocked access to Paris’ Gare du Nord train station, from where the high-speed Eurostar and Thalys services run to London and Brussels. Cabbies set up barriers around Marseilles and Aix-en-Provence in southeast France, including at key motorway exits, and blocked access to train stations in the two cities. They were also protesting on the main access to Marseilles-Provence airport. As they were protesting on the French capital ring road, taxi drivers were seen trying to tip over a chauffeur-driven car before riot police intervened to stop them. Uber, which links drivers with passengers through a smartphone app, has been expanding its UberPOP service in French cities, provoking anger from taxi drivers who see it as unfair competition. The service links drivers of private cars with potential passengers at cheaper rates than traditional cabs. UberPOP is also a more informal operation than private chauffeured tourism vehicle services called VTCs that use professional drivers. UberPOP has been present in Paris since 2011 and has expanded to other cities, but faces a legal battle. A law from October 2014 placed a ban on putting clients in touch with unregistered drivers. Uber has contested the rule, saying it is unclear and counter to the freedom to do business. The matter was on Tuesday referred to France’s Constitutional Council, a court with the power to review the constitutionality of legislation. AND Edit Number: 4190 / Revision 1| 25/06/15 11:51:19 Belgian and Spanish cabbies join French protest over UberPOP