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Uber Facing Ban In Turkey After Erdogan Backs Taxis (sbs.com.au)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from SBS: Uber faces being banned in Turkey after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the ride-hailing app was "finished" on Saturday following an intense lobbying campaign from Istanbul taxi drivers. Erdogan's comments, in a late-night speech Friday in Istanbul, came after the government agreed new rules that are expected to severely complicate Uber's operations in Turkey. Drivers of Istanbul's yellow taxis have over the last months waged an intense campaign to have Uber banned, saying the company is eating into their business without having a proper legal basis for work. "This thing emerged called Uber or Muber or whatever," said Erdogan. "But this issue is now finished. It's over now. Our Prime Minister (Minali Yildirim) made the announcement. We have our system of taxis," he said.

"Yildirim's government last month issue a directive sharply hiking fines and threatened to blacklist companies whose vehicles illegally work as taxis," reports SBS.

107 comments

  1. This makes no sense by quonset · · Score: 0

    Uber is a taxi service. They control who they hire, they dictate the rates being charged, they tell their drivers they can't carry firearms in their vehicles, and so on and so forth.

    If it walks like a duck. . .

    1. Re: This makes no sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      Taxi regulations are outdated and under the thumb of some of the most corrupt organizations in the world, operating under the barest hint of legitimacy. Uber, et al result in more money flowing to the company and drivers, and less to unions, local governments, insurance companies, and the myriad middle men sanctioned by the traditional taxi ecosystem.

      Antiquated and corrupt laws and the resulting parasites ramp up the costs and piss poor customer service, and lower the quality of traditional taxi services all over the world. Fuck all that.

    2. Re:This makes no sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Uber is a taxi service.

      No, Uber is a web company whose business model involves screaming loudly they're not a taxi service, and not subject to the rules and regulations of a taxi service.

      Me, I said fuck uber.

      Where I live, cabs drivers have extensive background checks, have to have vehicle inspections and commercial insurance, and by law have a camera at the driver's rear-view mirrow ... the cab drivers initially refused them when a cab driver did something to a passenger, but when one of their own was robbed, they were suddenly in favor of them.

      Uber is an illegal cab company, with insufficient licensing, background checks, and insurance.

      More places need to be saying hey, if you don't have a commercial license and insurance, and don't follow the same protocols as a cab, then fuck off an go away. The idea that a cab company gets to have the pretense they're not a cab company because they say so is bullshit.

      The one time I was in an Uber, the driver was downright scary and incompetent. With a real cab, I have a plate number I can file a complaint against.

      With Uber, somehow I'm supposed to believe that a fucking app on my phone is capable of reporting dangerous, illegal, incompetent, under-insured, and un-inspected people.

      Fuck Uber and they're "we're not a cab company we're magical unicorn shit". Sorry, no, you're either a legal cab company, or an illegal cab company. Since you refuse to be the former, I have no other choice than to treat you as the latter.

      I don't wish to be driven anywhere by someone too stupid to realize they're not being paid for their time and depreciation, and instead are funding the profits of a large corporation out of pocket, while that company continues to pretend it's every bit as good as the cab companies it's trying to sat it's just as good as ... all while failing to have any of the things which allow me to have some confidence in an actual cab company.

      Tell you what ... oh, golly, I'm not a bank, but if you give me money I'll hold onto it ... of course, you get none of the protections of a bank, but I'm going to loudly remind you I'm not a bank, so if I steal all of your money, that's your problem.

      Uber is a company built on wishful thinking, and bullshit.

    3. Re:This makes no sense by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It doesn't have to make sense. Erdogan is a despot who at this point can pretty much do what he wants. And he is a populist pur sang... banning a disruptive foreign company fits exceedingly well in his playbook, whatever the actual rights and wrongs of the matter are.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    4. Re: This makes no sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Except he's not the only one to say that Uber is a menace, which they are.

      Uber might be cheap and convenient, bit it's a pestilence on the sustainable transport industry.

    5. Re: This makes no sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Found the Uber driver

    6. Re:This makes no sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It's ok, it's not like this is the first country that Uber has been declared illegal in (Thailand being one) and yet you can still get an Uber quite easily in Bangkok. And I would trust any of the Uber drivers farther than the tuk tuk scammers or taxi drivers that don't use the meter.

      That being said, Uber as a company has a toxic culture and deplorable tactics, and given a reasonable alternative, I'll take the alternative.

    7. Re: This makes no sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Err taxi driver

    8. Re:This makes no sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uber is a taxi service.

      No, Uber is a web company whose business model involves screaming loudly they're not a taxi service, and not subject to the rules and regulations of a taxi service.

      Me, I said fuck uber.

      Where I live, cabs drivers have extensive background checks, have to have vehicle inspections and commercial insurance, and by law have a camera at the driver's rear-view mirrow ... the cab drivers initially refused them when a cab driver did something to a passenger, but when one of their own was robbed, they were suddenly in favor of them.

      Uber is an illegal cab company, with insufficient licensing, background checks, and insurance.

      More places need to be saying hey, if you don't have a commercial license and insurance, and don't follow the same protocols as a cab, then fuck off an go away. The idea that a cab company gets to have the pretense they're not a cab company because they say so is bullshit.

      The one time I was in an Uber, the driver was downright scary and incompetent. With a real cab, I have a plate number I can file a complaint against.

      With Uber, somehow I'm supposed to believe that a fucking app on my phone is capable of reporting dangerous, illegal, incompetent, under-insured, and un-inspected people.

      Fuck Uber and they're "we're not a cab company we're magical unicorn shit". Sorry, no, you're either a legal cab company, or an illegal cab company. Since you refuse to be the former, I have no other choice than to treat you as the latter.

      I don't wish to be driven anywhere by someone too stupid to realize they're not being paid for their time and depreciation, and instead are funding the profits of a large corporation out of pocket, while that company continues to pretend it's every bit as good as the cab companies it's trying to sat it's just as good as ... all while failing to have any of the things which allow me to have some confidence in an actual cab company.

      Tell you what ... oh, golly, I'm not a bank, but if you give me money I'll hold onto it ... of course, you get none of the protections of a bank, but I'm going to loudly remind you I'm not a bank, so if I steal all of your money, that's your problem.

      Uber is a company built on wishful thinking, and bullshit.

      Dude seriously cares about this.

      As for me, I don't live in a big city and I drive my own car.

      Actually, I have two cars.

      What I'm saying is, I don't give a flying fuck about taxis, or uber.

      I just came here to say that.

    9. Re:This makes no sense by sfcat · · Score: 2

      It doesn't have to make sense. Erdogan is a despot who at this point can pretty much do what he wants. And he is a populist pur sang... banning a disruptive foreign company fits exceedingly well in his playbook, whatever the actual rights and wrongs of the matter are.

      Sort of, but Turkey is a large country and still subject to the international markets. And when he says things about being against interest rates and taking control of the central bank, there are consequences. Turkey's currency is crashing (similar to what Obama did to Russia in 2014 but self inflicted) and this will cause significant issues with their ability to finance large projects and importing foreign goods becomes much more expensive. And considering food is one of the things Turkey imports in large amounts, this is a big problem. Its just that Erdogan doesn't seem to know this so he's just gone power mad and started just making proclamations that seem like they will have consequences in the near future for him and Turkey.

      --
      "Those that start by burning books, will end by burning men."
    10. Re:This makes no sense by voss · · Score: 1

      Uber is a per trip car hire service. It is not metered like a taxi.nor do uber drivers wear uniforms nor do they work
      full time like Taxi drivers do.

    11. Re:This makes no sense by satsuke · · Score: 3, Informative

      Uber charges passengers and pays drivers based on time and distance. The only modifier to a standard cab fare is the surge rate that acts as a multiplier on the fare.

      So yes, they act exactly as a cab company in most respects save the "for hire" status that a licensed taxi can provide.

    12. Re:This makes no sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Many taxi drivers do not work full time. I have never seen a taxi driver in uniform.

    13. Re: This makes no sense by Visarga · · Score: 0

      By the way, why is the level of conversation on slashdot like 4chan? It's pretty disgusting.

    14. Re:This makes no sense by slickwillie · · Score: 2

      Same goes for the Armenian Genocide.

    15. Re: This makes no sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Are you telling me that declaring something as illegal does not stop people from doing it? What???

    16. Re:This makes no sense by hazardPPP · · Score: 2

      The one time I was in an Uber, the driver was downright scary and incompetent. With a real cab, I have a plate number I can file a complaint against.

      You have to realize that people's experience will vary a lot by locale.

      In the city where I currently live, Uber does not operate, but there exists a local Uber clone (seriously, the app is almost identical...). Unlike Uber however, they have found a way to operate legally from the beginning. Looking through the laws on the books, they realized they could register as a car-hire (limo-driver-hire) service without being a taxi...but with the app, essentially operate like a taxi. The taxi drivers are furious of course, however so far the authorities haven't found anything illegal in the venture (which might change since the taxi drivers are lobbying hard to have the laws changed and the "loopholes" closed).

      Now the comparison: the number of taxi drivers is fixed. Getting a license usually requires some kind of bribery...the city sets the maximum price, so theoretically anyone can offer a lower one...but this is very rare as the taxi associations have a cartel-like agreement not to undercut each other. Most of the taxi associations are run by people who are essentially mobsters. The taxi profession has some unmerited tax breaks...dishonest taxi drivers that pray on tourists by charging double, triple, even 10 times the allowed maximum rate operate with impunity. Most taxi drivers are rude, they are careless drivers, and some of them are down-right scary folks when you see them. The population of the city almost universally loathes them. A lot of them drive cars that shouldn't really be on the road, yet "somehow" they pass inspection. Every time a government tries to get them in line a bit, they protest and block the city traffic during rush hour with their cars. Oh, and they always bitch if you don't have exact change (paying by card is available in only a very small number of vehicles).

      On the other hand, all the drivers of the Uber-like app that I've met are nice, cultured, friendly normal people who seem to care about doing their job...and drive properly with care. Cars are usually in better condition....and the prices are 20-40% less than with the taxis. You can pay by credit card, so you don't care about change...everybody who has used the app almost universally comments "what a refreshing change! Nice drivers!" and so on.

    17. Re:This makes no sense by gtall · · Score: 3, Funny

      In Turkey, if it walks like a dick, talks like a dick, and acts lick a dick, it's Erdogan.

    18. Re:This makes no sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't wish to be driven anywhere by someone too stupid to realize they're not being paid for their time and depreciation, and instead are funding the profits of a large corporation out of pocket, while that company continues to pretend it's every bit as good as the cab companies it's trying to sat it's just as good as ... all while failing to have any of the things which allow me to have some confidence in an actual cab company.

      Then use a fucking taxi and stop bitching and trying to force everyone else to use taxis too, just because you like them more.

    19. Re:This makes no sense by Wrath0fb0b · · Score: 1

      I don't wish to be driven anywhere by someone too stupid to realize they're not being paid for their time and depreciation, and instead are funding the profits of a large corporation out of pocket

      And I don't wish to be driven anywhere in a cab that requires a limited-quantity medallion which is owned by an investor and leased out to the driver. Which means the driver's labor is funding the profits of some millionaire investor.

      By all means, force everyone to get a license, but make the terms of the license objective (training, insurance, vehicle) and impartial. The idea of "there can only be 4325 taxis in Chicago and not a single one more" ended up abusing the drivers and the public.

    20. Re:This makes no sense by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      I know I've talked to some cab drivers in major centers and there was a valid route for them to work towards owning their own medallion. Don't discount all cabs and screw over hard working people who may actually get somewhere.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    21. Re:This makes no sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      COOL STORY BRO

    22. Re:This makes no sense by Wrath0fb0b · · Score: 1

      I think it's screwing over their work to require them to work towards/purchase/lease a medallion, especially when they cost $500K-1M.

      What's the big deal with saying that we require regulation, licensing requirements, insurance, vehicle inspections, background check and all that, and that every person that meets those (maybe stringent) requirements shall be entitled to operate a taxi?

      We do the same for Doctors, they have to pass med school, do a residency, pass exams, have insurance and all the other (strict!) requirements. But there's no law that says "New York can only have 45 rectal surgeons and anyone that wants to practice has to replace an existing one". That's just bonkers. Same for lawyers and real estate agents and dentists and . . .

    23. Re:This makes no sense by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      You're comparing the economies of a profession that almost everyone can do to a profession that requires an enormous amount of money and dedication to get into. If most people never make it to be a rectal surgeon, you don't have to limit the number of rectal surgeons. Furthermore, there is no physical limitation to the space that medical institutions have for rectal surgeons, but there is a physical limit to the space on the road.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    24. Re:This makes no sense by Peter+P+Peters · · Score: 1

      So yes, they act exactly as a cab company in most respects....

      Except cleaner, safer, fairer, less smelly and more features. I agree Uber is a taxi service, but taxi monopolies are built on an outdated 20th century business model. Rather than force everyone back ott he 20th century, the better move would be to dismantle the taxi monopoly and allow real competition.

    25. Re:This makes no sense by Wrath0fb0b · · Score: 1

      No, I'm asking for basic economic fairness by saying that regulations have to be neutral and objective.

      What you are advocating is excluding the poor from operating taxis without paying a tribute to a rich guy that holds a medallion. I maintain that this is still bonkers.

  2. His quote doesn't rhyme by jellomizer · · Score: 1

    Doesn't Erdogan only speak in rhyme?

    --
    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    1. Re:His quote doesn't rhyme by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're thinking of Etrigan. It's an easy mistake to make, though; there's a lot of similarities...

  3. Re:Ah... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    There's a lot of resistance to Trump. Perhaps you are referring to Obama, the god of the Leftist, but he's gone!

  4. misread by sacrilicious · · Score: 1

    Uber Facing Ban In Turkey After Erdogan Backs Taxis

    Initial skim: "Uber Facing Ban In Turkey After Evading Back Taxes".

    --
    - First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then ???, then profit.
  5. Re:Ah... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There's a lot of resistance to Trump. Perhaps you are referring to Obama, the god of the Leftist, but he's gone!

    Say what you will about Obama but unlike Trump he isn't stupid, which is a fact that is slowly beginning to seep through the thick and bony skull of the Right wing movement.

  6. Stop trying to make sense of it... by denzacar · · Score: 2

    Turkey is also blocking Wikipedia and blaming a candy manufacturer for fomenting a coup.

    Basically, you're arguing that a double rainbow and a new star appearing at the birth of Kim Jong Il doesn't make sense from meteorological OR astronomic point of view.

    --
    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
  7. Uber in my turkey? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Pull those giblets out of there!

  8. Chinese solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Using China's Uber - Didi - I can just summon a taxi along with all sorts of other options, I always get a taxi, unless I have too many people in which case I get a van.

    1. Re:Chinese solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do you pay extra for a happy ending?

  9. This is what I call WINNING! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fuck those SJW Uber drivers. Get a real job, losers.

    MAGA, baby, MAGA!

  10. Very interesting by no-body · · Score: 3, Interesting

    How single individuals get the power to determine the lives of well, millions or billions of people, defining how their individual lives turn.

    This ongoing game has not changed for ? 1000's of years.

    It needs two parts - the allowing and the demanding side and as always, the allowing number of individuals is by far the much larger number.

    Maybe there are some niches where this system has somewhat changed to benefit a larger part of a population. Overall, it is the same and the mechanisms to uphold this imbalance getting more and more refined.

    Has it to do something with upbringing, where behavioral patterns are formed and kept or is it genetically imprinted?

    If you look from a more distant point, it is just weird. There is some different opinion about a point and then starts this prancing and breast pounding and vassals are sent out to measure up their skills under the risk of getting injured or killed, now from very remote and safe places..

    Who benefits? It seems to just create more and more trauma in people where the opposite event, less trauma could lead to more happiness.

    1. Re:Very interesting by cdsparrow · · Score: 2

      Ever driven up to a busy 4 way stop and watch how it doesn't work? People need stop lights - they need to be told what to do. That's just part of human nature, a large portion of the population would rather cede control over their lives as long as it's easier. The real problem lies in the rest of the population who don't want to cede control. They are in two camps generally, either a leave-me-the-fuck-alone camp, or the I-want-to-rule-over-the-flock camp.

    2. Re:Very interesting by whoever57 · · Score: 2

      I think it is a tree of power thing.

      People support the putative dictator because the dictator promises to give those people the power to shit on others.

      This goes down all the way, historically, the lowest level being men dominating women.

      --
      The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
    3. Re:Very interesting by no-body · · Score: 1

      I think it is a tree of power thing.

      People support the putative dictator because the dictator promises to give those people the power to shit on others.

      This goes down all the way, historically, the lowest level being men dominating women.



      Well, why does one need to control another?
      Feeling inferior without it maybe comes into play...

      So, as long as one feels less and that's not fixed, the insatiable need to compensate for that with things who don't fix the underlying reason, the game to fill the bottomless bucket goes on...

      And the man/woman game thing - women are more powerful in some ways and that cannot be tolerated, so....

      The promises of a dictator or - narcissist, as we have it, can get hold only when someone is naive, mildly put.
    4. Re:Very interesting by Bongo · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Has it to do something with upbringing, where behavioral patterns are formed and kept or is it genetically imprinted?

      I gather it has to do with the size of the group. Fifty thousand years ago, we were organised as tribes, of about a few hundred people. Later, around the time of agriculture, and settling down, the size of the group expanded, and now you needed some way to impose order on disparate tribes. It became the time of Kings, and eventually, empires, like the Roman Empire, and the Ottoman Empire, and so on. That was also the time of the large monotheistic religions, where there was One True Way, One God, one ruler, one empire, and so on. All that coincides with what various philosophers have termed the "mythic-membership" stage of our cultural evolution. That is, you are part of the large group which has a common identity as defined by a set of myths, beliefs, and rules. The whole thing is very hierarchical. In one way or another, the "authority" of the hierarchy is divine, and the myths and laws all serve to make it work, to allow you to become an empire. It also kinda echoes in the way a child grows up and is taught the rules by the parents, and learns to think of themselves as a member of one family, rather than as being an individual who just does whatever their own impulses dictate. So all this became the normal state of the world around 2000 BC or so. And this empire + religion + sacred laws + empire is how the world was organised.

      What you are talking about now, as in, why do free thinking intelligent individuals all decide to support dictators today... is simply because the stage of empires has lasted a very long time, as it was the main game in town for thousands of years, and only since things like, the Maga Carta, and the French Revolution, and basically, the Western Enlightenment, did the system swing back from the empire-group to the individual, to a free thinking individual, and ideas like, all people are created equal, all should be well educated, etc., only recently, ie. a few hundred years, has that new structure or way of organising things, been developing.

      And the trouble is, the world is one place, but it isn't all at the same time -- the hierarchy-empire structure is still the main player in most of the world.

      The key is, the empire brings stability and safety. After that, things like democracy can start to develop. But safety comes first. Which is why "strong men" are valued, if they can appear strong enough to bring safety and stability. It is a stage which cannot be skipped.

      (Notice also, all the stuff about Western Imperialists and NeoColonialists is just a footnote, because EVERYONE was building empires every chance they could get, and it is not just some Western thing.)

      But a fatal flaw with empires is they get too big and centralised control cannot work anymore. You need the individuals to exercise their intelligence, ie. you have to give them freedom.

    5. Re:Very interesting by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      Who benefits? It seems to just create more and more trauma in people where the opposite event, less trauma could lead to more happiness.

      Is this specific about dictators or is this a generic comment? People in general benefit from collective organisation when they have to share resources. This collective needs to ultimately be decided somehow which gets done by people with power. Even in a direct democracy the system ultimately devolves to those interested in the process consolidating power over others.

      This isn't a bad thing. What is bad is if this power goes unchecked. The ideal situation is where someone with power decides things for others, but if those others collectively disagree then they can overturn the decision.

    6. Re:Very interesting by froggyjojodaddy · · Score: 2

      Oh man, this!! 4 way stops are terrible. I encounter two of them during my drive to and from work and 9 times out of 10, there is mass confusion. Everyone seems to arrive at the exact same time so you end up with a bunch of different personalities:

      1. Hyper aggressive driver who barely came to a stop and wants to get going immediately. Doesn't matter if someone else has already started moving, they'll honk their horn and throw their hands up in exasperation
      2. Super nervous driver who realizes they have to content with 3 other drivers and is unsure when to go. Desperately looks for cues in the eyes of other drivers
      3. Polite driver. Might be their right of way, might not be. Doesn't matter. Wants to wave the person opposite them to drive on, especially if that person is going straight
      3a. Polite driver on both sides. "You go", "No, you go", "No, please, I insist", "No, really, I insist".
      4. Rational driver. Knows the rule: First one to stop, goes. Give way to the right. Get's frustrated and confused when others can't follow the same rule. Ends up flooring it out of sheer frustration. Most likely to cause an accident
      We need roundabouts, not 4 way stops. Even painted roundabouts for smaller junctions would be better than the hell that is a 4 way stop.

    7. Re:Very interesting by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

      The ideal situation is people are free to decide things for themselves precisely so jackasses can't seize control for their own benefit, handing out goodies to their supporters, exactly what this thread is about.

      What you say is the exact opposite of the ideal situation.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    8. Re:Very interesting by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      We need roundabouts, not 4 way stops. Even painted roundabouts for smaller junctions would be better than the hell that is a 4 way stop.

      Oh, great. Replace intersections where most people misuse their signals with roundabouts where NO ONE SIGNALS. It's very simple, you signal when you get off the roundabout, but NO. NO ONE SIGNALS.

      The answer is clearly self-driving cars, because Americans are clearly incapable of driving.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    9. Re:Very interesting by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Yeah but like all extremes the "ideal situation" for your own personal opinion doesn't actually end up creating the ideal situation for you. Case in point: standard utilities and infrastructure. Ideally for your own ideology you would decide 100% yourself where you want this infrastructure to be built. But the net result will likely bankrupt you as you and the rest of the city won't ever agree on it commonly. So the true ideal situation is actually that you as a group defer the power of this decision to someone who from a town planning perspective takes that decision out of your hands, has power over your spending money, and thus ensures the best outcome for everyone though a massive increase in spending efficiency.

    10. Re:Very interesting by whoever57 · · Score: 1

      The promises of a dictator or - narcissist, as we have it, can get hold only when someone is naive, mildly put.

      Remember that 50% of the population have below-average intelligence.

      --
      The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
    11. Re:Very interesting by froggyjojodaddy · · Score: 1

      I'm not American, nor do I live in America but agree that self-driving cars are the answer here, and to be frank, probably most places.

      You're also right in that most people in North America don't indicate their intention in a roundabout, but they're less impacting on traffic just because the flow generally keeps on going.

    12. Re:Very interesting by Peter+P+Peters · · Score: 1

      Ever driven up to a busy 4 way stop and watch how it doesn't work? People need stop lights - they need to be told what to do.

      This is why I ride a motorbike. Fucking useless people should not be allowed to drive
      Bring on the robot cars!

    13. Re:Very interesting by Peter+P+Peters · · Score: 1

      I gather it has to do with the size of the group.

      Welcome to the Monkeysphere

    14. Re:Very interesting by michiganbob · · Score: 1

      While I agree that roundabouts are better for the flow of traffic, they do take up much more space. I wish we could replace a lot of the 4-way stops around here, but sadly there are houses and trees in the way.

  11. On the one hand... by Ecuador · · Score: 3, Interesting

    On the one hand, Uber did its usual thing of going around local laws to offer their service, so they naturally got stopped at some point. I won't even attempt to make a case on whether taxi protection laws are good or bad, my hunch is that the answer is "it depends", but in any case rarely have we seen companies with as little regard of local laws as Uber.
    On the other hand, the neo-Sultan is obviously not worried about poor taxi drivers, he built the narrative he wanted: one or two sentences after the "Uber / moober" populist joke he asked where they got Uber from, and he answered "Europe of course". Which is completely wrong, it is an American company that started in San Fransisco, but he wanted to dish on Europe because the EU leaders don't seem to appreciate how he is cleansing his nation from "dangerous anti-democratic elements"...
    In general, Erdogan seems to know how to win the people, I was aghast when I saw him get the audience to applause while he was bad-mouthing Kemal Ataturk, who for Turkey is more than what Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson and Roosevelt are combined for the US, but represents the opposite of the current course (Kemal established a democratic & secular nation). I can think of other leaders who had the same charisma in the past, fortunately Erdogan controls Turkey and not Germany ;)

    --
    Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Polar Scope Align for iOS
    1. Re: On the one hand... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I read Turkey thinks 9/11 was done by Israel, which at least means they think it was a bad thing.

  12. Re:Ah... by sfcat · · Score: 1

    But not for long. We might be able to get him in for reelection in 2020. But most of us are still banking on Hillary.

    The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

    --
    "Those that start by burning books, will end by burning men."
  13. Re:Billy Hayes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes indeed the dying words of drug addicts are ALWAYS the truth

  14. Assholes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That country is the worst piece of shit in the world. They keep paying terrorists in exchange for oil. Fuck those bastards.

    1. Re: Assholes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do try to keep on topic. This story is about Turkey, not the USA.

  15. Deadly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This could be a country where uber lobbyists may discover what the ultimate price is to lobby.

  16. Re: Ah... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's right, Racism was invented by Obama.

  17. Because being scammed by your fellowmen ... by thesjaakspoiler · · Score: 1

    ... is just the way you do things in Turkey and you're so content with that corrupt system? Always overcharging, taking detours from/to the airport, trying to extort money out of tourists at any occasion. Not to mention spying on your fellow Turks who visit Turkey.

    1. Re:Because being scammed by your fellowmen ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You ruined my joke about the extra parts of the turkey(the animal) :O

  18. Istanbul taxi drivers are theives by ghoul · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Other cities Taxi drivers may overcharge you but in Istanbul they will literally steal money out of your wallet. Its a common trick. They will halt by the side of a main road ,instead of your destination saying their is construction ahead. While you try to quickly get down and pay the fare you will be hit by the second part of the plan - a highly overcharged fare which just jumped in the last 30 seconds. At this point you already have your money out of your wallet and stuck trying to figure out how the fare jumped so high. At this point they will reach into your wallet , take out a 100 and swap it (using sleight of hand) for a 20 and then say to you Ok you gave me 20, give me the rest. You as a tourist are in shock at this point and cant even argue.
    Erdogan is a populist who gets his votes from thugs and hoodlums so I am not surprised he supports Istanbul Taxi drivers.
    In comparison Uber works fantastically well in Istanbul.

    --
    **Life is too short to be serious**
    1. Re:Istanbul taxi drivers are theives by blind+biker · · Score: 0

      Thee is also the question of why would anyone visit that Islamic dictatorship of a shithole.

      I've been to Turkey before Erdogan came to power, stayed almost a month travelling around, and saw the backwardness in the part of the country that most tourists don't see. I was not surprised in the least when Erdogan came to power - and held onto power.

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    2. Re:Istanbul taxi drivers are theives by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thee is also the question of why would anyone visit that Islamic dictatorship of a shithole.

      I've been to Turkey before Erdogan came to power, stayed almost a month travelling around, and saw the backwardness in the part of the country that most tourists don't see. I was not surprised in the least when Erdogan came to power - and held onto power.

      Thee is also the question of why would anyone visit that Islamic dictatorship of a shithole.

      I've been to Turkey before Erdogan came to power, stayed almost a month travelling around, and saw the backwardness in the part of the country that most tourists don't see. I was not surprised in the least when Erdogan came to power - and held onto power.

      Why would anybody risk visiting that racist shithole of a country formerly known a the United States of America? The last time I went there I travelled through the heartland of the USA that most tourists don't see and I was bowled over by the backwardness, poverty and general misery of that part of the country, particularly in the rural south. I was not surprised when Trump came to power but I'm kind of on the fence about him staying in power. He is extremely incompetent and stupid but on the other hand he remains extremely popular although I'm not sure whether that is despite, or down right because of the fact he's stupid and incompetent.

      Warmest greetings from Turkey.

    3. Re:Istanbul taxi drivers are theives by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Leftwing crybaby detected!

    4. Re:Istanbul taxi drivers are theives by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Thee is also the question of why would anyone visit that Islamic dictatorship of a shithole.

      Yeah, why would anyone want to see a city with a rich history that dates well back to several thousand years before Christ? I don't get it.

    5. Re:Istanbul taxi drivers are theives by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At this point they will reach into your wallet , take out a 100 and swap it (using sleight of hand)

      Bullshit detected. Why the fuck would you allow a merchant to reach into your wallet and take out money?

    6. Re:Istanbul taxi drivers are theives by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      It's a good thing Turkish Uber drivers only fart rainbows.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    7. Re:Istanbul taxi drivers are theives by JoshuaZ · · Score: 1

      There's nothing racist about acknowledging that some locations have more of certain types of criminal behavior than others. Taxis are a particularly common example in many locations, because people have little recourse if a driver does something. Heck, part of the point having substantial taxi regulations is to deal with this problem, and that only works to varying degrees. One of the best arguments in favor of Uber and Lyft is that their technological model genuinely makes many of those laws (which often don't work very well to start with) essentially unnecessary.

    8. Re:Istanbul taxi drivers are theives by Shotgun · · Score: 1

      I'm wondering this also. And the part about swapping a 100 for a 20. How does that work?

      --
      Aah, change is good. -- Rafiki
      Yeah, but it ain't easy. -- Simba
    9. Re:Istanbul taxi drivers are theives by blind+biker · · Score: 1

      I don't know, I haven't been to the US in a decade.

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    10. Re:Istanbul taxi drivers are theives by blind+biker · · Score: 1

      I don't care, I am not going to patronize a regime that supports ISIS.

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    11. Re:Istanbul taxi drivers are theives by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      I don't care, I am not going to patronize a regime that supports ISIS.

      What you are or are not going to do has nothing to do with why others do what they do.

    12. Re:Istanbul taxi drivers are theives by Peter+P+Peters · · Score: 1

      Other cities Taxi drivers may overcharge you but in Istanbul they will literally steal money out of your wallet. Its a common trick.

      I'm going to Turkey later in the year and my Turkish colleague at work pretty much told me the same thing. Taxi drivers are thieves, so only use Uber.
      I was planning on Ubering but now I might catch the bus or walk everywhere...

    13. Re:Istanbul taxi drivers are theives by ghoul · · Score: 1

      Why is this racist comment modded up to +4? "Don't trust those thieving Turks"? WTF people?

      The honest folks driving Uber are also Turks. Just because the Taxi drivers are thieves doesnt mean all Turks are thieves. In fact Istanbul is a very nice city for Tourists.

      --
      **Life is too short to be serious**
    14. Re:Istanbul taxi drivers are theives by ghoul · · Score: 1

      You are in the process of paying and then you freeze because suddenly you are seeing a way differnt number on the meter than you saw a moment ago. And that is when the thieves/magicians/taxi drivers sweep in.

      My advice in Istanbul, get down from the taxi before taking your wallet out and stay an arms length away from the driver while counting the money.

      --
      **Life is too short to be serious**
    15. Re:Istanbul taxi drivers are theives by ghoul · · Score: 1

      Sleight of hand. Any magician who does card tricks can show you how its done. its not that you dont understand what is happening. Its more that you are in shock that this could happen and you dont fight with locals in a strange city for 20 dollars worth of money.

      --
      **Life is too short to be serious**
    16. Re:Istanbul taxi drivers are theives by ghoul · · Score: 1

      Dont really care what they fart as long as they dont steal.

      --
      **Life is too short to be serious**
  19. Re: Ah... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Finally. Someone understands.

  20. 'Er today, Gan tomorrow by AdamStarks · · Score: 1

    I'll see myself out...

  21. Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Even tyrants can do something right once in a while.

  22. This thing emerged called Erdogan or Merdogan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    or whatever, but it's just another despot making statements that reduce their own credibility in a futile attempt at deflecting negative attention.

  23. I'm supposed to be outraged? by Ranger · · Score: 3, Informative

    Uber is a predatory company. They took a great idea and turned it to shit. Uber gets no sympathy from me. Erdogan is far worse. He created a fake coup and led a countercoup to cement power, arresting thousands, firing thousands. He is a despot.

    --
    "You'll get nothing, and you'll like it!"
    1. Re:I'm supposed to be outraged? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, literally no one said you had to be outraged.

    2. Re:I'm supposed to be outraged? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How a reasonable person who is no witness to what happened, can accuse one party or the other?

    3. Re:I'm supposed to be outraged? by Peter+P+Peters · · Score: 1

      Uber is a predatory company. They took a great idea and turned it to shit.

      Are you talking as a driver or passenger? As a regular passenger I still find Uber a million times better than any taxi.

  24. Re: Ah... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How is over half the population insane? That itself seems like a hysterical statement. A statement a child would make. How many teen age girls are on this site?

  25. Re: Ah... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wrong. But it was invented by the democrats.

  26. hmmmm can we just burn them all by gravewax · · Score: 1

    hard to know who to cheer for in this argument. On one hand we have a brutal dictator that is sending his country back to the dark ages. Then you have a wholly corrupt taxi industry (yes for Turkey this really is the case) Then you have Uber, a company whose business model is ignoring local laws and regulations to undercut local industry and suckers people to work as underpayed drivers.

  27. Re: Ah... by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

    How many teen age girls are on this site?

    This is Slashdot, so obviously not one.

  28. Shithole by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sounds like a shithole to me

  29. Just another crony dictatorship move? by swb · · Score: 2

    This seems kind unsurprising, there have been plenty of stories about how part of Erdogan's power base is construction companies owned by cronies who get a ton of government contracts. I think part of the whole dictatorship toolkit is crony capitalism, make sure your loyalists hold control over at least key economic sectors if not all of them.

    In Turkey specifically, making sure your loyalists control the taxi market makes sense on several levels. One, I'd bet a lot of drivers are part of Erdogan's core demographic -- low income, more traditionally minded religiously. Two, a well-controlled taxi system provides control over transportation -- who's driving, who's being driven, etc. Three, Uber is a western company and will suck some of the profits out of Turkey, something that Erdogan won't want when his economy does relatively poorly, and four, it allows for Erdogan's cronies to reap the profits of a controlled sector.

  30. Let the nerd flag fly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It is monday after a long weekend, but I kept reading that as Etrigan.

    Gone! Gone! O' form of man
    And rise the demon Etrigan!!

  31. Shot or raped by Uber driver... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Simply ban Uber and you can then be shot or raped by yellow cab drivers!