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Daily Transportation News
December 15, 2025
| | | Happy Hanukkah! May the glow of the menorah brighten your heart and home this season. Chag Sameach! | | Istanbul Taxi Drivers Rally Against Illegal Ride Services | |
Taxi drivers in Istanbul have staged a slow-moving convoy protest to express their strong opposition to illegal passenger transport, commonly referred to in Türkiye as “pirate taxis” — unlicensed and unregulated ride-hailing services. Drivers gathered at various points across the city before forming convoys and heading to the Yenikapi Event Area, a venue frequently used for public rallies.
Carrying banners and placards and displaying Turkish flags on their vehicles, the group chanted slogans and held a press statement demanding stricter enforcement against illegal operators. Speaking on behalf of the group, Istanbul Taxi Drivers Chamber President Eyüp Aksu said taxi drivers have been fighting illegal transportation for nearly three years, particularly platforms operating through digital applications. He noted that a legal case concerning “digital pirate transportation” is still ongoing.
“There is an illegal transport problem in all 81 provinces of Türkiye,” Aksu said. “In Istanbul, our tradespeople have suffered serious income losses. We are here with all taxi drivers and working chauffeurs to make our voices heard. We say no to pirated goods and services in every profession. We want justice.”
Aksu stressed that licensed taxi drivers operate in line with all laws and regulations, including vehicle standards, insurance and social security contributions. He added that a key hearing in their lawsuit will take place on Dec. 19 at Çağlayan Courthouse, expressing hope that the case would set a final legal precedent.
Source: Hurryet Daily News
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| Surge Opinion: GMB Launches Driver Survey Asking Uber Drivers to Give Their Views on Dynamic Pricing Model | |
GMB Union has opened a survey for private hire drivers to gather evidence on how dynamic pricing is affecting earnings, citing a rise in member concerns and a lack of clarity around the mechanism used by major ridehail platforms. The move follows growing frustration among drivers who say they struggle to understand how trip prices are calculated at different points in the day.
Dynamic pricing, often referred to as surge pricing within the industry, adjusts fares in real time based on supply and demand. In the UK ridehail market, operators such as Uber use automated systems that raise passenger prices when demand outstrips the number of available drivers, particularly during peak travel periods, major events and severe weather. While intended to balance the market by encouraging more drivers to work at busy moments, the algorithms and the way platforms distribute revenue between drivers and the company are not disclosed in detail.
In its notice to members, GMB said drivers continue to report daily incidents and concerns about the way fares fluctuate. The union stated that it does not yet have enough information to fully understand the pricing models in use but emphasised that pay transparency is essential for its members. The survey aims to capture the lived impact of dynamic pricing on drivers’ income patterns, working hours and ability to plan their shifts.
The controversy largely stems from how dynamic pricing interacts with driver pay. Although passengers may face higher fares during peak demand, drivers have long argued that increases do not always translate into proportional gains for them. GMB’s statement invited drivers to participate in the survey, adding that the union will contact members once it has reviewed the responses. The union said it is receiving consistent questions and challenges regarding pricing behaviour and intends to use the findings to shape future discussions with platforms and regulators.
Source: TaxiPoint UK
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Controversial $2 Billion N.J. Rail Project Moving Forward Despite Residents Saying ‘No’
The construction of the controversial Glassboro-Camden Light Rail line took recently two significant steps forward as public agencies started bridge construction and approved a plan to buy property. The line would connect Gloucester County to a rail network in Camden County that intersects with NJ Transit’s RiverLine to Trenton. It would also link to trains to Atlantic City and the Delaware River Port Authority’s rail line from Lindenwold to Philadelphia.
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Via Acquires Downtowner to Expand Category-Leading Public Transit Technology Platform
Via, the leading provider of technology to power public transit networks, today announced the acquisition of Downtowner, a transportation technology company specializing in innovative and efficient public transit solutions for Destination Cities. This acquisition expands Via’s best-in-class public transit platform with a solution designed and honed over more than a decade to address a key segment of the transit market.
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Transportation Department Threatens $73 Million for New York’s Highways Over Commercial Driver’s Licenses
The federal government has ordered New York to stop granting trucking licenses to foreign drivers or risk losing millions of dollars in highway aid. The US Department of Transportation found that New York is more likely to break the law than follow it when issuing "non-domiciled" commercial driver's licenses. The state's Department of Motor Vehicles was found to have a 53% error rate in issuing licenses to foreigners, which could be worth $73 million in federal funding. The federal agency demanded the state to revoke any licenses that shouldn't have been issued and gave the state 30 days to perform an internal check of its systems.
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STM Bus Drivers, Metro Operators Vote in Favor of Tentative Deal
The Montreal transit agency's bus and Metro drivers union is welcoming its new collective agreement with the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) and calling for more public transit funding. Workers voted on Sunday to accept the tentative agreement reached with the agency. The accepted offer includes a 17.5 per cent wage increase over five years – 2.5 per cent in 2025, 4.5 per cent in 2026, 3.25 per cent in 2027 and 2028, and 4 per cent in 2029. Workers will also receive a lump sum payment of 2.5 per cent for 2025.
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High-Speed Rail Plans Get High Praise in the Nation's Capital
There's been positive reaction in Ottawa to news that the nation's capital could be home to Canada’s first high-speed rail line by the end of the decade. On Friday, the federal government announced that construction on the line linking Ottawa to Montreal could begin as early as 2029. With trains expected to reach speeds of 300 kilometres per hour, they could cut the commute time between the two cities in half, an enticing prospect for those wary of heavy traffic in and around Montreal.
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Halifax Eyes New Rules to 'Level Playing Field' between Taxis, Ride-Hailing Companies
Halifax is considering changes to modernize the taxi system and have the same requirements for both taxi and ride-hail drivers — but Uber argues the move is unnecessary and will negatively impact passengers. On Monday, Halifax staff brought the bylaw amendments to the transportation standing committee.
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Paris Opens Longest Urban Commuter Cable Car Line in Europe
Paris commuters are now able to travel into the city from the south using a 4.5-kilometre cableway, claimed to be the longest urban cable car line in Europe, the operators, Île de France Mobilités, has announced. The new line, which began running on Saturday, will have five stations and link up with the city's metro. Around 11,000 passengers are expected to use it daily. Terminus-to-terminus journey time will be 18 minutes, by contrast with 40 minutes for the bus.
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VW Launches Gen.Urban Autonomous Testing in Wolfsburg
Volkswagen Group has begun testing its Gen.Urban autonomous research vehicle on public roads in Wolfsburg, with a focus on understanding how passengers experience self-driving vehicles. The research vehicle, which has no traditional steering wheel or pedals, is operating on a nearly 10 km route through the city that includes traffic light intersections, roundabouts, construction sites, residential areas, and industrial sections, with each test drive lasting approximately 20 minutes.
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Global Airport Taxi Helps UK Travelers Avoid Airport Chaos
As the Christmas travel rush reaches its annual peak, Global Airport Taxi is supporting UK travelers by providing reliable, pre-booked airport transfers designed to reduce stress, delays, and uncertainty during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. With millions of passengers expected to travel through major UK airports throughout December, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and London City Airport, festive congestion continues to place pressure on road networks, public transport, and airport infrastructure. Against this backdrop, demand for dependable door-to-door airport transport has increased significantly as travelers seek smoother and more predictable journeys.
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Green GSM Officially Launches All-Electric Taxi Service in Davao
Green GSM has launched its all-electric taxi service in Davao, marking the company’s first expansion outside Metro Manila and part of its long-term plan to support a clean, modern, and well-managed transportation system across key Philippine cities. The launch ceremony was attended by Sir Nonito Llanos, Regional Director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for the Davao Region, representatives from various local government departments and agencies, along with members of the local business community. As one of Mindanao’s major urban centers, Davao plays an important role in the country’s economic and social landscape. The city is often noted for its focus on public safety, environmental conservation, and strong community values, which have helped create a transportation system centered on safety, reliability, and public confidence.
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Bike-Taxis, Three-Wheeler Autos Will Drive Next Wave of Mobility in India, Says Uber India President
Uber is sharpening its focus on two- and three-wheeler mobility, a segment that now forms a major share of its India business, even as bike taxis remain under regulatory scrutiny across several states. Uber India & South Asia President Prabhjeet Singh said the company sees “massive headroom” for growth in low-cost mobility formats and expects this segment to drive the next wave of adoption on the platform. The comments come at a time when bike taxis remain sub judice in Karnataka and other states continue to debate regulatory frameworks. Despite this, Singh said Uber is confident that “common ground” will emerge, adding that two-wheelers remain a strong answer to congestion and first- and last-mile connectivity in cities like Bengaluru.
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New 'Overstay' Rules Spark Chaos at Bengaluru Airport
Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) witnessed a major disruption on December 14 as the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) implemented new "overstay" rules. The changes were introduced in the arrival pick-up zones, especially affecting Terminal 1. According to Moneycontrol, passengers complained of walking up to 1.5km with heavy luggage to reach designated parking areas due to restrictions on private and commercial vehicles imposed by the new rules.
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| | InDrive and AI Driver Sign MOU to Launch Riyadh AV Pilot | |
InDrive and AI Driver have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to begin preparing an autonomous ride-hailing pilot in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Announced at CoMotion Global, the pilot will run on inDrive’s platform using WeRide technology, supervised by Saudi Arabia’s Transport General Authority (TGA).
It brings together global mobility service platform inDrive and AI Driver, a Saudi autonomous mobility company that is the national official dealer of WeRide. The pilot will begin in Riyadh with a planned expansion to Jeddah, sitting within wider efforts in the Kingdom to develop smart mobility and strengthen transport infrastructure.
For the partners, the pilot’s success hinges on a narrow set of criteria. Timur Myaldzin, Head of the Growth and Scaling Office at inDrive, told Zag Daily that the primary measure is “100% and uncompromising safety of passengers and other road users.” Myaldzin said the program also depends on establishing reliable ground operations that keep vehicles maintained efficiently and reduce idle time, as well as identifying routes with realistic commercial potential.
He explained that new autonomous deployments follow a sequenced process involving regulatory approval, risk assessment and mapping, all of which apply to the work now beginning in Riyadh. TGA’s role in the pilot is defined around safety and route authorization. “TGA will provide regulatory oversight with regards to road safety and assist with any necessary measures in case any incidents are recorded, and approve routes for autonomous transport movement to maximize the efficient use of resources in a risk-minimal environment,” Myaldzin said.
WeRide was chosen as the technology provider based on its existing permissions and prior work in the Kingdom. Myaldzin noted that the company is “the first to receive permission for commercial robotaxi operation in the country”. He that WeRide’s engineers have already made significant adaptations to the AI models governing vehicle behavior in Riyadh’s operating conditions and will continue refining them throughout the pilot.
Source: Zag Daily
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