This week's Top 3: New open data rules for UK bus services, Romania considers emergency ban on ride hailing, Prague taxi drivers strike over ride hailing reforms
1. UK Government announces new plans for open data on bus services
The Government announced it will introduce new regulations on open bus data this summer alongside non-statutory guidance. The idea behind this initiative is to create an open data system to facilitate journey planning. Bus operators will be required to provide timetable data and Automatic Vehicle Location Data while local transport authorities will be required to maintain data about access points to all bus stops. A new Bus Open Data Digital Service will be created to build applications, products and services around the data. This Digital Service is already in prototype and is being tested with local authorities, bus operators and application developers across England.
2. Romania considers emergency laws on ride hailing
The Romanian Government is considering whether to issue an emergency ordinance restricting the operations of ride hailing firms in the country. Last week Romania's two largest operators, Uber and Bolt, wrote a joint letter to the Government, urging it not to ban ride hailing outright, but instead put in place a regulatory framework for new mobility services similar to those existing in other EU Member States.
3. Taxi strikes hit Prague
Taxi drivers have held a series of strikes across the Czech capital, including around the city's airports. Taxi drivers have cited high fees which they are charged to operate at airports among their list of grievances, as well as competition from ride hailing companies. The strikes follow proposals from the Czech Government to significantly deregulate the taxi industry, in effect putting app-based private hire drivers on a level with traditional taxi drivers.
This is a weekly note from Inline Policy's Mobility Policy and Regulation Team, it covers the top three developments in the regulation of on-demand transport in Europe. It covers taxis, ride-sharing, car sharing, carpooling, bikes, e-bikes, scooters, shared mopeds and anything else that's relevant to the sector. If you'd like to receive this direct to your inbox then please enter your email address below:
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