French taxi drivers are calling for government compensation after suffering significant revenue losses during the Paris Olympics.
Taxi unions claim that traffic disruptions, venue closures and a decline in regular customers due to the Games have had a devastating impact on the industry which the number of additional visitors had failed to make up for.
In a letter to the transport ministry, taxi unions said that the Games had been "hugely disappointing" for licensed drivers of which there are 20,000 in Paris alone.
They are demanding a compensation fund to cover income lost during the seven-month period leading up to and including the Olympics during which public spaces were being taken over for the Games.
Transport Minister, Patrice Vergriete, has responded by allowing taxis and ride-hailing services to access previously restricted areas, the so-called "red zones", around Olympic venues.
Now that the high-security opening ceremony was in the past, several safety measures had been lifted and traffic was becoming more fluid, the minister said.
However, taxi drivers argue that this measure comes too late to mitigate the overall financial damage.
With the government encouraging residents to go on holiday or work remotely also contributing to a significant drop in business compared to the same period last year, some drivers have reported income losses of up to 50%.
The taxi industry joins other sectors, including retail and hospitality, in criticising the negative impact of the Olympics on the French economy.
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