Image: Tap a Taxi

Eight Irish taxi drivers have come together to launch a new app designed to rival established platforms such as Free Now and Uber, with the key distinction that drivers retain 100 per cent of the fare. The app, Tap a Taxi, was quietly rolled out on March 16 across Dublin and surrounding areas by drivers operating under the All Ireland Taxi Representatives Association. The initiative stems from frustration among drivers over fixed fare options and the proportion of earnings taken by multinational platforms.

David Mitchell, one of the founders, said there were 500 drivers using the service at launch, a figure that has since grown to 1,500. The group, made up of seven men and one woman, is targeting 3,000 drivers within six months. Mitchell told The Irish Times that a Dublin driver earning around €50,000 annually through commission-based apps could be paying up to €12,500 in fees.

In contrast, Tap a Taxi operates a co-operative model, charging a one-off €300 share fee and a flat monthly subscription of €120, regardless of trip volume, while taking no commission from fares. The company is owned by the drivers themselves. Mitchell, who has worked as a taxi driver for four years, said the app is set to expand to Galway, Sligo and Waterford in the coming weeks. ‘Our eight heads got together and we just started to investigate the possibility of launching our own app,’ he told The Irish Times.

We had multiple calls with app owners throughout the world and then we ended up going with a company from Estonia. We are nearly four weeks live and we’re flying.” He said the co-op structure ensures any income is reinvested into marketing and growth.

Source: Extra.ie

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On Thursday, April 16th, and Friday, April 17th, Alianza in Colombia will host their second annual forum, focusing on the future of transportation and technology as drivers of economic growth, social development, and innovation.

Scheduled just one month before the Presidential elections in Colombia, this year’s event takes place at a pivotal time for the nation. It will convene government officials, business leaders, academics, and technology providers to strategically examine challenges and opportunities anticipated in the coming years.

Alianza In Colombia aims to provide an influential platform for discussion regarding the impact of innovation, regulation, and digital transformation in shaping a more competitive and equitable country that addresses the authentic needs of its citizens.

Matt Daus, President of IATR, will deliver a keynote speech on “Modernizing Taxicab & Ride-hailing Regulations in Colombia – International Experiences & Insight” on Friday, April 17^th at 3 PM. 

During his presentation, Matt will cover:

• The global inflection point facing the taxi industry and how regulatory frameworks have struggled to keep pace with technological change—along with how Colombia can get it right 
• How Bogotá can build on its leadership in shared mobility to shape forward-looking for-hire transportation policies 
• Strategies for creating a level playing field, including consistent rules across platforms, expanded technology access for taxis, elimination of arbitrary caps, and meaningful enforcement against unlicensed operators 
• Opportunities to integrate taxi and ride-hail services through thoughtful, modern regulatory frameworks

As part of the discussion, he will refer to two IATR reports, Modernizing Taxi Regulations: An Innovative Governance Framework for the Future and Vehicle Licensing Caps: Modernizing the Regulatory Framework, which create the foundation for modernization principles and for open competitive markets that are vital for the industry to be successful and provide high-quality services to riders.

Additional speakers during the conference will include:

• Angela Mendoza, General Manager for Uber Canada
• Karla Wong, Education and Public Sector Leader for Amazon Web Services
• Senya Andreev, Regional Director at inDrive
• Martin Vasquez Escobar, Co-Founder of Aztec
• Diana Rosa Ahumada Garcia, Public Policy Lead BBVA in Columbia
• Carolina Franco, Founder and CEO of Hookloop
• Daniel Schlesinger, Country Manager of Cabify in Colombia
• Daniel Bilbao, CEO and co-founder of Truora

You can find out more about the conference, including the full agenda, list of speakers, and registration details, at Alianza in Congreso. You can also follow along on social media via #FuturoDigital2030 and #AlianzaIN2026.

USDOT to Award $999.5M in Safe Streets For All Grants

The U.S. Department of Transportation has opened the application period for the Safe Streets for All grant program, offering a total of $999.5 million during this funding round. Applicants are encouraged to submit eligible projects as soon as possible. The application deadline is May 26.

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Lucid Secures $750m As Uber Deal Scales to 35,000 Robotaxis

Lucid Group, a California-based electric vehicle manufacturer listed on the Nasdaq, has announced a major expansion of its robotaxi partnership with Uber, alongside $750 million in new investment from the ride-hailing giant as well as Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. Under the expanded deal, Uber has committed to purchasing at least 35,000 Lucid vehicles for use in its planned global robotaxi service, up from the 20,000 previously agreed when the partnership was first announced in July 2025.

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Electric Air Taxis Could Soon Take South Florida Commutes to the Sky

Archer Aviation says the future of transportation may be closer than many think — and it could take off right here in South Florida. The company is developing electric air taxis designed to carry passengers between cities like West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami in a fraction of the time it takes to drive. Instead of sitting in traffic for 60 to 90 minutes on I-95, a trip could take just 10 to 20 minutes in the air. At the center of that vision is Archer’s aircraft called Midnight — an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOL.

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‘There’s Zero Clarity’: Ottawa’s Reworked Transit Fund Leaves Municipalities and Agencies in Limbo

The Canada Public Transit Fund was supposed to begin this month, but transit agencies and municipalities say there is still little clarity on how the program will work after the federal government reduced the fund and moved part of it into a broader infrastructure stream.

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Math for EVs Makes Sense Today: Clean Energy Canada

With gas prices climbing across Canada, Clean Energy Canada says Canadians can avoid the pain at the pumps by switching to an electric vehicle (EV), with the help of a federal incentive and affordable Chinese models set to enter the market. In a report released titled Back in the Race, the Vancouver-based think tank said the math for owning an EV has only improved since February, when conflict in the Middle East led to soaring fossil fuel prices.

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Calgary Bike Lane Rollout Divides Locals

And the beat goes on. If you’re a regular reader of Canadian Cycling Magazine, you’ll know all about some of the friction when bike lanes are announced…and even worse, when installed. Just like so many other places in Canada, there is some pushback going on in Calgary, according to a Global News report. A newly installed set of bike lanes in the northwest part of town has sparked a sharp divide, shall we say. In the Sunnyside community, residents seem to be split over whether the changes are a step forward or a misstep.

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Airbnb Rolls Out Private Airport Transfers in 125 Cities

Airbnb is extending its reach beyond accommodation with the rollout of pre-bookable private airport transfers in 125 cities across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, connecting arrivals in destinations such as France, Mexico, and Indonesia directly to the company’s lodging ecosystem. According to recent coverage from travel and financial news outlets, Airbnb has partnered with private transfer specialist Welcome Pickups to introduce chauffeured airport rides that can be booked directly through the Airbnb app.

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Plan to Raise Taxi Fares Due to Higher Fuel Prices

A council has agreed to a proposal to increase taxi fares to help cab drivers cope with the higher cost of fuel as a result of the Middle East conflict. North Devon Council has agreed to raise a starting charge for a regular car during the day from £3.10 to £3.90 and larger vehicles carrying five or more people from £4.70 to £5.85. Councillors also agreed a 20p surcharge on total journeys when fuel costs went above £1.70 a litre and further increments of 20p every time fuel increased by 5p a litre beyond that.

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Vingroup’s GSM Electric Taxi Services Expand to Sweden

VinFast parent group VinGroup is expanding its electric taxi ride-hailing services to Sweden through its sub-brand, Green and Smart Mobility (GSM).   On 8 April, the Vietnam Embassy in Sweden posted pictures of a meeting between its office and VinGroup on their Facebook page. The organisations discussed plans to introduce VinGroup’s ride-hailing service GSM to Sweden and the greater Nordic region.  For Sweden, the addition of VinGroup is part of an earlier collaboration with Vietnam called the Vietnam-Sweden Strategic Partnership.

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Dubai Police Train Taxi Drivers in Major Road Safety Push

Dubai Police have stepped up efforts to enhance road safety, delivering a targeted traffic awareness lecture to more than 80 taxi drivers as part of the “Year Without Accidents” campaign. Brigadier Jumaa Salem bin Suwaidan, Director of the General Department of Traffic, said educating drivers remains a key priority, particularly taxi drivers who spend long hours behind the wheel and form a crucial part of Dubai’s transport network.

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South Africa: uMngeni Cracks Down on Illegal Taxis Operations

More than 20 taxis were impounded in Howick CBD as uMngeni Municipality cracks down on illegal operators and unauthorised taxi ranks. The operation targeted operators found working without valid permits or from unauthorised ranks, as part of efforts to restore order in the local public transport sector. uMngeni deputy mayor and chairperson for community services, Sandile Mnikathi, said some of the impounded vehicles have already been released after operators paid the required fines.

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Tokyo Taxi Fares to Go Up Next Week

Central Tokyo taxi fares are set to rise Monday. It will be the first such increase in about three and a half years. The new rates apply in the capital's 23 wards and two adjacent cities of Musashino and Mitaka. The increase will be achieved by shortening fare increments, rather than raising the base price. Maximum base fare for standard-sized taxis will remain 500 yen, or about 3 dollars and 10 cents. That will cover the first 1 kilometer, or about 100 meters less than under the current rules.

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Image: Reuters

It’s not every day that a CEO of one of the most recognizable companies will ask its frontline employees and customers for direct feedback. 

But last week, Lyft CEO David Risher did just that. The ride hailing company began its annual hackathon this month, and Risher took to LinkedIn to ask drivers and riders about what they need from Lyft.

“What Lyft is doing is smart, they’re giving people, frontline people, the drivers, permission to and a process to redefine experiences, instead of just complaining about it after the fact,” Michael Hinshaw, president of McorpCX, said. “They’re doing it with them, rather than to them.” 

Lyft isn’t the only company to focus on co-creation, according to Hinshaw. But it is promoting it in a way that other companies would do well to follow. 

“Lyft’s hackathon gives team members the opportunity to address customer pain points, ideate on new possibilities outside of existing roadmaps, and learn new skills to better serve customers,” Bala Muthiah, Lyft’s director of engineering, told CX Dive in an email. “It’s employee-driven, meaning ideas come from people closest to the products and we have award categories that are designed to channel that energy toward business-critical outcomes.”

Source: CX Drive

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