Uber under fire: Paris isn't the first, here's where protests have erupted globally

Uber has been subject to an increasing number of worldwide protests spearheaded by frustrated and displaced taxi drivers. Since it was founded by entrepreneurs Travis Kalanick and Garett Camp five years ago, the Uber business has grown astronomically. Currently, it has over 8 million users and operates in over 250 cities. The Uber app allows users to order cars for transport using geo-location technology and often boasts fare rates cheaper than those of local cabs. [caption id=“attachment_2313802” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Uber has over 8 million users and operates in over 250 cities. Reuters[/caption] On Thursday, More than 3,000 taxi drivers blocked road access to the the Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports in Paris and train stations across France. This public protest has been marked by violent outbursts with arrests and police injuries. Last year on one day alone, more than 10,000 taxi drivers in cities such as London, Madrid and Milan protested loudly. The drivers say that Uber is an unfair competitor in the cab service market. They claim that Uber drivers do not adhere to local transportation rules and licencing requirements, often evading tax laws and official inspections. Uber has been banned in Spain as well as in several cities worldwide such as Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Chengdu and New-Delhi, where drivers of the cab service faced two cases of sexual assault. Below is an interactive map of protests world-wide: