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Most recently, in late March, there were mass protests by taxi drivers in Spain against Hubert. PHOTO: Reuters
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The company had business in Bulgaria in 2014, but was shut down
They also want the blue ticket to the driver’s license removed
To enable mobile applications for shared travel such as Hubert to return to the market in our country, but under certain conditions. This is one of the proposals for change in the Road Transport Act, submitted in the first days of the work of the 45th National Assembly by the deputies from “Democratic Bulgaria” Hristo Ivanov and Atanas Atanasov.
They point out that the changes do not imply inequalities between traditional taxi services and shared travel companies, as they must also comply with all requirements and regulations. In addition, cars ordered only through the applications will not be allowed to pick up passengers from the street or parking lots.
Hubert appeared on the Bulgarian market in 2014 and lasted less than a year after the CPC banned services due to unfair competition.
Another change in the law makes it possible to measure the distance and report to the NRA with means other than taximeters, such as GPS and a system integrated with that of the revenue agency, following the example of Estonia. The petitioners also propose to remove the permit regime from the respective municipality.
The changes in the law, proposed by Hristo Ivanov and Atanas Atanasov, provoked a stormy negative reaction in the taxi community. The Branch Chamber of Taxi Drivers and Carriers, the Taxi Union and the Union Taxi Drivers in Bulgaria have spoken out against them. The branch organizations point out that an attempt is being made to return unregulated transport to the market and that the abolition of the permit regime for the respective municipality will lead to a war between local and new taxi drivers.
In Europe, Hubert’s services are offered in 22 capitals, including Athens, Brussels, Bykpest, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris, Prague and others. But the company is facing a lot of difficulties in its operations. They came after a 2017 ruling by the European Court of Justice that Hubert was a transport company. It is therefore subject to regulation as required in each EU country.
In London, authorities repeatedly refused to renew Hubert’s license, but the company won lawsuits against its suspension. Hubert has suspended operations in Norway following a fine for violating transport laws. It has resumed its services in Finland, but only in the capital Helsinki, following the entry into force of a new transport law. The company is trying to return to Denmark, but still unsuccessfully. In Norway and Sweden, legal problems have led to the closure of Hubert Pop, a cheaper service that does not require a driver’s license.
In Germany, Hubert currently offers only taxi services and car rental with a driver in two cities – Berlin and Munich. The reason – other services were banned in 2014. In Austria, Hubert was banned from operating as a car rental company.
In Serbia and Croatia, Hubert works, but there have been protests by taxi drivers. Zagreb court fines Hubert twice for violating the rules.
Hristo Ivanov also proposes in the Road Traffic Act that the blue ticket, which is issued with the driver’s license, be dropped. In the autumn of last year, Boyko Borissov’s government proposed the same text, but it was withdrawn on the grounds that there was no consensus with stakeholders.
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