“It’s a drastic change. A real return to life! “The analysis of data from the Uber VTC platform for Ile-de-France is enough to put a smile on your face. Since May 19 and the reopening of shops and terraces, Ile-de-France residents have returned to a few small pleasures, such as shopping or having a drink in the open air with friends. Moments of relaxation of which they had been deprived for long weeks because of the Covid-19 crisis. “The return to the pleasures of life signs the Top 10 destinations with the application,” says a spokesperson for Uber. The lifting of restrictions marked a turning point in the movements of Ile-de-France residents. Exit the hospitals: places of shopping, restaurants and culture have now taken the first places of travel with Uber ”.
Before May 19, the most frequent destinations for Uber passengers (apart from stations and airports) were hospitals or vaccines. Parisian hospitals dominated the ranking, like the Necker Hospital in 2nd place, the Georges Pompidou European Hospital (4th) and the Bichat Claude Bernard Hospital (5th). 3rd place went to the Stade de France vaccination center, an emblematic destination of this period of health crisis. “Only the entertainment and transit hub of Châtelet-Les Halles with its take-away sales and its canopy had retained its attractiveness. It was also the only destination outside of hospitals, airports and train stations, ”Uber says.
May 19 and the shift of the curfew to 9 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. marked a shift in the travel habits of Uber users in Ile-de-France. Hospitals have given way to places of shopping, dining and entertainment.
Le Bon Marché dethrones Necker hospital
The good news is that passengers have found their way back to shopping centers, restaurants, and places of entertainment and culture. During the day, department stores such as Le Bon Marché and Galeries Lafayette (1st and 2nd in the Top destinations respectively) and shopping centers such as Qwartz in Villeneuve-la-Garenne (3rd), O’Parinor in Aulnay-sous- Bois (8th) and So Ouest in Levallois-Perret (10th) attract crowds. The Georges Pompidou European Hospital – the first hospital in the ranking – only comes in 6th place.
In the evening, Parisians ignored the bad weather and flocked to the terraces of restaurants such as Monsieur Bleu (1st in the Top destinations) with its breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower, the Hotel Costes (2nd place) and the Grand Amour Hotel (9th). Places of culture such as the Palais de Tokyo (3rd) and attractions such as the Eiffel Tower (10th) are not to be outdone.
A little hope for the drivers?
The Uber platform will wait until the end of the month to take stock of the overall evolution of the number of trips. But the gloomy weather and the fear of ending up in public transport have undoubtedly generated a notable increase in trips by VTC or taxi. In the fall of 2020, Uber had regained 70% of its activity in Ile-de-France. The lack of nightlife and the scarcity of tourists were partly offset by the influx of customers wishing to avoid taking the metro, bus or RER. The next few months will be decisive for the thousands of drivers hit hard by the crisis.
A year ago, faced with the drop in private vehicle trips around the world due to the pandemic, the sector leader decided to lay off about a quarter of its employees worldwide and drastically reduce all expenses. not falling within its core business.
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