Taxi in France : society evolution through taxicab history

Taxis in France exist since the 17th century and has metamorphosed. From the fiacre fueled by man power to today’s electric taxi, we can make an analogy with French society. Regulated by the government, taxi in France have been open to the public since its creation.

With new technologies, taxi companies in France revolutionized taxi services

It is said the ancestor of taxis are the sedan chairs. They were uncomfortable and had a very limited capacity as men were carrying passengers. Quickly, hackney carriage replaced them and horses took over the men which allow transporting more passengers and for a smoother ride. The first motor-powered taxi in France were only in 1899.
Due to abuse of taxi driver on taxi fare, a prefectoral decree imposed taximeter equipped taxicabs in France. Invented by Kratz-Boussac, the meter calculates the taxi ride price according of the time you spend in the taxi and the distance traveled. Till today cab service in almost every country with taxi service.
In 1897, in an attempt to replace the horse-drawn car used as taxis in Paris, Kieger launched the first electric taxicab. It transported up to 3 passengers and could go up to 20 km/h. Unfortunately it was not a profitable venture and abandoned in 1902 to be picked up again in the 21th century.

Taxi in France regulated by the government with taxi license

Taxi service in France was at the beginning only limited to Paris and its suburbs. With its growing demand, the taxi service was extended rapidly to French major cities from 1666. Since 1657, no taxis has no right to refuse a run 5 km away from Paris.
Over the centuries, the government regulated the number of licensed taxi in France. Only delivered to safe vehicles, by controlling the number of taxi in each city, it limited road accidents.
Equipped with taximeters to avoid abuse on taxi ride price, it allows the customers to pay the correct fare. It is calculated according to the time spend in the cab and the driven distance.
Unlike the bus or the metro, taxis are the only means of transports that allows you to decide where you want to be picked up and dropped off. With its doorstep to doorstep service, it gives you a flexibility to travel at your wish. Solely taxicabs may pick up passengers and offer a cab service. Therefore, when you hail a taxi in France, you need to make sure they are licensed to drive passengers.

Evolution in taxi services with the competition between taxi companies

Each taxi companies in France today offer a variety of services from app taxi booking to taxi sharing. Innovations helps the company to answer to customer’s needs. With their classic advance taxi booking via a hotline to a mobile application booking with gps located ride, competition between them are fierce and ruthless. When french taxicab service was first launched, it was all independent workers working as driver. Nowadays, cabbies are mostly not their vehicle owner and companies employ them.

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